reprinted from The Mainstreet News online edition November 7, 2009
Early Raider lead doesn’t hold up in 31-13 loss to Clarke Central
Announcement
ATHENS — Madison County’s playoff hopes basically ended at halftime Friday when it heard that Loganville led Winder-Barrow 34-6.
Then, the Red Raiders’ hopes for a consolation victory over Clarke Central died soon after.
The Gladiators’ Jeremy Hughes started the third quarter with a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, opening the floodgates for a 28-point second half from Clarke Central as the Gladiators raced past Madison County 31-13 in Death Valley in Athens.
Madison County (5-5), which needed to win and have Loganville lose to advance to the playoffs, finishes the season on a four-game losing skid following a 5-1 start.
As Clarke Central (8-2) celebrated securing a no. 2 seed in the playoffs, Madison County reluctantly had to talk about turning in the equipment for the season.
“I’m proud of each and everyone of you,” Madison County coach Randell Owens told his team in the postgame huddle. “The way you fought together and bled together … Always remember that these are your brothers.”
For the second straight week, the Red Raiders — who scored early last Friday against Apalachee with a 51-yard touchdown on a fake punt — jumped out to a quick lead with an unconventional score and then didn’t find the endzone again until the game was out of hand.
This week's big play came from Marquis Thomas, who scooped a fumble midway through the first quarter and returned it 65 yards to give Madison County a 7-0 lead over the Gladiators. But the Red Raiders — who led 7-3 at halftime — came unhinged in the second half.
The Gladiators followed Hughes’ special teams score with a 15-yard touchdown from Dimitri Holmes, a 16-yard touchdown pass from Martay Mattox to Hughes and a deflating 52-yard touchdown run from Quenshaun Watson to turn the game into a rout.
Madison County scored very late as Jacob Owens hit receiver Patrick McCrary for a 37-yard touchdown on the final pass of his high school career.
Clarke Central held nearly a 2-1 edge in total yardage over Madison County, rushing for 227 yards and passing for 122, as it won for the 17th time in its last 20 regular season games.
The Red Raiders again struggled on the ground, rushing for just 54 yards on 38 carries.
Madison County, which had sole possession of second place in Region 8-AAAA one month ago, finishes in sixth in the final standings.
Score-by-quarter
Madison County 7 0 0 6 — 13
Clarke Central 0 3 14 14 — 31
Statistics
Rushing: Owens 9-29, Maxwell 14-21, Cooper 10-25, McCrary 1-9, Butler 2- -1, Dean 2- -19
Passing: Owens 8-16-1TD, 122 yards; Maxwell 1-2, 9 yards
Receiving: McCrary 3-50, Cooper 3-39, Dean 2-28, McGuire 1-14
Scores
Apalachee 37, Salem 14
Clarke Central 31, Madison Co. 13
Rockdale Co. 18, Monroe Area 15
Loganville 57, Winder-Barrow 18
Heritage 31, Cedar Shoals 15
Hab. Central was off
Final region standings
Apalachee 10-0
Clarke Central 8-2
Rockdale Co. 7-3
Loganville 6-4
Salem 6-4
Madison Co. 5-5
Hab. Central 4-6
Heritage 4-6
Cedar Shoals 3-7
Winder-Barrow 2-8
Monroe Area 0-10
Then, the Red Raiders’ hopes for a consolation victory over Clarke Central died soon after.
The Gladiators’ Jeremy Hughes started the third quarter with a 65-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, opening the floodgates for a 28-point second half from Clarke Central as the Gladiators raced past Madison County 31-13 in Death Valley in Athens.
Madison County (5-5), which needed to win and have Loganville lose to advance to the playoffs, finishes the season on a four-game losing skid following a 5-1 start.
As Clarke Central (8-2) celebrated securing a no. 2 seed in the playoffs, Madison County reluctantly had to talk about turning in the equipment for the season.
“I’m proud of each and everyone of you,” Madison County coach Randell Owens told his team in the postgame huddle. “The way you fought together and bled together … Always remember that these are your brothers.”
For the second straight week, the Red Raiders — who scored early last Friday against Apalachee with a 51-yard touchdown on a fake punt — jumped out to a quick lead with an unconventional score and then didn’t find the endzone again until the game was out of hand.
This week's big play came from Marquis Thomas, who scooped a fumble midway through the first quarter and returned it 65 yards to give Madison County a 7-0 lead over the Gladiators. But the Red Raiders — who led 7-3 at halftime — came unhinged in the second half.
The Gladiators followed Hughes’ special teams score with a 15-yard touchdown from Dimitri Holmes, a 16-yard touchdown pass from Martay Mattox to Hughes and a deflating 52-yard touchdown run from Quenshaun Watson to turn the game into a rout.
Madison County scored very late as Jacob Owens hit receiver Patrick McCrary for a 37-yard touchdown on the final pass of his high school career.
Clarke Central held nearly a 2-1 edge in total yardage over Madison County, rushing for 227 yards and passing for 122, as it won for the 17th time in its last 20 regular season games.
The Red Raiders again struggled on the ground, rushing for just 54 yards on 38 carries.
Madison County, which had sole possession of second place in Region 8-AAAA one month ago, finishes in sixth in the final standings.
Score-by-quarter
Madison County 7 0 0 6 — 13
Clarke Central 0 3 14 14 — 31
Statistics
Rushing: Owens 9-29, Maxwell 14-21, Cooper 10-25, McCrary 1-9, Butler 2- -1, Dean 2- -19
Passing: Owens 8-16-1TD, 122 yards; Maxwell 1-2, 9 yards
Receiving: McCrary 3-50, Cooper 3-39, Dean 2-28, McGuire 1-14
Scores
Apalachee 37, Salem 14
Clarke Central 31, Madison Co. 13
Rockdale Co. 18, Monroe Area 15
Loganville 57, Winder-Barrow 18
Heritage 31, Cedar Shoals 15
Hab. Central was off
Final region standings
Apalachee 10-0
Clarke Central 8-2
Rockdale Co. 7-3
Loganville 6-4
Salem 6-4
Madison Co. 5-5
Hab. Central 4-6
Heritage 4-6
Cedar Shoals 3-7
Winder-Barrow 2-8
Monroe Area 0-10
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