Geraldine 26     Crossville 23

Geraldine, AL Aug. 27, 2005

The Crossville Lions started the new 2005 season on the road. When it was over, the home standing Geraldine Bulldogs came away with a tight 26-23 victory. The Lions were unable to put the game away in the 2nd half due to penalties and bad field position. The Lions were also unable to recover from a bad call on an onside kick which was recovered before the required 10 yards needed to make the kick legal. Despite all, the Lions had their chance to pull out a victory when they recovered a Geraldine fumble with 1:30 left in the game. The rally attempt failed when Clay Allen threw an interception with 29.7 seconds to go.

The Lions started off strong defensively, stopping the Bulldogs and forcing a punt ,which the Lions' Spence Galloway blocked and Crossville recovered the loose ball deep into Geraldine territory. Clay Allen punched in a touchdown run three play after and Luis Rivera kicked the PAT to put the Lions up 7-0.

The Bulldogs recovered an fumble by Crossville tailback Jonathan Martin and Geraldine's Dan Cofield picked the ball up and rambled 35 yards for the touchdown. The extra point try was no good and the Lions maintained a 7-6 advantage.

Martin would redeem himself on the ensuing kickoff on a dazzling 83 yard return which he broke right up the middle, sidestepping several potential tacklers on the way. The PAT hit the left upright and fell no good leaving the Lions with a 13-7 lead.

After a Crossville timeout with 46.6 seconds to go in the first half, Geraldine would score on a fourth and one carry. White kicked the PAT to knot it up at 13-13 closing the scoring for the first half.

Geraldine drove again deep into Crossville territory but the Lions defense held and forced a Field Goal attempt by Dan Cofield, which was wide left.

Jonathan Martin appeared to have broke the game open with an 80 yard run that was called back due to a holding penalty. Martin scored from 47 yards away to put the Lions ahead again once more and the kick gave the Lions yet another 7 point lead at 20-13.

Geraldine would answer once again and tie it 20-20 as Bulldogs quarterback Armstrong hit Zach England for 17 yards and the score.

Crossville would pull ahead with 7:35 to go with a 38 yard field goal from Ben Brenden.

The kick-off was taken and returned to the Crossville 21 yard line. Steven Williams scored on the next play giving Geraldine it's first lead at 26-23.

The next play had the will have some people talking for quite a while. The Bulldogs tried an onside kick, which was recovered at the 47 yard line by a Bulldog player. The kick should have gone past the 50 yard-line before being touched by anyone. The Dogs caught a break and got another chance, which they kicked and it bounced off of a Crossville defender and was recovered by Geraldine. The Bulldog drive was short, but used valuable time off of the clock.

Crossville would get the ball and try to maintain a drive but turned the ball over on downs. The next play, a Dog fumble was recovered but with only one timeout left, the Lions were only able to get the ball to the Geraldine twenty yard-line. The interception in the end-zone would end any hope of a comeback.

Crossville will play host to New Hope on Friday night in a Region game.