Courtesy of Sand Mountain Reporter
Junior running back Keenan Lewis rushed 22 times for 251 yards and two touchdowns to propel Sardis to a 21-16 triumph over Sylvania on Friday (Aug. 29).
Jesse Hubbard ran 12 times for 69 yards and a score. He also intercepted four passes on defense.
Sardis got out to an early 7-0 lead after a 46-yard Lewis run.
Sylvania was able to mount a scoring drive after Lucas Wooten returned a punt 20 yards to the Sardis 30-yard line. A couple of plays later, Dillon Cambron connected with Curtis Bethune on a 25-yard touchdown pass. The extra point failed.
Hubbard broke through the Sylvania defense and raced 59 yards into the end zone early in the third quarter. However, there was a block in the back called on Sardis and a personal foul called on Sylvania. The penalties offset and the down was replayed.
Lewis took the ball on a sweep to the right side of the formation. Sylvania had him bottled up, but Lewis spun out of a tackle and ran 59 yards to the end zone. After the extra point, Sardis led 14-6.
On Sylvania’s next drive, Hubbard picked off his second pass of the night and set Sardis up at the Sylvania 25. On second-and-eight, Lewis scampered into the end zone from 23 yards out. After the extra point, Sardis led 21-6.
Sylvania started the fourth quarter on the Sardis 42. The Rams mounted a drive with Cambron setting the Rams up on the half-yard line after a 17-yard run. On third-and goal, Cambron scored on a quarterback sneak.
The Rams went for two and Skylar Chaney hauled in a pass from Cambron to cut the lead to 21-14.
Hubbard picked off his third pass of the night with 1:35 remaining in the game. But Sylvania held on defense and pinned Sardis inside its own 10. The Lions took a safety on fourth down in order to kick from the 20-yard line.
Sylvania got the ball back with 29.2 seconds left in the game. The Rams tried two passes into the end zone. The first was tipped away and the second ended up in Hubbard’s hands for his fourth pick of the night.
Sardis begins region play on Friday with a visit to Saks.