Cross County 51, Lee County 14

A swarming Cross County defense and a steady ground game powered the Thunderbirds past Lee County on a humid homecoming night in Marianna. Quarterback Kale Searcy piloted the offense with poise, mixing keepers and option looks, while Ayden (Ayden) Kraft and Kaden Crawford slashed the edges behind a physical line. Kraft, listed as an SB/RB, added a 27-yard scoring burst and short-yardage conversion work, complementing Braxton Armstrong’s tough runs on the perimeter (SB/SS).

Cross County’s defense tilted the field early. Linebacker Caden Finley (RB/MLB) knifed through for stops and a fumble recovery, and Gus Chisem added a late interception to snuff out a Trojans march. Head coach Van Paschal’s team (2A-2) improved its playoff posture with the road win.

Lee County showed resilience. Javeon Clinkscale sparked the Trojans with a long fumble-return touchdown, and in the fourth quarter Anthony Hall (CB) housed a kickoff to trim the deficit before a successful two-point try. Two-way athletes Willie Barnes (RB/S), Courtlyn Harden (S/RB), Julian Wilson-Trotman (QB/DB) and Richard Cannon (WR/TE) flashed in spurts for first-year coach Delmar Fraction’s rebuilding group.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter Cross County – Searcy 5 run (Kobe Walker rush), 8-0.
1st Quarter Cross County – Crawford 23 run (Kraft rush), 16-0.
1st Quarter Cross County – Crawford 40 run (Kraft rush), 24-0.
2nd Quarter Cross County – Kraft 27 run (Searcy to Danny Beale III pass), 32-0.
2nd Quarter Lee County – Clinkscale 80 fumble return (run failed), 32-6.
2nd Quarter Cross County – Armstrong 10 run (Armstrong rush), 40-6.
4th Quarter Cross County – Jake Brooks 27 FG, 43-6.
4th Quarter Lee County – Hall 90 kickoff return (2-pt good), 43-14.
4th Quarter Cross County – late conversion run caps drive, 51-14.

Standouts

Kale Searcy (QB, Cross County) — rushing TD, efficient command.
Ayden Kraft (SB/RB, Cross County) — 27-yd TD, multiple 2-pt runs.
Kaden Crawford (RB, Cross County) — two 1st-quarter TD runs.
Caden Finley (RB/MLB, Cross County) — fumble recovery, several drive-killing tackles.
Javeon Clinkscale (QB/DB, Lee County) — 80-yd fumble-return TD; Anthony Hall (CB) — kickoff TD.