Holly Pond's Alex Corneglio fights for yardage in the Broncos' 29-14 loss to Geraldine Friday night. (Howard Cole for The Cullman Tribune)
GERALDINE – The 3A Holly Pond Broncos traveled to take on the Geraldine Bulldogs on a chilly Friday night for the first round of the AHSAA playoffs. Unfortunately for the traveling fans, the Broncos couldn’t stop the Bulldog rushing attack, falling 29-14 and ending the 2018 season at 6-5.
It wasn’t the start the Broncos were looking for as they went three-and-out to open the game. Geraldine went on a 70-yard drive to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 5:21 left in the opening quarter. Holly Pond’s second possession was over with a fumble on the first play, setting the Bulldogs up only 25 yards away from the end zone. Two plays later, it was 14-0 Geraldine.
The Broncos weren’t able to muster any offensive rhythm, going three-and-out again before Geraldine went on a 15-play scoring drive to go up 22-0 with 8:24 left until halftime. The Broncos answered with their own 13-play drive, capped off with a 7-yard run by Levi Boatright that put them on the board, 22-6. After forcing a three-and-out from Geraldine, the Broncos decided to take it to run out the clock and head to the locker room down 22-6.
On the first possession of the second half Geraldine added to its lead and went up 29-6 with 7:59 left in the third quarter. Holly Pond, on the ensuing possession, looked to answer but was denied on fourth down inside the 10-yard line.
Both teams went into a funk offensively after exchanging a number of punts. It wasn’t until there were 57 seconds left in the game that Boatright cut the deficit to 29-14 with his second touchdown of the night. Once the Bulldogs got the ball back, all they needed to do was take two knees to give them a 15-point first-round win.
Holly Pond ended its season at 6-5 with the first-round playoff exit.
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