The Portal Panthers (2-3, 1-2) have not taken the field for a football game since their 28-7 loss to Metter on Sept. 20. Like the rest of the GHSA schools in Bulloch County, Portal had an unexpected 10-day break due to Hurricane Helene. Many of the Portal residents were without power and water for up to a week after the storm hit and head coach Jason McEachin was happy to finally get the team together Monday in preparation for their game against ECI Friday in Portal.
“It was great to finally lay eyes on the guys and see that they were all doing okay,” McEachin said. “It was important to get them back to a normal routine and they have responded with a couple of really good practices. I think they are excited about getting back under the lights Friday night too.”
After being on the losing end in the cross-county rivalry for 11-straight years, the Panthers broke free in major fashion last season dishing out a 40-0 whipping on their way to a region title.
This year the Bulldogs will be looking for some payback as they come in with an overall record of 3-2 and are 1-2 in region play. McEachin knows they are looking for revenge and is prepared for a battle Friday night.
“They have a lot of players who were here for that game and we do too,” McEachin said. “They actually got hit with the storm even worse than we did so I don’t know how that will play out. They have been really competitive in every game they have played and have had three games that have been decided in overtime.”
McEachin feels the game could come down to the wire and feels the Panthers may have to go to the air for success.
“We have tried to throw the ball but had bad weather against Bryan County and then had a bad matchup with Metter,” McEachin said. “We have been working hard on it and we will need to be able to throw the ball against ECI. They like to run the ball and get downhill. We think we are going to have to make them do things they do not want to do and win the turnover battle to be successful Friday.”
The matchup between Portal and ECI is scheduled for 7:30 Friday night at the Portal Athletic Complex.
