ECI Bulldogs win shootout against Jefferson County
By Justin Gray
The ECI Bulldogs football team could have gotten off to a better start than they did, but that is all in the past now and none of it matters, it's all about getting better each week because everything they want to accomplish is still in front of them.
This week they hosted Jefferson County for Homecoming. This week was chaotic from the start with Hurricane Ian projected to do damagelong with your normal crazy Homecoming activities. The game was even moved up to Thursday giving them less time to prepare, but the Bulldogs overcame and got ready for the game anyway.
The game started out fast paced as it was already 7-7 when RB PJ Farnum took it 62 yards for a house call to make it 14-7. The defense got a big stop on the next drive including a sack by Gabe Lee. After a few back and forth, nothing going for either team, drives Jefferson punched it in to make it 14-13.
Early in the fourth, it was 21-19 ECI, when PJ Farnum took another one to the house, this one a 79 yarder. Jefferson then scored and converted the two points to make it 28-27 ECI.
The offense stalled needing the defense to save the game and that they did as Cordarious Lee intercepted a pass across the middle of the field. The offense, starting on Jefferson’s side of the field, would try to finish it. Bryce Kearson added the final blow with a 26 yard touchdown run to make it 34-27.
That was the final score and a huge win for the Bulldogs. Stat leaders on offense were PJ Farnum with 20 carries for 218 yards and three touchdowns, Bryce Kearson with two carries, 43 yards, and a touchdown, and Tuff Boddiford with 19 carries for 84 yards.
The defensive stat leaders were Hudson Henry (14 tackles 3 TFL), Gabe Lee (10 tackles 3 TFL 2 sacks), and Timmy Dobson (7 tackles 3 TFL 2 sacks).
After the game Coach Kearson said, “Homecoming is in the books for another year. We are notorious for slow starts on homecoming and this was no exception. I was proud of the fight our kids showed and the fact that they were in a tight 4 quarter game always helps but these games are driving everybody’s blood pressure up.”
This was a huge win for the Bulldogs especially with region play coming up next. They get a off week as they prepare to host Portal, October 14 for their first region game of the year.