Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
It was the first step in what Madison County High School (MCHS) Head Football Coach Price Harris calls the Cowboys’ “revenge tour.” On Friday, Sept. 15, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Boot Hill Stadium, the Cowboys amassed 283 yards on the ground to avenge last season’s loss to the Columbia County High School Tigers. The Cowboys made a bold statement with a 22-8 victory over the Tigers.
Defense dominated the first quarter of the contest with the Cowboys taking the opening drive. The Cowboys were forced into a three-and-out, giving the ball to the Tigers at the Cowboys’ 30 yard line. The Tigers turned the ball over on downs at the Cowboys’ 12-yard line. Ball possession went back and forth, with neither team finding the end zone, and the opening period ended with the score still at 0-0 and the Tigers deep in their own end of the field.
Early in the second quarter, the Tigers’ drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Madison County 40-yard line. The Cowboys were finally able to put together a scoring drive that was capped off with a Za’Vion Bryant run into the end zone from one yard out. JJ McDaniel did the honors on the two-point conversion and the Cowboys had an 8-0 lead with 8:19 remaining in the second quarter. The stingy Cowboy defensive unit forced another turnover on downs at the Tigers’ 34-yard line. The Cowboys looked poised to add to their lead, however a fumble recovered by the Tigers at the Tigers’ eight-yard line ended the Cowboys’ scoring threat. The Cowboys forced another three-and-out and began their next drive at the Cowboys’ 35-yard line. The Cowboys failed to make a first down and had a punt blocked on fourth down, giving the ball to the Tigers at the Cowboys’ 40-yard line. The Tigers took advantage of that situation and scored their only touchdown of the evening, with just under 42 seconds remaining in the first half of play. A successful two-point conversion tied the game at 8-8, as the two teams headed into the locker rooms for halftime.
As the third period began, the Tigers were on their own 24-yard line. That’s when McDaniel leaped up to intercept a pass and ran it back to the end zone for a “pick-six” touchdown. The following two-point conversion was successful and the Cowboys now had a 16-8 lead, with 11:02 still to play in the third quarter. For the remainder of the third quarter the two teams traded three-and-out possessions and the quarter ended with the score still at 16-8, in the Cowboys’ favor.
As the final period began, the Cowboys were threatening to score again when they faced a fourth-and-goal at the Tigers’ eight-yard line. Another fumble halted the drive, and the Tigers had possession of the pig-skin at their own two-yard line. The Tigers began moving the ball down the field, then a Tiger running back broke through on a long run, carrying several Cowboys on his back. It seemed as if the Tigers were going to be in scoring position, but one of the Cowboy defenders punched the ball loose and another Cowboy recovered, giving the ball back to the Cowboys at their own 12-yard line. Then, McDaniel found an opening in the line and burst through. It wasn’t until 71 yards later that a Tiger was able to bring him down. Ryshard Miller finished off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed and the Cowboys held a 22-8 advantage, with 7:24 remaining in the contest. After the ball changed possession a couple more times, the Tigers’ final opportunity ended with a turn-over on downs at the Cowboys’ 20-yard line, with just two seconds remaining. One more snap in the “victory formation” and the Cowboys had notched a 22-8 win over one of their biggest rivals.
McDaniel led the Cowboys’ rushing attack with 157 yards on 15 carries. Miller added 42 yards on 16 carries, with one touchdown run. Bryant went four-for-seven through the air for 58 yards. Bryant also had 33 yards on the ground, with six rushing attempts and one rushing touchdown. Jordon Wilson had one catch for 21 yards for the Cowboys.
“I’m very proud of you,” Coach Harris told his players after the game. “We got punched in the mouth early in the game, but you punched back and kept fighting. Next week, we have the next team on our ‘revenge tour,’ and we have [the Florida High Seminoles] on our field. We still have some things to fix, but we’re getting better.”
Wilson was named the Offensive Player of the Week for the Cowboys. McDaniel was the Defensive Player of the Week. The “Hawg” of the Week was Jailyn Cooks. The Special Teams Player of the Week was Davyon Gallon.
Next, the Cowboys (2-0) will host the Seminoles of Florida High. The Seminoles (2-1) are coming off a 45-22 win over Gadsden County High School. The contest is set for Friday, Sept. 22, at Boot Hill Stadium, on the MCHS campus. Toe will meet leather at 7:30 p.m.