Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys' "fight for four" is one step closer to being complete after their 48-19 defeat of the Bears of Dixie County High School in the Class 1A Region Three quarter-final on Friday, Nov. 13, at Boot Hill Stadium.
The Bears opened the game on offense at their own 38-yard line. The Bears went three-and-out and punted to the Cowboys. However, on the punt, the Cowboy receiver muffed the catch of the punt and the ball was recovered by the Bears at the Cowboys' 30-yard line. The Bears quickly capitalized on the good field position and scored their first touchdown of the game. After a successful point-after-touchdown (PAT), the Bears held a 7-0 lead with 9:48 remaining in the opening period. When the Cowboys' offense made it onto the field at their own 41-yard line, they methodically marched down the field and capped the drive off with a 20-yard touchdown run by Jamie Hampton. After a successful two-point conversion, the score was 8-7, in favor of the Cowboys. The Bears responded with a quick touchdown, followed by another failed PAT. The score was now 13-8, in favor of the Bears at the midway point of the first quarter. The Cowboys' offense took over at the Bears' 46-yard line. The Cowboys took the ball down the field again and finished the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Cowboy quarterback RJ Williams. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the score was 14-13, in favor of the Cowboys, with 2:29 remaining in the first period. The Bears were forced to punt on their next drive and a short punt gave the Cowboys a short field. The first quarter ended with the Cowboys holding a slim 14-13 lead.
The Cowboys once again took advantage of the good field position and capped off another scoring drive with Williams punching the ball over the goal line from one yard out. The score was 20-13, with 10:40 remaining until halftime. The next Dixie County drive began at the 35-yard line, but stalled at midfield. The Cowboys took over at the 45-yard line and finished with a 30-yard touchdown catch and run from Williams to Zechariah Jones. The Cowboys now had a 26-13 lead, with 4:28 remaining until intermission. The next Bears drive was cut short when Johnathon Akins intercepted a pass at the 10-yard line. The half ended with the Cowboys still in the lead, 26-13.
The Cowboys opened the third quarter with a 60-yard scoring drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Hampton. The two-point conversion was good and the score was 34-13, with 10:57 remaining in the third period. The Bears were back on offense at the 32-yard line, but that drive was cut short by an interception by Zarrion Robinson that gave the Cowboys the ball at the Bears' 40-yard line. The Cowboys moved down the field again and finished with an eight-yard touchdown run by Jacoleman Young. The two-point conversion failed and the score was 40-13, with the Cowboys in control and 5:52 remaining on the clock until the fourth quarter. The next Bears drive ended in the same fashion as the previous drive, with an interception by Robinson at the Cowboys' 45-yard line. That Cowboy drive went three-and-out and the Bears had the ball at their own 25-yard line. The third period ended with the score still 40-13.
The early moments of the fourth quarter found the Cowboys again moving the ball into the Bears' end of the field. The drive was finished with a 15-yard Williams touchdown run. The score was 48-13 with 6:57 remaining in the contest. The Bears did manage to find the end-zone once more, late in the contest. The Bears' touchdown was followed by a failed two-point conversion at the 1:37 point of a running clock. The final score of the contest was 48-19, in favor of the Cowboys.
Williams went 11-for-19 in passing with 144 yards and two passing touchdowns. Williams also had 26 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns. Jones was the top target with six receptions for 98 yards, with one touchdown pass. Robert Hiers led the Cowboys' rushing attack with 86 yards on 15 carries. Defensively, the Mitchell guys, Greg and Ke'Shaun, each had 11 tackles.
Next up for the Cowboys will be the Class 1A Region Three semi-final game against the Red Flashes of Hilliard High School. The game is set for Friday, Nov. 20, at Hilliard High School. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.