TWIN CITY - With three state championship appearances in the last eight years, the Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs demonstrated why they are revered as one of the top teams in Class A football as they defeated Portal 52-7 Friday night at Rountree Stadium.
Coming off of a 41-10 victory over Metter High School last week, the Bulldogs (2-1) jumped out to an early lead, scoring on their first four possessions of the game.
The Panthers (0-3) couldn't avenge a 42-14 loss to the Bulldogs last year.
The Panthers' run game had trouble against ECI's big defensive front. As a team, Portal ran for 151 yards on 25 carries. A 68-yard touchdown run by Craig Ware late in the fourth quarter helped pad Portal's running statistics.
Darius Huff had 29 yards on eight carries while Malik Williams ran for 16 yards on nine carries. Fred Holloway ran for 44 yards on six touches.
It was a tough night for the Panthers' secondary as ECI starting quarterback Rhett Gay threw for two touchdown passes in the first half alone.
"We knew we were going to have a tough time stopping them. They're big, fast and can run well off the ball," said Portal interim head coach Matt Smith. "There is a definite size difference up front."
The Panthers played well on defense during the Bulldogs' first two drives of the game, however, ECI converted on long third downs.
The Bulldogs struck first with as the team's leading rusher Ricky Lee ran up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown. ECI would go on to score 46 unanswered points.
'We had them third-and-seven or third-and-eight six or seven times and we just couldn't make the play to get off the field," Smith said. "That was big for us. If we could have got off the field early, there's no telling what could have happened."
Gay put on a passing clinic as he threw for 176 yards on 17 attempts.
In one of the most crucial plays of the game, Gay displayed his composure while backed up on his own 1-yard line. In the second quarter, up 12-0, Gay threw a 39-yard strike down field change the momentum of the game.
Instead of the Panthers picking up a potential safety for their first points of the ballgame, the Bulldogs would go on to score on the drive, capped by Gay's two-yard touchdown pass to David Durden.
"We struggled up front at times. We're still learning how to play fundamental football, but we moved the ball well at times," Smith said.
To make matters worse, Portal starting quarterback Jake Brown went down with an injury before halftime.
Coach Smith said Brown hit his hand on an opposing defenders helmet during a throw. After the game, Smith said there were no further updates on Brown's injury status.
Portal will have some time to regroup after a tough game. The Panthers' next contest is scheduled for Sept. 25 against Johnson County.
Horace Holloman may be reached at (912) 489-9408.
Box Score
PTL 0 0 0 7 — 7
ECI 12 20 7 13 — 52
First Quarter
ECI_Lee 47 run (conversion failed) 8:08
ECI_Gay 9 pass to Johnson (conversion failed) 0:44
Second Quarter
ECI_Gay 2 pass to Durden (conversion failed) 9:22
ECI_Lee 36 run (Durden kick) 2:40
ECI_Durden 30 run (Durden kick) 9:29
Third Quarter
ECI_Gay 15 run (Durden kick) 3:53
Fourth Quarter
ECI_Kirkland 5 yard run (Durden kick) 8:11
PTL_Ware 68 run (PAT good) 5:55
ECI_Rock 20 run (conversion failed) 3:28
PTL ECI
Total Yards 176 558
Rushes-yards 25-151 30-387
Passing 24 60
Comp-Att-Int 3-10-2 12-17-1
Turnovers 3 1
Penalties-Yards 2-10 5-40
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing_ECI: Lee 11-127, Gay 5-51, McNear 4-68; PTL_Ware 1-68, Holloway 6-44, Huff 8-29,
Passing_ECI: Gay 12-17-176; PTL_Brown 2-7-14
Receiving_ECI: Durden 4-49, Steele 2-59, Jackson 3-30
