Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
When the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys football team began their season, they had one goal: to "fight for four." The Cowboys came into the season as the probable favorite to win a fourth-straight Class 1A state title. Winning four-straight state championships is difficult enough under the best of circumstances. This season, however, proved to be anything but the best of circumstances.
With the uncertainties of the COVID virus added to a fluctuating schedule, preparing for the season provided a monumental task for the coaching staff long before the season began. In fact, it was uncertain that there would even be a football season until the Board of Directors of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) finally voted, on a split vote to allow a football season. Because of the virus, the Cowboys had been kept from holding their normal conditioning workouts during the summer. This put the team at somewhat of a disadvantage, compared to other seasons, especially early in the season. Despite all these challenges, the Cowboys refused to "throw their sucker in the dirt" and chose to meet the season head-on.
On Friday, Sept. 4, the long-awaited day came and the lights, once again, were lit on Boot Hill. That night, the Cowboys hosted the Tigers of Jefferson Somerset Academy. Mitch Rutherford threw for 135 yards and four touchdowns to help the Cowboys to a 47-0 victory over the Tigers. The next week, the Cowboys hosted the Raiders of South Sumter High School, who proved to be a much tougher opponent. The Cowboys managed to prevail, 18-13. On Friday, Sept. 18, the Cowboys went on the road to Live Oak, Fla., for the first of several road games for the season. The Cowboys were able to dominate the Suwannee High School Bulldogs, 32-14. The month ended on a disappointing note when the Cowboys traveled to Tallahassee to face a much improved Florida High Seminole team. This time, it was the Cowboys who would be dominated as they fell to the Seminoles, 30-14.
October brought a renewed determination on the part of the Cowboys as they defeated the Bradford High School Tornadoes, 14-0, on Friday, Oct. 2. The following week, the Cowboys traveled to Lake City to face another bitter rival, the Tigers of Columbia High School. The Cowboys' defensive unit rose to the occasion again and pitched another shut-out to win the contest, 12-0. On Friday, Oct. 16, the Cowboys made their way to Auburndale to face the Bloodhounds of Auburndale High School. This game was special to Cowboy Head Coach Mike Coe, as Auburndale High School was Coach Coe's high school Alma Mater. The Cowboys prevailed in the contest, 22-6. Next up for the Cowboys was another long-time rivalry game that was re-established this season. The Cowboys made the short drive down to Perry, Fla. to face the Bulldogs of Taylor County High School. The Cowboys handled the Bulldogs with a 42-7 victory. The final contest of the month and the regular season was one that was not set until well into the week, giving the players very little time to prepare. After their original opponent had to cancel, a new opponent was found and the Cowboys were again on the road. This time to Palm Coast, Fla., to play the Bulldogs of Flagler Palm Coast High School. The Cowboys suffered a disappointing, 15-14 loss to the Bulldogs, due to a late-game scoring drive by the Bulldogs following a power outage at the stadium.
With November, came the playoffs for the coveted state championship. Unlike past seasons, wherein "home field" was determined by tournament seeding (which, in the past has favored the Cowboys), it was determined that the Cowboys would have only one "home" game during the course of the playoff tournament. The Cowboys hosted the Bears of Dixie County and finished with a resounding, 48-19, win. In the region semi-final game, the Cowboys faced the Red Flashes of Hilliard High School. The Cowboys looked as if they were in prime playoff condition as they handily defeated the Red Flashes, 48-7. The following contest proved that, in the playoffs, the competition only gets harder as time moves forward. The Cowboys faced the Fightin' Tigers of Union County High School in a defensive struggle that found the Cowboys on top, 18-7, chalking up a seventh straight Region Three championship for the Cowboys. Then the Cowboys were set to take on the Hornets of Hawthorne High School. It was a tough, physical contest from start to finish, with the Hornets prevailing with an 18-14 final score, thus ending the Cowboys' season.
There are numerous ways to measure success in a sporting contest. Those who measure success merely with numbers on a scoreboard, or wins vs. losses, miss the "bigger picture" that is constantly emphasized by Coach Coe and his staff. "I know for a fact that our young men have become better people from being a part of our program this year," said Coach Coe. "I see tough, hard nosed young people that our town should be proud of, for their willingness to lay it on the line every Friday night and really all year round, daily. I would not trade any of them for anything and I'm thankful for their toughness and for God blessing me to be their coach." With that in mind, this season could be considered a great success.