Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
There were more turnovers than found in a bakery shop when the Madison County Central School (MCCS) Broncos took advantage to chalk up a one-sided 36-0 shut-out of the Bullpups of Suwannee Middle School on Tuesday, Sept. 22. With the win, the Broncos improved their record to 2-1 for the season.
The game began with the Bullpups on offense, after the Broncos chose to defer to the second half. That drive was quickly cut short when a Bronco defender picked off a pass at the 40-yard line. The Broncos quickly moved down the field and scored their first touchdown of the afternoon with a 13-yard run by Jason McDaniel. After a successful two-point conversion, the score was 8-0 with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter. The next Bullpup possession ended with a turnover on downs at the Bullpup's 31-yard line as the first period came to an end with the score still 8-0.
The Broncos' drive stalled with a turnover on downs at the Bullpup 19-yard line. That possession came to an end when Omari Minor picked off a Bullpup pass. The Broncos had the ball at the 15-yard line, but the half ended before the Broncos could take advantage of the latest Bullpup turnover. The first half ended with the score still at 8-0.
The Broncos began the second half of play at mid-field. It didn't take long before McDaniel was galloping 28 yards to the end-zone for another Bronco touchdown. The two-point conversion was good and the score was 16-0 with 6:35 to go in the third period. The following Bullpup possession ended on a familiar note, when Minor picked off another pass. The Broncos were set at the Bullpups' 14-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Antwan Johnson ran 14 yards and across the goal-line. The ensuing two-point conversion was good and the score was 24-0, with 5:09 to go in the third quarter. After the kick-off, the Bullpups' offense was again on the field; this time, at the 48-yard line. The Bullpups went three-and-out and were forced to punt. On the punt, several Broncos broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked the punt. The Broncos recovered the ball at the Bullpups' 25-yard line. The Broncos turned the ball over on downs and the Bullpups took over at their own 19-yard line. A fumble at the 18-yard line gave the ball back to the Broncos. That's when Johnson ran 15 yards for another touchdown, extending the Cowboys' lead to 30-0, in the final seconds of the third period. On the Bullpups' next possession, yet another fumble put the Broncos' offense back on the field at the 40-yard line. Johnson picked up his third rushing touchdown of the day on a 45-yard run. The score was 36-0 with 2:28 remaining in the contest. Another Bullpup fumble allowed the Broncos to take over and run the clock out, preserving the 36-0 shut-out.