Geraldine (3-1) at Sardis (2-2)
Last week: Sardis 49, Hokes Bluff 21; Geraldine 30, Brindlee Mountain 0
Last meeting: Sardis 31, Geraldine 24 (2013)
Series record: Sardis leads 21-13-1
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Next up for Sardis High is a heady Geraldine team that is playing well after earlier losing starting fullback Marcus Davis, who tore his ACL against Pisgah in Week 3 and is out for the year.
Davis rushed 54 times for 453 yards and seven touchdowns before getting hurt.
“They’re one of the better teams we’ve seen, despite losing [Davis],” Sardis coach Gene Hill said. “Their quarterback is solid. They don’t throw much but when they do, he’s very capable. And they’ve got a couple of good wide receivers.
“But the quarterback (Jake Maddox) is their best player. He can hurt you with his legs or arm.”
Maddox threw for 146 yards and a touchdown last week against Brindlee Mountain.
All of the Lions’ freshmen have grown up to the point of being very able to play varsity football. That includes freshman quarterback Logan Gaskin, who “is throwing the ball better.”
Also, running back Keenan Lewis is “close to 100 percent” after being injured in the preseason.
“Our run game was pretty effective (against Hokes Bluff),” Hill said. “As Lewis gets better, we’ll get better.”
Hill was very happy with his team’s run defense last week but is working on shoring up some pass defense.
Last week against Hokes Bluff, Keenan Lewis rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Jesse Hubbard finished with 158 total yards and four touchdowns, He rushed seven times for 85 yards and three scores and caught four passes for 73 yards and a score.
Logan Gaskin was 9 of 15 in passing for 156 yards, all in the first half.