Photo: Sardis High’s Tre Dalrymple (left) pursues Geraldine’s Jamison Rowell during the Lions’ 20-19 loss last Friday (Sept. 28) in Sardis City. (Courtesy of Bentley Gray Photography)
By Huck Treadwell/Sand Mountain Reporter
A fourth quarter rally by Sardis High fell just a little short and Geraldine was able to escape with a 20-19 win last Friday (Sept. 28) in Sardis City.
Geraldine got an early lead when the Bulldogs put together a seven-play drive on the strength of a 34-yard run by Andrew Hall on third-and-25. The run set the Bulldogs up on the 6-yard line, and Hall punched the ball into the end zone two plays later on a 3-yard run.
The point after by Jose Garcia was good, and the Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded possessions until the second quarter. Geraldine put together a quick drive when D.J. Graham connected with Chase Kermondy on a 14-yard pass and Kyle Thackerson on 33-yard pass to the Sardis 1. Austin King carried the ball in from there, and Garcia’s PAT put Geraldine up 14-0 with 4:46 left in the half.
Geraldine (5-1, 3-0) took advantage of a Sardis turnover to start the third quarter. The Bulldogs started on the Sardis 37-yard line. King picked up 5-yards on first down and Hall broke a 31-yard run up the middle to set up first-goal at the Sardis 1-yard line. Hall carried the ball in on the next play. The Bulldogs attempted a two-point conversion that failed, and with 10:50 left in the game, Geraldine stretched its lead to 20-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, Luke Morris fielded the ball at the Sardis 4 and broke through the middle of the Geraldine defense and raced down the home sideline for a 96-yard kickoff return. The Lions attempted a two-point conversion, but it failed. With 10:33 left in the game, the Lions cut Geraldine’s lead to 20-6.
Early in the fourth quarter, Sardis put together a 10-play, 69-yard drive to cut into the Bulldog lead. Jay Owens carried the ball in from the Bulldog 7-yard line on a quarterback keeper, and Trey Salers added the PAT to make the score 20-13 with 5:39 left in the game.
The Lions forced Geraldine to punt on its next possession and started a drive from the Sardis 37. Owens completed four passes on the drive, and Mason Golden had receptions of 12 and 10 yards, Jacob Hopper had a nine-yard reception and Brandon Noblitt scored on a 28-yard pass with 1:46 left in the game. The PAT failed, and the Lions trailed 20-19.
The following onside kick went out of bounds, and Geraldine gained a first down and took a knee to run out the clock.
Owens was 9 for 11 in passing for 176 yards. Hopper caught three passes for 69 yards, while Golden had three receptions for 59 yards.
Defensively for the Lions, Trent Presley and Michael Smith each had six tackles, followed by
Morris and Michael Turner with five each.
Sardis (2-3, 1-2) continues region play this Friday (Oct. 5) with a visit to Alexandria.