Sardis loses to Geraldine 20-19

SARDIS CITY — Trailing 20-0 at the half, Sardis made a comeback attempt only to fall just shy in a 20-19 loss to Geraldine in non-region action Friday.

The Lions (2-3) finally scratched the scoreboard after the opening kickoff of the second half. Luke Morris fielded the kick at his 6 and raced 94 yards for a touchdown. Sardis' point-after attempt failed on a bobbled snap to trail 20-6 with 10:30 left in the third quarter.

After holding Geraldine on its next possession, the Lions marched down to the Bulldogs' goal line only to see the drive stall less than two feet from the end zone with 3:12 left in the quarter.

Sardis drew to within a score of Geraldine with 5:39 left to play when Jay Ownes found paydirt from 9 yards out. The scoring drive was highlighted by a 45-yard pass from Owens to Jacob Hopper.

The Bulldogs (5-1) still could not muster much offense in the second half.

After forcing another Geraldine punt, Sardis scored what seemed to be the game-tying touchdown.

Owen found Brandon Noblitt from 28 yards out to pull within a point of the Bulldogs. Sardis only needed the extra point to knot the game. The Lions were flagged for delay of game on the point-after attempt so they were left to attempt a 22-yard PAT. The kick sailed wide right.

Sardis attempted the onside kick but Geraldine covered the ball and ran the clock out.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 20-point lead thanks to two Andrew Hall touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards. Sandwiched between Hall's scores came an Austin King 1-yard dive into the end zone with 4:46 left in the half.

Sardis' offense struggled much of the opening half. The Lions' first first down came with 3:19 left in the second quarter.

Sardis returns to region action next week at Alexandria.