FROM STAFF REPORTS
GERALDINE — In one of the biggest upsets in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs, the Curry Yellow Jackets left Coolidge-Isbell Field on Friday night with a first round victory over the Geraldine Bulldogs in a low-scoring 13-6 win. The Yellow Jackets had impressive advantages with 13 more minutes in time of possession while also holding the Bulldogs to just 169 total offensive yards for the entirety of the ballgame.
On Curry’s first possession of the game, the Yellow Jackets chewed through a majority of the first quarter while also capping off a scoring drive with a Aiden Ferguson rushing touchdown from 1-yard out to take a 7-0 lead over the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs would just have one offensive possession in the entire first half which would end in a turnover on downs. On Curry’s final drive of the first half, they would miss a 41-yard field goal and would take a 7-0 lead into intermission.
To start the second half, the Bulldogs would start on offense. Geraldine would build some momentum as quarterback Jon Beck Wade would rush for a 21-yard first down. The drive would stall however as the Yellow Jackets defense would force the Bulldogs to punt three plays later.
After forcing Curry to punt away the football midway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs would get their next drive going with a Wade first down pass to AJ Carter. The Curry defense would again make a big play as Geraldine would fumble the football and the Yellow Jackets would recover it to put them back on offense.
In the final quarter, Curry would put up a field goal from 45-yards out to take a 10-0 lead over the Bulldogs. After forcing another punt out of Geraldine, Curry would extend their lead to 13-0 with another field goal from 48-yards out.
With desperation setting in, the Bulldogs finally got their offense going with a rushing touchdown by Carter from 7-yards out to cut Curry’s lead to 13-6 late in the fourth quarter. Despite the late touchdown, the clock would strike all zeroes and Curry would complete the 13-6 first round upset over Geraldine.
The Bulldogs would be led by Wade who finished with 138 total offensive yards. Carter would catch four passes for 38 yards while also rushing for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs conclude the 2026 season with a 9-2 record.
The Geraldine defense led by AJ Carter (1), Clayton Chisenhall (13), James Eakins (41) and Jacob Bryant (23) takes down Curry quarterback Heath Miller during first half action Friday night in the first round of the playoffs. PATRICK GRAHAM l The Leader
