Class A Semifianls - Clinch Co. vs. ECI

4SHOT Sports

Football - 2007
Class A Semifianls - Clinch Co. vs. ECI
By Larry "L.A." Williams
Dec 7, 2007, 03:14 EST

Class A Semifinals

Clinch County (11-2) vs. Emanuel County Institute (13-0)

ECI remains undefeated as the head to Class A Finals

Washaun Ealey scores 4 TD’s in win

Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA

ECI tailback Washaun Ealey strikes the pose after scoring his 4th touchdown of the game

Atlanta, GA - The undefeated “Bulldogs” from Emanuel County Institute hit the Georgia Dome against 11-2 Clinch County like the Georgia “Bulldogs” did against the Auburn “Tigers”. Now they didn’t have on black jerseys but everything else looked the same as they rode the wings of their fleet-footed All-State tailback Washaun Ealey…sound like the UGA “Bulldogs”….you already know.

Like the previous semifinal game defense was the name of the game early on. Leading the defensive charge for the ECI “Bulldogs” was their massive junior DL-JC Lanier, DL-Chad Howell, DL-Clifford Milton and LB-Dexter Moody. Meanwhile for the “Panthers” from Clinch County it was the stellar play of DE-James Edwards, DL-Ben Johnson, DL-Chris Hoopiiaina and LB-Trey Richardson.

On ECI’s first possession of the game the electrifying Ealey ripped off a 15-yard run to give the “Bulldogs” a first down on the Clinch County 45-yard line. Two tough runs by WB-Sanquez Lee moved the ball to the 23-yard line. For some reason the “Bulldogs” went away from the run when QB-Michael Robertson tried to go for it all and was picked off by Clinch County DB-Brandon Richardson at the 3-yard line.

The “Panthers” were unable to move the ball from out of their own endzone and were forced to punt. ECI took the ball on the 38-yard line after the punt and quickly gave the ball to Ealey who picked up a first down on the 21-yard line. A few plays and a penalty later Ealey busted loose for 23-yards and a “Bulldogs” touchdown. The PAT by K-Randall Carlyle made the score 7-0 with :58 seconds left in the quarter.

Clinch County QB-Vintavious Cooper was under pressure all day from ECI's massive DL-JC Lanier

Just when it looked like all the momentum was on the side of the “Bulldogs”, lightning struck and it came in the form of Clinch County’s good looking sophomore quarterback Vintavious Cooper. First Cooper scrambled out of danger and flipped a little over-handed pass to WR-Dominque Ellis, who turned the play into a 35-yard gain to the ECI 36-yard line. On the next play with time running out in the quarter Cooper lit out down the sidelines for a 35-yard touchdown run. The PAT by K-Darius Minson tied the game at 7-7.

As the second quarter got under way Robertson connect with WR-LaCollie Gordon for 19-yards and a first-down. A 12-yard run by Robertson moved the ball to the Clinch County 11-yard line. Robertson then found WR-Wes Wammock wide-open in the back of the endzone for the score to make it 14-7.

Just before the end of the half the electrifying Mr. Ealey busted loose for 53-yards and a touchdown to give the “Bulldogs” from Emanuel County Institute a 21-7 halftime lead.

ECI took the third quarter kickoff at their 27-yard line and started marching down field. Facing a third down and long Robertson hit Gordon for 14-yards and a first down on the Clinch County 33-yard line. The drive abruptly came to a halt when Robertson tried to go deep to WR-Dexter Moody and was picked off by Clinch County DB-Dominque Ellis.

Ellis, who was all over the field turned right around and caught a 67-yard touchdown pass on the next play but he was whistled for “Offensive Pass Interference” and the play was called back.

A blocked punt by Clinch County’s Kyle Morris was recovered by James Edwards on the ECI 4-yard line with 2:51 left in the third quarter. After a couple of miscues and a penalty the “Panthers” running back Ronnie Hill bolted in from the 3-yard line for the score to cut the “Bulldogs” lead to 21-14 as the third-quarter came to a close.

Clich County DB-Dominique Ellis goes high to pick off this pass infront of ECI WR-Pat Branch

As the forth quarter got under way you could sense that the Dome test “Panthers” from Clinch County were starting to take control of the game. Ellis came up with another big interception to end another ECI drive at the 20-yard line.

With 8:19 left in the game the “Bulldogs” went back to work. A bigtime 12-yard run by Ealey gave the “Bulldogs” a first-down on the “Panthers” 31-yard line. The drive was thwarted when a reverse handoff was fumbled and recovered by Clinch County LB-Trey Richardson on the 42-yard line.

Cooper who is an electrifying young player, made a beautiful scramble for 17-yards to the ECI 38-yard line. But then the two most dramatic plays of the game took place. With 4:01 left to play Ellis who had a big game for the “Panthers” fumbled the ball right into the waiting arms of ECI LB-Mark Flott on the “Bulldogs” 43-yard line. Two plays after that Ealey jumped back into the “Matrix” ripping off a 48-yard touchdown run to give ECI a 28-14 lead.

A interception by ECI DB-Pat Branch a few moments later led to the play that broke the “Panthers” back as Ealey who stayed in the “Matrix” busted loose for an electrifying 80-yard touchdown run, his forth of the game. The PAT by K-Will Hinson made the score 35-14.

Clinch County like the champions they are made one last drive that ended on the ECI 14-yard line, ECI took over and ran out the clock coming away with a very solid 35-14 win to advance to the Class A State Championship game against Wilcox County.

Final Score: Emanuel County Institute 35 - Clinch County 14