By Adam Crocker/Sports Correspondent
Sardis High suffered a 41- 20 Class 3A, Region 6 loss against Jacksonville on Friday (Sept. 11) at JHS.
“It should have been a close game, but there were two crucial plays that we needed to execute on, and we didn’t,” said Sardis coach Gene Hill.
The game started out on a positive note for the Lions (1-2, 0-2) with an onside kick recovery. Sardis ended up scoring on a six-play, 37-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run from Grant Garner. Javin Smith’s PAT was good, making the scoring 7-0 with 10:04 remaining in the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles (3-1) responded with a 26-yard touchdown run from Quen Veasley, but the PAT was no good, making it 7-6 with 8:15 left in the quarter.
Following a Sardis punt, the hosts took the lead on Niko Richmond’s 52 yard-touchdown run. Veasley’s two-point conversion pass score made it 14-7 in favor of Jacksonville.
The teams traded the ball back and forth until the 3:36 mark of the second quarter, when Sardis scored on Logan Gaskin’s 40-yard scoring pass to Austin Hallmark. The PAT was good, making it 14-13.
But the Eagles answered with Veasley’s 19-yard run for a 21-13 halftime lead, and Veasley’s 62-yard scoring pass to Taye Ackles pushed the lead to 27-13 at the 3:50 mark of the third period.
Jacksonville added a pair of touchdowns in the second half, first on Richmond’s 9-yard scoring dash with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter and then on Veasley’s 1-yard TD run with 9:10 remaining.
Sardis added one more score to end the game.
Gaskin was 7 for 18 in passing, while Brandon Cruz ran 17 times for 25 yards.
Sardis returns home next week to face Hokes Bluff in another region matchup.