Emanuel County Institute did it again last week, pulling off a late win in the playoffs to improve its winning streak to 29 games and advance to its second-straight state title game.

            Now before you put the paper down in disgust — I get the sense a lot of our readers may be sick and tired of all the ECI talk — we must give props where the props are due.

            I know these guys aren’t from Statesboro. They’re not from Bulloch County. They’re not the hometown team. But you can’t ignore the historical things that are happening in Twin City, Ga.

            On Saturday, at 2 p.m., an era will come to an end at the Class A school when the Bulldogs meet Wesleyan of Atlanta in the Georgia Dome. Seven seniors, including Dexter Moody, J.C. Lanier, Mark Flott and Washaun Ealey — all of whom will be playing D-I football next fall — will play their final game in red-and-white.

            Those seniors haven’t lost a regular season game in three years and have only lost one game total in that same span. Those accomplishments aren’t likely to be matched in some time.

            We’ll have full coverage this weekend from the Dome on what is likely to be an historic afternoon.

            After an ECI-like week, sitting at 86-64 for the year.

Playoffs?!

             With the FBS regular season over, our full attention now turns to football leagues that actually decide a true champion.

            How about the prep scenes?

            We’ll avoid the Class A game so as not to jinx the Bulldogs. In Class AA, it’s Calhoun against Buford. Calhoun hasn’t scored less than 38 points in a single playoff game yet while Buford hasn’t scored less than 44 in a game this postseason.

            Can you smell the shootout? Take the defending state champs and their own 29-game win streak, 44-38.

            Class AAA pits the surprise Syrupmakers of Cairo against No. 3 seed Flowery Branch. Can you pick a school named Flowery Branch? How can you not pick against a name like ‘Syrupmakers’? Take Cairo — that’s pronounced K-ro, Mr. Phil Boyum — in a defensive game, 14-13.

            Class AAAA saw Rome — remember them? — lose on the final play of the game to Marist. That’s tough. What’s tougher is that the War Eagles draw Tucker, a team that shutdown Westside of Macon and absolutely shutout Griffin. Take Tucker pulling away, 28-14.

            In the Big Show, Peachtree Ridge from Gwinnett County faces our friends to the south, Camden County in Class AAAAA. I just can’t pick a school that didn’t exist a few years ago. The Lions already have one state title and you should probably have to suffer a little while longer before getting the second. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.

            Take the Cats of Camden, 21-20.

            In FCS land, I went 4-0 last week so pay attention people! I can’t stress that enough.

            Montana’s at James Madison and I’ll roll with the Dukes until they stop rolling. Richmond dismantled App State and now has to travel to Northern Iowa. Richmond’s defense is tough, but I’m with the UNI kids in a close one.

            In Division II it’s Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota-Duluth in Florence, Ala. I’ll take Northwest, because I said so.

            How about the NAIA - yeah, I’ll do it. Carroll of Montana against Sioux Falls of South Dakota in, you guessed it, Rome, Ga. I should guess the attendance for this game, rather than the score, and I will. Five hundred people watch Sioux Falls win, 31-28.