Mars Hill Bible Blanks Geraldine 42-0 in Class 3A Quarterfinal

Panthers Dominate in Quarterfinal Showdown

FLORENCE, AL – The Mars Hill Bible Panthers secured their spot in the AHSAA Class 3A Semifinals with a decisive 42-0 victory over the Geraldine Bulldogs. The quarterfinal matchup, held in Florence on Friday night, saw the Panthers extend their perfect season, improving their record to an impressive 13-0. Under the leadership of head coach Darrell Higgins, Mars Hill delivered a commanding performance on both sides of the ball, ending the season for a talented Geraldine squad.

The Bulldogs, finishing their year at 11-2, had much to be proud of. They captured their first region championship since 2018 and fought hard to reach the state quarterfinals. However, they were unable to find an answer for the explosive Mars Hill offense.

Explosive First Half Seals the Victory

Mars Hill established its dominance early and never looked back. The first quarter belonged to running back Jaxon Penn, who delivered a stunning offensive showcase. Penn single-handedly built a substantial lead for the Panthers with three explosive touchdown runs, finding the end zone from 58, 79, and 20 yards out. His exceptional speed and vision left the Geraldine defense struggling to keep pace. By the end of the night, Penn had amassed an incredible 182 rushing yards on just nine carries, averaging over 20 yards per attempt.

The Panthers’ offensive onslaught continued into the second quarter. Hudson Higgins joined the scoring spree, first with a spectacular 79-yard punt return for a touchdown that electrified the home crowd. He later added a 4-yard touchdown run, demonstrating his versatility and impact in multiple phases of the game.

By halftime, Mars Hill had built an insurmountable 35-0 lead. The statistics from the first half told the story of the game’s one-sided nature. The Panthers outgained the Bulldogs by a staggering margin of 317 to 34, showcasing a near-perfect execution of their game plan. The defense was just as formidable, shutting down every attempt by Geraldine to build momentum.

Second Half and a Look Ahead

With the game well in hand, Mars Hill continued to control the clock and the field in the second half. Hudson Higgins wasn’t finished, breaking free for a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the final stamp on the 42-0 shutout. He concluded his impressive night with 101 rushing yards on 10 carries, complementing Penn’s earlier heroics and highlighting the depth of the Panthers’ backfield.

The victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash. Mars Hill will now prepare to host the Piedmont Bulldogs (13-0) in a battle of undefeated Class 3A powers. This game is a rematch of last year’s thrilling semifinal, adding another layer of intensity to the matchup. Piedmont earned their spot by defeating the Gordo Green Wave in a hard-fought 28-20 contest. The winner of this monumental game will advance to the AHSAA Super 7 state championships at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium.