Announcement
reprinted from The Madison County Journal online September 18, 2009 edition
On a wild night for special teams, it was a special teams play that finally tipped the scales in Madison County's favor.
Kale Bodiford blocked a Cedar Shoals punt with 5:26 left, setting up Madison County's game-winning touchdown as the Raiders stunned the Jaguars 29-28 Friday at home.
The huge victory moved the Raiders to 3-1 and into a three-way tie for second place in Region 8-AAAA.
"It was just open," Bodiford said of the block. "We just played our butts off. It was teamwork. It was all teamwork."
Bodiford's crucial play came after the Raiders, trailing 28-22, forced Cedar Shoals to punt after a three-and-out.
Bodiford broke through the line for the block and Donavan Carey scooped the loose ball around the Jaguar 40 and raced down to the nine yard line.
Raider quarterback Jacob Owens scored two plays later, tying the game at 28. Ian Webster's PAT gave Madison County the one-point advantage with 4:35 left.
Madison County's defense made sure there'd be no late drama as the Jaguars went backwards on their first three plays of their final offensive series.
Cedar Shoals opted to punt on fourth-and-14, but -- on a night of special team mishaps for both teams -- mishandled the attempt. Madison County took over at the Jaguar 17 and ran the clock out.
With the victory, the Raiders have already eclipsed last year's win total. Madison County defensive end Connor Boyett said his team was not to be denied in this one, remembering that last year's loss to Cedar Shoals started a seven-game losing streak following a 2-1 start.
"We started off last year 2-1, and we did not want to have the same record as last year," he said.
It was a roller coaster evening for the Raiders, who got started with a 59-yard touchdown from Jamal Cooper on the third play from scrimmage and built a 22-7 halftime lead after touchdown runs of seven and 26 yards from Kendrick Butler. The Raiders gashed Cedar Shoals for 186 yards on the ground in the first half and 222 in the game.
Madison County watched that lead evaporate in the second half, however, as Cedar Shoals rallied for three touchdowns, two of which were set-up by botched Raider punt attempts.
But the defense came up with big stop late when Madison County needed it, setting up Bodiford's heroics.
"It was a great win," Bodiford said. "It was crazy ... It was tough, but we did it."
STATISTICS
RUSHING: Cooper 6-78-1 TD; Owens 13-57-1 TD; Butler 4-48-2 TD; Maxwell 16-47; Turner 2-0; Cheek 1-15
PASSING: Owens 0-4, 0 yds; Cheek 0-1, 0 yds
REGION SCORES
Apalachee 21, Clarke Central 7
Madison Co. 29, Cedar Shoals 28
Salem 21, Monroe Area 8
Habersham Central 31, Loganville 27
Winder-Barrow 7, Heritage 0
REGION STANDINGS
Apalachee 3-0
Madison Co. 3-1
Clarke Central 3-1
Salem 3-1
Hab. Central 2-2
Cedar Shoals 2-2
Loganville 1-2
Winder-Barrow 1-2
Rockdale Co. 1-2
Heritage 1-3
Monroe Area 0-4
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