Union County could not stop the run in the first half and could not stop the clock in the second half. The result: the Madison County Cowboys buried the Tigers at Boot Hill in the opening round of the 1A Regional playoffs, 65-12, here Friday night. The win was the eighth straight for the rush-happy Cowboys who played in 4A last year. Next up for Madison County is Ft. White, 14-8 winners over Jefferson County, at Madison on Friday, Nov. 20 for the dubious right to face Trenton or Dixie County Nov. 27. Union County’s season ended at 9-2. A large throng of Union County High School fans attended the game. Clad in sweaters, some with blankets to fend off the cool, crisp breeze, the best Tigers fans saw was another superior performance at halftime from the Tigers Marching Band and Tigerettes. The game was actually competitive for one quarter, although it was obvious from the get-go that the Cowboys had a dominating defense and a devastating running game, featuring speed, power and quickness on both sides of the ball. Union County held on to trail only 14-0 at the end of the first stanza. Then the Cowboys saddled up their rushing attack and galloped out to 22-0 on a 28-yard scoring run by Quarterback Kentwan Daniels who added the two-point PAT. The Tigers were still in it but then the roof caved in for the visitors.
The Cowboys went wild, adding quick, long touchdowns on a punt return, a muffed snap by the Tigers and a long pass. A couple of long runs for touchdowns and the game was virtually over with a running clock for the second half. The Boot Hill scoreboard, like a tombstone for the Tigers, told the story, 59-0 at halftime. Coach Michael Coe finally sent out the Cowboy reserves on offense and defense in the second half. The Tigers mustered a touchdown as Junior Quarterback Ty Cook, pressured relentlessly in the first half, finally hit Junior Franklin Williams with a 25-yard scoring throw in the third quarter. Tigers Senior Casey Driggers threw to Senior Isaiah Johnson for a 32-yard score to make it 59-12 in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys tacked on one more score to make the final 65-12. Stats for the victory reflect the season for the Cowboys. Team rushing yards were 400 on 40 carries, well above the season average of 331 yards rushing per game. Sophomore running back Teryon Henderson toted the pigskin 15 times and racked up 164 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Quarterback Daniels carried seven times for 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Senior Kenneth McQuay had four rushes for 84 yards and a touchdown. McQuay also scooted for a score on a punt return. Senior Patrick Brown ran nine times for 29 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys, as usual, did not go airborne except for four of Daniels passes. Daniels completed three for 63 yards, one a bomb for a 55-yard touchdown to swift Sophomore Trey Adams.