Marla Jones, Sports Editor
GERALDINE, Ala.-- In the 100th Battle of Skirum Creek, the Geraldine Bulldogs defeated the Crossville Lions, 53-0.
Crossville won the battle last year but going into the game, the Bulldogs had won the series 16 times in the past twenty years. The Lions lead the battle with a 57-40-3 record. Despite the records, the game always creates great competition with both teams.
With just a minute into the battle, the Bulldogs forced one of the first four turnovers of the game, as Colton Lusher made an interception. The Bulldogs capitalized on the interception, scoring on a quarterback keeper by Jaxon Colvin. The extra point attempt failed but gave the Bulldogs the 6-0 lead, with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. After a fumble recovery by Carlos Mann, Lusher crashed in from 4-yards out for another Bulldog touchdown, with 4:58 remaining in the first. Caleb Hall brought in the two-point conversion to go up, 14-0. After a bad snap, the Bulldogs cashed in on another touchdown by Colvin with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter. The Bulldogs went for two but Javier Juan of the Crossville Lions made the tackle for a loss, making the score 20-0. After a failed fourth-down for the Lions, Colvin connected with a 33-yard pass to Mann for the Bulldog touchdown. Kobe Hill brought in the two-point conversion with :30 remaining in the first quarter, making the score 28-0.
Hall dashed into the endzone from 2-yards out to give the Bulldogs the 34-0 lead, with 7:29 remaining in the first half. Lusher intercepted for the second time of the game, with 6:21 remaining in the second quarter. The Lions received a personal foul on the return, moving the ball to the 3. Mann crashed into the endzone to make the score 40-0, with 6:15 remaining in the first half. With :20 remaining before the half, Bo Harper scored on a quarterback keeper. The extra point attempt was not good but gave the Bulldogs the 46-0 advantage going into halftime.
With 3:32 remaining in the ballgame, Cody Satterfield galloped into the endzone from 60-yards out to score the final Bulldog touchdown. The extra point was good to give the Geraldine Bulldogs the 53-0 victory over the Crossville Lions.
The Geraldine Bulldogs finished the night with 378 yards. Cody Satterfield led the Bulldogs with 96 yards on 5 carries. Andrew Hall followed with 75 yards on 10 carries.
The Geraldine Bulldogs will travel to face Ohatchee in the first round of the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Playoffs (AHSAA) on Friday night.
