ECI: We're the state champions!
BY BRENT FREEMAN

ECI BULLDOGS TRIUMPH OVER WILCOX COUNTY!

This past Friday night the ECI Bulldogs faced off against the Wilcox Co. Patriots for the Class-A State Championship. Everything the Bulldogs had worked for, everything they had accomplished was leading straight to this moment. The ECI guys had more than enough determination to win this game and they proved it early in the game. Coach Milan Turner said, "Hats off to the kids. They played a great offensive and defensive game. They put their bodies on the line and it paid off. This community and these boys deserve it." ECI won their new title with a leading score of 41- 21.

Almost 10,000 people filled the stadium in Cordele, and the weather was near perfect for football. With a state championship on the line, and with this many in attendance, it would be easy for a team to get nervous, but the Bulldogs showed that no matter what they can play their absolute best. It started when the Bulldogs kicked off the ball to the Patriots. The Bulldog defense was on fire, and they began to put pressure on Wilcox.

Trying with all their might, the Patriots could not get past the Bulldogs and they had no choice but to punt where ECI would then get it at the forty yard line. ECI wasted no time moving down field. They received two first downs on their way to the end-zone and they found themselves stopped at the seven yard line. With 4:35 left on the clock, Washaun Ealey made a seven yard dash right up the middle, and plowed through the Patriots for the touchdown. Will Hinson showed he was Bulldog worthy and with his good kick the score was 7-0. The Patriots were going to see if they could go little further with the ball this time, but the Bulldogs had other ideas. After a couple of short plays, Wilcox decided to try a longer pass, but LaCollie Gordon was there laying in wait. The ball was coming down at the 25 yard line, and Gordon seemed to fly as he jumped to catch the ball and landed just inside the boundary lines.

The Bulldog offense took great advantage of the this interception. As the Bulldogs drew closer to the end-zone, Micheal Robertson passed the ball to Washaun Ealey who ran the ball straight into the end-zone but because of a holding penalty the ball was sent back to the 15 yard line. The ECI guys proved this was no problem for them. Robertson passed the ball to Brooks Kirkland who ran the fifteen yard touchdown. Will Hinson once again did a great job with a good kick putting the score at 14-0. The Patriots were thinking that surely a third time would a charm, and would be able do something with the ball this time, but they were wrong.

ECI kicked off to Wilcox, and on the return the Bulldogs managed to knock the ball out of Patriot hands and Dexter Moody jumped right on the ball to recover the ball at the 30 yard line. ECI then tries a pass play but Wilcox received a pass interference penalty and this took the Bulldogs just 15 yards from yet another touchdown. A quick run by Sanquez Lee brings the ball to the 11 yard line and then the quarter ended.

There was no hesitation as the second quarter started. Ealey brings it to the one yard line. The very next play Robertson hands the ball to Ealey. The offensive line was pounding the Patriot defense down. Ealey took note, then jumped clear over the line of Bulldogs and Patriots and landed for the touchdown and the score was now 20-0. The Patriots now had the ball and once again the Bulldogs set out to get it back. The Bulldog defense was putting a lot of pressure on the Patriots and they were forced to punt.

Then the unexpected happened. When the Patriot kicker went to punt the ball it struck one of his own teammates, and it bounced backwards. The Patriots were scrambling to recover it but Dexter Moody was there to scoop it up and carry it straight in for a touchdown and a score of 26-0. The ball then began to exchange hands several times until it finally landed back in Patriot possession. Wilcox had brought the ball all the way to the 1 yard line. They then got the touchdown they so desperately needed to put the new score at 26-7. The half then started to come to a quick end.

The third quarter started with the Bulldogs receiving the ball. Try as they might they were soon forced to punt. They of course then returned the favor to the Patriots, leaving them with no other choice but to punt as well. The quarter was more than half over and the clock seemed to be moving at a rapid speed so the Bulldogs knew they had to work fast. Coming on extremely strong, the Bulldogs were able to get the ball to the five yard line. From there Brooks Kirkland would be the one to run around the Patriots for the touchdown.

This time the Bulldogs went for two points and Pat Branch snagged the catch for a score of 34-7. Wilcox then had the ball and using all of their energy they began to move the ball slowly. With that great Bulldog defense breathing down their throats the Patriots knew they had to do something different. The Patriot quarterback threw a long pass, and it was complete, then without missing a beat, the Patriots ran the ball in for the touchdown. The quarter would then end 34-14.

The fourth started and the Bulldogs were working fast. The moved very quickly to the 3 yard line. Robertson then gets the ball to Ealey who darts right through the Patriots for a touchdown. Will Hinson was certainly not about to let his team down now and he made an excellent kick for a score of 41-14.

Wilcox now had the ball again, and out of desperation they stepped up their game. The Bulldogs, however were not just going to let them have another touchdown that easy and they made the Patriots truly work for it. Every yard they gained against the Bulldog defense was most definitely earned. The Patriots finally found themselves at the five yard line. They then some how managed to make a five yard dash for the touchdown, and a score of 41-21. This would be the last touchdown of the game. The Bulldogs did a great job biding their time, and defending the standing score until the clock ran down.

The ECI Bulldogs have come a long way since the beginning of the season. Who would have ever guessed that this year would be the year that the Bulldogs would be proclaimed as the state champions? There is no player or coach on the team that is perfect, but together they had the perfect ending to the perfect season. Without losing a single game, the Bulldogs danced to victory Friday night along with their entire community. The players and coaches are very grateful for the support that was given throughout the season and hope that it will continue next year. This community has something to truly be proud of in the ECI Bulldogs, not just that they are a winning team but that they carry themselves with dignity, the quality of a true champion. So in the immortal words of Mr. Jesse Johnson, "Let's give that dawg a bone," and we will see everyone next year.

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