STAFF REPORTS
BOAZ — On a homecoming night filled with nerves and momentum swings, the Boaz Pirates delivered their biggest stop of the season to survive a region thriller against the Sardis Lions on Friday night.
Trailing 28-24 with 16 seconds left, Sardis had the ball on the Pirate 5-yard line and a chance to steal a dramatic comeback win. Instead, Levi Martin’s fourth-down run was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, and Boaz took a knee on the next snap to escape with a heart-pounding Class 5A, Region 8 victory at Dr. L.F. Corley Jr. Stadium.
The matchup carried plenty of history and intrigue going in. Friday marked the 73rd meeting between the programs, with Boaz holding a 45-23-4 series lead. The Pirates had won five straight in the rivalry, including a 35-14 victory last fall. Sardis’ last win in the series came in 2019 — also at Boaz.
Boaz entered riding a two-game win streak, including a dominant 20-0 shutout of Class 3A No. 4 Geraldine. Sardis, meanwhile, had dropped four straight, most recently a 51-13 loss to Alexandria.
Still, the Lions pushed their neighbor to the brink.
The narrow victory pushes Boaz to 5-1 (2-1), while Sardis fell to 1-6 (0-4) despite outgaining the Pirates 298 yards to 237 and controlling the ball for more than 37 minutes of game time.
Senior running back Presley Fant was the difference-maker for Boaz. He ran for 196 yards on just 15 carries, scoring three touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner — a 2-yard plunge with 6:14 left that capped a 75-yard drive and gave the Pirates a 28-24 lead. Fant also added a 17-yard scoring run in the first quarter and a 1-yard TD in the second.
Quarterback Beau Bennett provided the lone Pirate passing highlight, connecting with Jay Patterson for a 33-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
Sardis countered with grit and big plays of its own. Grant Coe completed 19 of 26 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown, finding Brayden Whidden on a 23-yard strike in the second quarter. Michele Menditto added a 23-yard field goal early in the period. Martin powered the Lions’ ground game with 106 yards and a 3-yard score early in the fourth that briefly put Sardis ahead 24-21. Coe also chipped in 55 yards rushing.
The Lions also got a huge defensive spark just before halftime when Lamont Richardson returned an interception 69 yards as time expired in the second quarter, cutting Boaz’s lead to 21-17.
But in the end, it was the Pirate defense that delivered the last word, standing tall with the game on the line.
Boaz finished with just six first downs compared to Sardis’ 20, but the Pirates averaged an eye-popping 9.1 yards per play, leaning on Fant’s explosive runs to offset mistakes, including two Bennett interceptions.
Next week, the Pirates travel to region foe Brewer (2-4), which is coming off a huge 34-31 upset win over Scottsboro. Sardis returns home to host Douglas (3-3).
Boaz running back Presley Fant (5) pulls away from Sardis linebacker Grant Coe (3) Friday night during the Pirates’ 28-24 homecoming victory over the rival Lions at Dr. L.F. Corley Jr. Stadium. Fant ran for 196 yards on 15 carries in the Boaz victory with three touchdowns, including a 2-yard score that gave the Pirates the lead in the fourth quarter. Photo by BENTLEY GRAY PHOTOGRAPHY l For The Leader
