By Shannon J. Allen/Sand Mountain Reporter
Unbeaten Sardis exploded for 28 third-quarter points to break open the game and roar to a 49-7 triumph over Crossville in a Class 4A, Region 6 matchup on Friday night at Crossville.
Gene Hill’s Lions improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the region standings. Sardis extended its winning streak in the rivalry to seven games. Crossville dropped to 0-3, 0-2.
The visiting Lions rolled up 441 total yards.
Sardis, which led 21-7 at intermission, scored two touchdowns in less than three minutes to start the third period.
Keenan Lewis returned the second-half kickoff 56 yards to Crossville’s 29-yard line. Two plays later, Jesse Hubbard ripped off a 27-yard touchdown run.
Tim Kalascheck’s extra point made it 28-7 with 11:13 remaining.
Sardis covered 59 yards in four plays on its next series, with Will Scott tossing a 36-yard TD pass to Brett Rains at the 9:34 mark. Kalascheck kicked it to 35-7.
Sardis moved 61 yards on its third possession of the quarter, overcoming three holding penalties in the process.
Scott capped the drive with a 34-yard scoring pass to Rains, who caught the ball in traffic and out-ran the CHS defenders to the end zone. Sawyer Cahela’s kick made it 42-7.
Hubbard returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, but the scoring play was wiped out by a penalty.
Sardis took over at its 37 and scored in three plays, with Hubbard bursting through a hole on the left side for a 31-yard TD run. Cahela’s point-after extended Sardis’ advantage to 49-7 with 53.7 seconds to go in the quarter.
Sardis grabbed a 7-0 first-quarter lead when Austin Hallmark caught a Crossville fumble in mid-air and returned it 60 yards for a score. Kalascheck added the PAT at the 9:08 mark.
Crossville then drove 86 yards in five plays for its only touchdown. Quarterback Brody White connected with Austin Peppers on a 58-yard touchdown pass with 3:05 left in the first. Erik Rodriguez nailed the PAT, tying it 7-7.
Sardis scored 42 unanswered points the rest of the night.
Lewis’ 10-yard TD run put Sardis ahead to stay with 23.2 seconds remaining in the first. Kalascheck added the extra point.
Sardis took a 21-7 lead on Scott’s 59-yard scoring strike to Rains with 4:28 to play in the second period.
Sardis rushed for 248 yards, led by Lewis with 12 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. Hubbard ran six times for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Scott finished 10-of-17 passing for 193 yards and three TDs, all to Rains, who had five catches for 156 yards.
Sardis resumes region play on Friday at home against Douglas.