Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Fans of the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys are probably becoming accustomed to waiting. After waiting an hour for their pre-season Kickoff Classic on Friday, Aug. 19, due to a weather delay; the Cowboys had to wait a full day to play their regular season opener against the Patriots of Carollwood Day School. The game was played on Saturday, Aug. 27, in Tampa. After a fast start by the Cowboys, the Patriots fought their way back into the game, but in the end, the Cowboys held on to take a 40-33 win back to Boot Hill.
After winning the coin toss and deferring possession to the second half, the Cowboys kicked off to the Patriots, who began their first drive at their own 23-yard line. The Cowboy defense served up a "double sack" on second and third downs to force a three-and-out. The Cowboys took over at the Patriots' 45-yard line. The Cowboys were able to convert a fourth-and-five on a Jamie Hampton scramble to keep the drive going. However, the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs at the Patriots' 16-yard line. The Patriots were moving the ball down the field, until O'Shea Akins picked off a pass and took the ball to the Patriots' one-yard line. From there, it was an easy Hampton rush for the first touchdown of the contest. The Cowboys successfully scored a two-point conversion and the Cowboys were ahead, 8-0, with 2:11 remaining in the opening quarter. The Patriots began their next drive at their own 40-yard line. That drive ended with a turn-over on downs at the Patriots' 49-yard line, as time ran out in the first quarter.
The Cowboys moved closer into Patriots' territory, then Jason McDaniel moved through the line, breaking several tackles, before moving into the open field and scored on a 35-yard touchdown run. The ensuing two-point conversion was no good and the Cowboys had a 14-0 lead, with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter. On the kickoff the Patriots watched the ball as it fell near the sidelines, expecting the ball to roll out of bounds. A Cowboy alertly fell on the live ball and the Cowboys had possession at the Patriots' 20-yard line. The drive was capped off with a McDaniel one-yard touchdown run. The Cowboys committed a penalty on the two-point conversion attempt, which backed them up five yards. The Cowboys then attempted a point-after-touchdown (PAT) kick, which failed and the score was 20-0, with 10:19 remaining until intermission. On the ensuing kickoff, the Patriots' dangerous return man found a seam and took the ball down the field to score on the kickoff return. The Patriots successfully converted a two-point play and the score was 20-8, with 10 minutes left in the first half. The Cowboys took the kickoff at their own 36, but coughed the ball up on a fumble at the Cowboys' 28-yard line. The Cowboys showed they could enforce a "no-fly zone" over opponents' stadiums as well, when Tre'vion Gillyard picked off a Patriots' pass at the Cowboys' 20-yard line. The Cowboys' drive stalled with a turnover on downs at the Patriots' 47-yard line. The next Patriot drive was kept alive with a fake punt and capped off with a touchdown run that put the Patriots within striking distance of the Cowboys. After another two-point conversion, the score was 20-16, in favor of the Cowboys, with 1:31 remaining in the first half. The Cowboys took over at the 29-yard line and time ran out of the first half, with the Cowboys holding onto a 20-16 advantage.
The Cowboys went three-and-out from the 30-yard line on their first possession of the second half. Then, the Patriots took over at their own 24-yard line. Then O'Shea Akins stepped in front of a Patriot receiver and ran a "pick-6" interception into the endzone. The following two-point attempt failed and the Cowboys had a 26-16 lead with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter. The next Patriots drive began on the 37-yard line and ended with a 34-yard field goal that cut into the Cowboys' lead, 26-19, with 3:24 still to play in the third period. The Cowboys then took the ball at their own 20-yard line, but the drive was cut short by a Patriots interception at their own 35-yard line. The Patriots were able to connect on a long pass on fourth and long. Another Patriot touchdown and PAT tied the score at 26, as the third quarter ended.
The Cowboys began the final period at the 40-yard line. After moving the ball across mid-field, Hampton scored on a 40-yard touchdown run, to put the Cowboys ahead again. Keoni Nelson's PAT was good and the score was 33-26, in the early moments of the fourth quarter. The Patriots' offense was back on the field at the 30-yard line, when the Cowboys' defensive unit, which had been playing much of the third quarter, managed to hold the Patriots to another three-and-out. The Cowboys took over at the 41-yard line and sustained a drive to inside the Patriots' 20-yard line. Then Tony Hamilton's number was called and he ran the ball in from about 12 yards out, to give the Cowboys a bit more breathing room. The PAT was good and the score was 40-26, with 4:26 remaining in the contest. The Patriots continued to compete when they took over at the 44-yard line and connected on a touchdown pass on fourth down. The Patriots' PAT was good and the score was 40-33, with 1:46 remaining on the game clock. As expected, the Patriots attempted an onside kick on the kickoff, but the Cowboys were able to fall on the ball. With no time outs remaining, the Patriots were unable to stop the time clock and the Cowboys could go into the "Victory Formation" to finish the contest, with a hard-earned 40-33 win.
The final "tale of the tape" showed the Cowboys with 243 total yards of offense, including 197 yards on the ground. The Patriots managed 201 yards of offense, with 53 passing yards and 148 rushing yards. Defensively, the Cowboys held the Patriots to just two third-down conversions on 10 attempts and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions and one fumble recovery. Hampton led the Cowboys in rushing with 95 yards on six carries and two touchdowns. Hampton also went two-for-seven passing for 44 yards, with one interception.
McDaniel was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the Cowboys with four carries, 76 yards and two touchdowns. O'Shea Akins was the Defensive Player of the Week, with his two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and three tackles. Keyon Aikens was named the "Hog of the Week" for his play on the offensive line and two tackles on defense. Michael Mobley was named the Special Teams Player of the Week for his four tackles.
Next up for the Cowboys will be a contest against the Cougars of Amos P. Godby High School, from Tallahassee. The Cougars are 0-1, coming off a 71-6 loss to cross-town rival Trojans, from Lincoln High School. The game will take place at Boot Hill Stadium, on Friday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.