By: Nick Hall
“If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” That’s an old piece of country wisdom that the Susan Moore Bulldogs should have heeded Friday night when they wandered into the Geraldine Bulldogs’ backyard. Two sets of Bulldogs stepped onto Coolidge Isbell Field during Homecoming 2018. Only one came off as Class 3A, Region 7 champions.
Susan Moore missed a 38-yard field goal attempt late in the opening quarter but recovered a fumble at the host Bulldogs’ 40 on Geraldine’s ensuing possession. Susan Moore capitalized on the turnover with a six-play drive that culminated in a 10-yard touchdown run by Anthony Cervantes to begin the second quarter. Jesus Aguilar’s PAT put the visiting Bulldogs up 7-0, but they would not score again. Instead, Coach Brad Waldrop’s hometown Bulldog’s proceeded to rattle off 28 unanswered points. The first scoring drive by Geraldine covered 67 yards in just 4 plays. DJ Graham broke loose for 45 yards down to the 16-yard line, followed by a 12-yard run to the 4 by Chase Kermondy. On the next play, Austin King punched into the end zone from 4 yards out with 10:40 to play in the second quarter. Jose Garcia’s PAT tied the game at 7-7. Later in the half, Geraldine’s Tyler Hughes recovered a Susan Moore fumble at Geraldine’s 44-yard line. Geraldine then put together a seven-play drive that ended with a 23-yard scoring strike from Graham to Kermondy with 1:12 left in the second quarter. Garcia’s PAT was on the mark, giving Geraldine a 14-7 lead going into the locker room at halftime.
After coming up with a big defensive stop at their own 34-yard line to start the second half, Geraldine put together a 14-play, 66-yard drive that saw two fourth down conversions and took over eight minutes off the clock. Anthony Baldwin completed the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Garcia’s PAT stretched Geraldine’s lead to 21-0. After forcing a three-and-out on Susan Moore’s next possession, Geraldine put together another clock-killing drive that stalled at the Susan Moore 16-yard-line with just 3:54 remaining. Geraldine wasn’t finished however, as Graham picked off McEvoy and returned it to the Susan Moore 48-yard line. Baldwin capped off the eight-play drive that followed with an 8-yard scoring run with 34.9 seconds on the clock. Garcia’s PAT made the final 28-7. The win earns Geraldine (7-1, 5-0), who travels to Sylvania this week, the number one playoff spot from Class 3A, Region 7. Susan Moore (7-2, 5-1), who is open this week, has the number two spot.