Madison County Red Raiders

By ROGER CLARKSON  |  roger.clarkson@onlineathens.com  |  Story updated at 12:36 am on 9/6/2008

DANIELSVILLE - Madison County played Friday's game like a team that felt it needed to prove something after a season-opening loss last week. Winder-Barrow played like a team taking its first live snaps of the season after installing a new offense.

The result went predictably as Madison County overwhelmed the mistake-prone Bulldoggs 44-7 at Red Raider Field.

Winder-Barrow (0-1, 0-1 in Region 8-AAAA) fumbled the first four times it touched the ball. Madison County (1-1, 1-1) jumped on two of those turnovers deep in Bulldoggs' territory, took a 35-0 halftime lead and played its backups the second half.

Last week, Madison County turned the ball over three times and lost the season opener to Rockdale County 25-14.

"Last week was like working all week and not getting paid," Madison County coach Randell Owens said. "We made a lot of mistakes and they cost us. But a team makes its most improvement from its first game to its second game. We were playing our second game and they were playing their first and I think that showed up."

Winder-Barrow had a bye last week and played its first game of the season on Friday with a new spread offense under new head coach Ben Corley. The Bulldoggs turned the ball over five times, including four in the first half.

"We made some mistakes with our ball security early," Corley said. "I don't know how much this being our first game had to do with it. But we played better as the game went on."

Although Madison County got early opportunities, it took a dramatic route to its first score.

The Red Raiders' Matt Dove jumped on a Winder-Barrow fumble at the Bulldoggs' 37-yard line on the second play of the game. Madison County moved to a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. But two penalties pushed the Red Raiders backward, including a false start that rubbed out an 8-yard touchdown run by Kendrick Butler.

On fourth-and-goal from the 15, Red Raider quarterback Jacob Owens, Randell Owens' son, found Bracken Turner in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

"That was really important to get that touchdown," Jacob Owens said. "The defense set us up pretty well and we needed to convert those opportunities. We didn't do that as well last week."

Disaster struck Winder-Barrow a second time in as many possessions as Madison County's Alex Young jumped on a fumbled lateral at the Bulldoggs' 13-yard line.

Four plays later, Aldreakis Allen burst through the middle of the Bulldoggs' defense for a 6-yard touchdown and the Red Raiders led 13-0 with 5:57 left in the first quarter.

"We had to get those early scores to get some confidence," Randell Owens said. "When we got down there and had the penalties and got backed up, we were thinking 'Oh no, here we go again.' But the kids made great plays and converted when we needed."

Madison County forced four first-half turnovers and took a 35-0 halftime lead. Jacob Owens scored on a 3-yard keeper and a 2-yard keeper to give Madison County a 28-0 lead. The first half finished much like it started as a Winder-Barrow fumble set up a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Owens to Aldreakis Allen to end the half.

Jacob Owens completed 9 of 13 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of work. He also ran for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Turner caught five passes for 64 yards and a score. Jamal Cooper caught three passes for 71 yards. Allen touched the ball three times and scored two touchdowns.

Madison County held Winder-Barrow to 56 yards and four first downs in the game. Winder-Barrow managed 23 rushes for minus-1 yard. It also completed 3 of 16 passes for 57 yards with an interception.

GAME REPORT

• TURNING POINT: Winder-Barrow fumbled the first four times it snapped the ball.

• KEY STAT: Winder-Barrow finished the first half with four turnovers and one first down.

• IMPACT: Madison County bounces back from three turnovers in a season-opening loss last week to win its first Region 8-AAAA game.

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Saturday, September 06, 2008