Jacksonville (3-0, 1-0) at Sardis (1-1, 0-1)
Last week’s scores: Saks 34, Sardis 7; Jacksonville 49, Crossville 12
Series record: First meeting
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Losing big to a big-time team can still produce some positives.
That is what Sardis coach Gene Hill sees on film this week.
“We had a lot go right for us,” he said of last week’s loss to Saks. “We looked good in spots and didn’t look good in spots.”
Hill said that Saks drove on the first possession of the game and barely got in the end zone. Sardis responded with a drive that stalled inside the 10-yard line, where the Lions missed a field goal.
Both teams then scored, and the Wildcats led only 12-7 and only 20-7 at halftime. The Lions had three turnovers against Saks.
“We felt good that we could move the ball,” Hill said. “And we had the ball first in the second half. But they took control and I think we deflated a lot after they stopped us on that first drive.”
Hill sees better matchups against Jacksonville.
“They’ve got some great athletes, but not as many as Saks does,” he said. “And they’re not going to beat themselves. We match up with them better – if we can just be more consistent and not turn the ball over.”