Messenger file photo courtesy of Bentley Gray Photography
By Shannon J. Allen/Sand Mountain Reporter
The Sardis High football team broke a 20-game losing streak by beating Crossville 44-22 on October 15 in Class 5A, Region 7 action.
The Lions (1-7, 1-4) posted their first victory since a 28-0 win over Crossville on Oct. 18, 2019. Sardis lost its final three games of the 2019 season and went 0-10 in 2020.
Sardis never trailed against Crossville. Kane Lawson’s 8-yard touchdown run gave head coach Gene Hill’s team a 6-0 first-quarter advantage, while Logan Edwards’ 3-yard TD run, followed by Lawson’s two-point conversion, extended Sardis’ margin to 14-0.
Crossville (0-8, 0-5) found the scoreboard on Antonio Quintana’s 2-yard TD run in the second quarter. The visiting Lions made the two-point conversion, trimming it to 14-8.
Sardis answered with its final TD of the opening half, which came on Lawson’s 3-yard run.
Brody Samples (pictured above at left) passed to Derek Tarvin for two points and a 22-8 cushion.
Crossville answered before halftime, as Jadyn Heflin connected with Keajuan Hatley on a TD pass with 18.7 seconds left. The two-point conversion failed.
Max Feemster’s fumble recovery 54 seconds into the third quarter gave the Sardis offense excellent field position, and the host Lions cashed in the turnover on Samples’ 1-yard run at the 9:49 mark. He passed to Kason Moore for two points, pushing Sardis’ lead to 30-14.
Quintana returned the ensuing kickoff to Sardis’ 41-yard line. On fourth-and-16, backup quarterback Caleb Causey heaved a 35-yard TD pass to Kolby Lesley down the middle of the field with 7:18 on the clock. Griffin Hefner bulled his way into the end zone for two points, cutting it to 30-22.
Sardis recaptured the momentum on the next kickoff, which Spencer Maroney returned 67 yards for a touchdown. Samples threw to Eli Morton for two points, and Sardis led 38-22 with 7:04 on the clock.
Samples ran for Sardis’ final TD of the night with 2:58 remaining in the third. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
Maroney, Case Martin, Garrett Burns and Bryan Gramajo each contributed an interception for Sardis.
Sardis finishes region play this Friday (Oct. 22) with a visit to Fairview.