Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Ask any student athlete; there's something special about playing a rival team that you face year in and year out. This is the case tonight when the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys take on the Bulldogs of Suwannee County High School. As with just about any rivalry game, previous records can usually be thrown out the window. The Bulldogs are coming into Boot Hill Stadium tonight with an overall record of 4-5 but a Class 5A District 3 record of 3-1. With only tonight's game against the Cowboys and next week's game with Taylor County remaining on their schedule, one can be sure the Bulldogs will bring their “A” game in an attempt to garner a playoff berth. “When it is Madison vs. Suwannee, you can throw the records out the window...it’s your arch rival, and it’s like the Super Bowl for both teams. Suwannee is much better than their record indicates, and Coach Hall has them playing hard, and they’ve won two in a row,” said MCHS Head Coach Mike Coe.
This will be a special game for the Cowboys for another reason as well. This will be the last regular season home game for a very special group of Cowboys. The 22 seniors on the football team will make their final regular season appearance at Boot Hill Stadium. The locations for playoff games have yet to be announced. “This group of seniors has something special about them. They’re easy to coach, hard workers, and get along more like brothers than just simply teammates,” said Coe. Even though this game may be the last game these seniors play at Boot Hill Stadium, they are far from finishing the work for this season. “We have to just keep getting better each and everyday. At this point, that’s what it boils down to...most say they wanna play in December, but how many teams just simply try and survive at this point instead of getting better each and everyday? I don’t feel like we have peaked yet and that is a good thing,” said Coe. “They [the seniors] have a chance at making history, but like I told them Monday, I’ve stood here several times through the years and told other teams that same thing. What makes them different? Why will it end differently for them? Only they can answer that.”
MCHS will also honor senior members of the cheerleading squad and band during a special presentation during pre-game. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Boot Hill Stadium, on the MCHS campus.