Madison County Red Raiders

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal September 28, 2006, edition
Raiders Try to Keep Winning Ways Alive Against Traditional Powerhouse

BY BEN MUNRO
If people say that Clarke Central has had troubled times the past couple of years, Madison County might have played some part in that perception. Head coach Randell Owens said that he’s sure that tradition-rich Clarke Central has taken some heat from those around it for a pair of consecutive one-point losses to the Raiders. “Losing to Madison County has taken a lot out of them the past two years,” said Owens, whose team won 8-7 in 2004 and 21-20 in 2005, both in dramatic fashion.
That said, the Raiders go for a three- game winning streak this Friday when Madison County faces Clarke Central on the road at 7:30 pm. Meeting what might be a very motivated. Clarke Central football team now under the direction of former LSU assistant Leroy Ryals comes as part of what Owens pegged as the “Killer Alley” segment of the Raider football schedule. When looking at the slate at the beginning of the year, Owen said the toughest stretch would come when his Raiders played Dacula, Clarke Central and Habersham Central consecutively. Right now, they’re in the middle of it. “We’ve got them back-to-back-to-back with no break,” Owens said.
Madison County tries to get back on track after a draining loss to fifth-ranked Dacula where it led after three quarters and proved it could play with one of the best teams in the state. Now, the team must bounce back from the disappointment of coming up short. “The question is: Will they have the maturity to put (the Dacula loss) on the shelf and get ready for the next gamer’ Owens asked.
Clarke Central’s athleticism should only make regrouping tougher. Owens said that Gladiators -— who boast standouts like running back Darreion Robinson and 6’5” receiver Jo Hurst — have the best skill people the Raiders will see all year and the ability to break for a touchdown from anywhere on the field. In fact the Gladiators returned four kickoffs for touch downs in its 24-20 win over Cedar Shoals this year. ‘No lead is big enough,” Owens said.
Clarke Central owner of 306 wins since 1970, 14 region titles and three state crowns — off to a 3-1 start, blowing out Loganville 48-6 this past weekend. Not only is Madison County hurting figuratively after the loss to Dacula, but it’s hurting literally with several players nursing injuries. That poses quite a challenge to a Raider team fighting for second place in the sub-region. With one loss in 8-AAAA play to the sub-region leaders, Madison County still controls its own destiny for second place and getting past Clarke Central yet again would be a huge step in that direction.
But the tradition-rich Gladiators want to make sure the Raiders’ hold on this series is short-lived. Owens said Clarke Central will be plenty fired-up to atone for the past two seasons. “We’ve played each other twice and we’ve never lost to them,’ Owens said. ‘‘I’m sure they’re aware of that.” Added Owens: “They’ll be ready for war.”
Published in the Madison County Journal on September 28, 2006 edition.