Playing without their starting center and starting quarterback for most of the game Statesboro relied on their defense to keep them in the game, and the offense finally wore down ECI as the Blue Devils knocked off the Bulldogs 25-12 to improve to 3-0 on the season.

“It was a great job by our defense tonight,” said Statesboro coach Matt Dobson. “25 is more than 12 and it’s hard to win football games on Friday nights. I’m proud of our defense for keeping s in it and our offense finally got going in the second half.”

The Statesboro defense spent the majority of the game on the field including a nine-minute drive in the third quarter as they held ECI on fourth and goal. From there the Blue Devils offense started pounding the ball on the ground with D.J. Brooks who finished with 150 yards rushing and the Blue Devils outscored the Bulldogs 22-6 the rest of the way.

“We found a way to get a stop on fourth down after their long drive,” Dobson said. “D.J. did a phenomenal job but so did our offensive line and two tight ends out there. In the second half for about 95 percent of the time we ran the same play. We challenged our line and backs to move people and move forward and they did a great job.”

There wasn’t a lot of action on either side of the ball in the first quarter. Statesboro quarterback Beckham Jarrard reinjured his ankle and came out toward the end of the quarter and would not return.

ECI got on the board first on a 65-yard reverse to Charles Buie as they took a 6-0 lead. Statesboro finally started moving the ball late in the second quarter as D.J. Brooks reeled off a couple nice runs and then Fulcher hot Davis Harrison down to the 22-yard line. A couple plays later Maddux Davis split the uprights from 35-yards away to send the game to halftime with Statesboro trailing 6-3.

The ECI offense got the ball to start the third quarter and proceeded to go on a nine-minute drive. Statesboro was able to hold them on fourth and goal and then the Bulldogs got a heavy heaping of D.J. Brooks. Brooks had consecutive runs of 16-yards, 12-yards and 32-yards. He’d have 117-yards rushing in the second half alone. Gideon Fulcher capped the drive with a three-yard run for a 10-6 Statesboro lead.

The Blue Devils defense then came through with the only turnover of the game stripping Terrace Weaver of the ball as Jammie Chavers recovered at the ECI 43-yard line. Brooks capped the Statesboro drive with a two-yard touchdown for a 17-6 lead.

ECI didn’t quit though as quarterback Ab Marsh scrambled around and scored on a five-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 17-12 with 5:52 to play in the game.

Statesboro responded with just under two minutes remaining in the contest with a six-yard touchdown for Brooks. After the game Dobson was happy the Blue Devils have next Friday off before opening region play against Benedictine.

“I could use a week off myself,” Dobson said. “We have a couple key guys banged up so getting an extra week to heal is crucial for us. To be 3-0 against a few pretty good teams is a great position to be in. We still have a lot to work on including getting off to a better start but I am pleased with our progress and where we currently sit.”

Statesboro hosts Benedictine Sept. 18 at 7:30.