Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
In a game that was moved up a day because of Hurricane Irma, the Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowboys soundly defeated the Seminoles of Florida High on Thursday, Sept.7. By the end of the evening, the Cowboys had racked up another victory with a 49-6 final score. With this win, the Cowboys extend their home winning streak to nine games.
In their opening drives, neither team drove the ball; then the Seminoles had the ball on their own 40 yard-line. The Seminoles drove the ball down and punched it into the end zone for the first score of the evening. The PAT was blocked and the score was 6-0 in favor of the Seminoles with 5:05 left in the opening period. The Cowboys started their next drive on their own 34 yard-line. The Cowboys' ground game began to roll with Derrick Staten and Teryon Henderson, who was seeing his first action in two weeks after suffering an injury during the Cowboys' game against Wakulla High. The Cowboys had driven the ball to the Seminoles four- yard-line when Henderson ran across the goal line for the evening's first Cowboy touchdown. Drew Herring's PAT was successful and the score was 7-6 in the Cowboys' favor with 2:50 remaining in the opening period. After holding Florida High to another three-and-out, the Cowboys took over at the 45 yard-line. Tre Adams immediately took the ball on a running play to the Seminoles' one yard-line. Derrick Staten then pushed across the goal line for the Cowboys' second touchdown. The PAT was good and the score now registered 14-6 in the Cowboys' favor in the opening seconds of the second quarter. On the next Seminole drive, the stingy Cowboys defense stiffened and forced a turn-over on downs- giving the Cowboys' offensive team a chance to set up at the Cowboys' 35 yard-line. Henderson showed he was back to full speed when he scampered 65 yards for another Cowboys touchdown. Another Herring kick through the uprights gave the Cowboys a 21-6 lead with 8:24 remaining until half-time. The Cowboys were far from finished for the half. After forcing another Seminole punt, Staten fielded the Seminole punt near mid-field; and after stumbling forward for about 10 yards, Staten gathered his footing and proceeded to run and side-step Seminole defenders to make his way across the goal line. The Cowboy PAT was good and the score was 28-6 with 7:01 still left in the first half. Florida High's next drive moved the ball into Cowboys territory but three straight tackles-for-loss stopped the Seminoles' drive at the Cowboy 44. Staten again proved himself to be a very dangerous return man when he returned the next punt 75 yards to the Seminole 10 yard-line. However, a Cowboys' fumble gave the ball back to the Seminoles at the 10 yard-line. The Seminoles failed to move the ball, and the Cowboys once again had possession of the pigskin. Then, Adams hit Staten on a three to four-yard pass, and Staten took care of the rest, making his way into the Seminoles' end-zone. Herring hit his fifth straight PAT of the evening, bringing the score to 35-6 with just over a minute left in the half. That was plenty of time for the 3-11 shift to go to work once the Cowboys regained possession. Adams threw a deep pass, and Ken Hawkins made an amazing catch and run for a 75-yard touchdown pass. Another perfect PAT brought the score to 42-6 as time dwindled down to end the first half.
The second half began with the Cowboys taking the kickoff to near mid-field. Another Cowboy turnover gave the ball to the Seminoles. Perhaps it was because Madison native and former Arizona Cardinals safety, Ironhead Gallon was on hand for the game, but the Cowboys' secondary showed off their skills by putting on an interception clinic in the second half. Zion Jones picked off a Seminole pass and returned it to the 41 yard-line. The Cowboys moved the ball with effective rushing plays by Vinsonta Allen and Marcus Ghent; but the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs at the Seminole 24 yard-line. The next drive ended with another Cowboy interception. This time, Chalon Howard picked off a Seminole pass to end the third period. On the next Cowboy drive, Ghent ran 15 yards for the next Cowboy touchdown. Herring capped off a great night of kicking with another PAT, bringing the score to 49-6 with 11:48 remaining in the game. Time moved quickly in the final quarter of the game with the clock continuously running. There was still time for one more Cowboy interception, though. This time it was Ortavious “Tay” Hodge who picked off a Seminole pass and returned it for an apparent “pick-six.” However, a penalty negated the Cowboy TD. Time ran out, and the Cowboys chalked up their third win of the season.
Henderson led the Cowboys' rushing attack with 107 yards on 10 attempts, and two TDs. Ghent had 65 yards on the ground with one TD. Staten had 24 yards rushing and one TD. Adams was near perfect, completing six passes out of six attempts for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Adams also added 50 yards on the ground. Staten had four catches for 73 yards and one TD. Hawkins had one catch for 75 yards and one TD.
“I am really proud of this team,” said MCHS Head Coach Mike Coe after the game. “I won't say they are more talented than last year's team, but there is something special about these guys. They are very unselfish... They cheer each other on. I'm very proud of them.”
Next up for the Cowboys will be a trip to Williston to take on the always challenging Williston High School Red Devils. The Red Devils have a record of 2-0 for the season and are coming off a 28-14 victory over Seven Rivers Christian High School. The game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 15. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m. Williston High School is located at 427 W. Noble Ave., in Williston.