By TAYLOR BECK, Sports Editor
SARDIS CITY — Sardis gave unbeaten No. 4 Fairview all it could handle Friday night, falling just short in a 41-39 heartbreaker at Lions Stadium.
The Lions (1-8) led 33-20 at halftime after a first-half offensive showcase, but Fairview (8-0) stormed back with 21 unanswered points to grab a 41-33 lead early in the fourth quarter. Still, Sardis refused to fold — engineering one of its most impressive drives of the season.
Trailing by eight with under 10 minutes remaining, the Lions started from their own 27-yard line and marched 73 yards downfield behind strong running from Levi Martin and Grant Coe. Facing a 4th-and-20 at the Fairview 31 after a fumbled snap and penalty, Coe kept the drive alive with a clutch 23-yard completion to Adam Belk.
Moments later, on 4th down from the 11-yard line, Coe fired a strike to Cole Lankford for a touchdown with just 57 seconds left, cutting the Fairview lead to 41-39. A pre-snap penalty pushed the 2-point try back to the 7-yard line, and Coe’s pass to Brayden “Rush” Whidden in the corner of the end zone was tipped away, denying the tie.
Sardis attempted an onside kick, but Fairview recovered to run out the clock.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Sardis head coach B.J. Brooks said postgame. “Hate we couldn’t pull out a win. I’ve just got to do a better job coaching them. You know, right there in in the close ones, that’s me. I gotta get them over the edge, and I just didn’t get it done tonight.
“I felt like the guys came out and played real hard, and guys made some plays. We had guys execute maybe a little more than we normally do … We’re capable of doing that a lot more … I just gotta do a better job.”
Coe led Sardis with a pair of touchdown runs (32 and 11 yards) and two touchdown passes — both to Lankford — as the Lions built a 33-20 halftime advantage.
Fairview’s Kolt Redding threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Conner Scott, while Jake Harper carried the Aggies’ offense in the second half, scoring on runs of 25, 52, and 1 yard.
Sardis closes out the season next week on the road against region foe Brewer (2-6, 1-4).
Sardis quarterback Grant Coe (3) picks up a first down with his feet during the Lions’ final offensive drive against No. 4 Fariview. He accounted for four touchdowns in the Lions’ upset bid that fell short 41-39. Photo by Taylor Beck l The Leader
