Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Homecoming is traditionally a time when alums and former players and graduates come together and reminisce about younger days in school. It is capped off with a game wherein the home team wins big, giving everyone a reason to celebrate and feel a great deal of pride and school spirit. On Friday, Oct. 20, the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys did not disappoint the home crowd packed into Boot Hill Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the University Christian (UC) Christians with a dominating 37-14 performance that featured two touchdowns scored by the Cowboy defensive unit.
The Cowboys wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a 50-yard Derrick Staten, Jr. touchdown run after stopping UC on fourth down at the Cowboy 36-yard line. The score was 7-0 in favor of the Cowboys with 6:53 remaining in the first quarter. The Christians then moved the ball down the field, thanks to a “running into the kicker” penalty on fourth down after the Cowboys seemed to have held the Christians to a three-and-out. Moments later, the Christians were in the end-zone to tie the score at 7-7 with 2:35 remaining in the opening period. On the Cowboys' next drive, the Cowboys moved the ball from their own 30-yard line to the UC 12 when the first quarter expired with the score tied at seven. The second quarter began with the Cowboys' Staten scoring his second rushing touchdown of the evening. The PAT was good, and the score was 14-7 with 11:49 remaining in the second period. The next UC drive started at their own 25 and moved little from there. The Cowboys held the Christians to a three-and-out, and UC was forced to punt. MCHS took over at their own 35-yard line and moved the ball into the UC end of the field. The Cowboy drive ended when they attempted a 36-yard field goal that drifted right of the goalposts. Then the Christians took over on offense, and Zion Jones made a crushing hit on a UC receiver after a pass completion that jarred the ball loose into the waiting arms of Cowboy linebacker Darryln Brooks, who ran the ball into the end-zone for a Cowboy “pick-six.” “I just looked down and thought 'I've got the rock,'” said Brooks after the game. “From there, I was just looking at the end-zone.” Following another successful PAT, the score was 21-7, in favor of the Cowboys, with 3:47 remaining until intermission. The Cowboys picked up another turnover when they recovered a UC fumble at the UC 41-yard line. The Cowboys moved the ball inside the UC 30-yard line before the half ended with Drew Herring kicking a career-long 43-yard field goal as time expired. The score was 24-14 as the half-time festivities began.
The second half opened with the Christians kicking off to the Cowboys. In a bold move, the UC kicker kicked a short, high-flying kick that bounced off an unsuspecting Cowboy player. The Christians recovered the ball at the Cowboy 44-yard line. It looked as if the Christians' fortunes may be turning around as they drove the ball deep into Cowboy territory. That's when Travis Jay picked off a UC pass at the five-yard-line and ran the ball coast-to-coast for the second Cowboy “pick-six” of the evening. The PAT was no good and the score was 30-7 with seven minutes remaining in the third period. The next UC drive stalled at the Cowboy 25-yard line with a turnover on downs. That is when the MCHS Vaquero Guard band played their traditional “Ghost Riders in the Sky” to signal the beginning of the fourth and final period, with the score 30-7. The Cowboys moved the ball successfully down the field, despite a couple of costly penalties and were set up with a first-and-goal at the UC nine-yard line. The next play backed the Cowboys up, and they faced a second-and-goal from the 25-yard line. Then Teryon Henderson found pay-dirt for another Cowboy touchdown. The PAT was good and the score was 37-7 with 8:26 remaining in the contest. Several back-up players gained valuable playing experience for the remainder of the game. The Christians were able to take advantage of a late Cowboy turn-over and scored their second touchdown of the game with 1:02 left in the game. The game ended with the Cowboys ahead with a 37-14 score.
The one-two rushing punch of Henderson and Staten was effective again during this game. Henderson had a total of 78 yards rushing on 16 carries and one touchdown. Staten had 95 yards on the ground from eight attempts with two trips to the end-zone. Cowboy quarterback Tre Adams had another good game going three-for-six and 60 yards through the air with no interceptions. Adams also added 64 yards on the ground. The players of the starting Offensive Line (Zac Coe, Zane Herring, Ahmod Powell, Ta'Ronn Johnson and Quon'Mane Washington) were named “Offensive Players of the Game.” Travis Jay and Zion Jones were named “Defensive Players of the Game.” The special teams' “Player of the Game” was Rodderick Johnson. The “Offensive Hawgs of the Game” were all the players on the starting Offensive Line. The “Defensive Hawg of the Game” was Pat Hampton.
Next up for the Cowboys will be a home rivalry game against the Bulldogs of Suwannee County High School on Friday, Oct. 27. The Bulldogs have an overall record this season of 4-5 and will be coming into Boot Hill Stadium off a 22-9 win over Yulee High School on Friday, Oct. 20. This will be the final regular season home game for the Cowboys' 2017 season, and the Cowboys will be honoring the Seniors on the football team, cheerleading squad and the band for Senior Night. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.