Madison County Red Raiders

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal Thursday, August 30, 2007 edition

 The Opponent:  Franklin County 

by BEN MUNRO 

Danny Durham might sound as if he’s talking about Madison County’s team when he’s describing his own.

 

That’s because his Franklin County squad graduated a host of players, will have to press a lot of sophomores into service and has a new quarterback operating their offense.

 

Like the Raiders, the Lions are going through a transition year.

 

“We’ve just got a lot of shoes to fill and we’re filling them with young guys,” said Durham, now in his sixth season with Franklin County.  “We’ve got a lot of sophomores on the field.”

 

Madison County and Franklin County face each other Friday night in the border rival’s 32ns installment of this old series.

 

Graduation has hit Durham’s Lions hardest in offensive and defensive trenches and the coach said he and his staff are putting an emphasis on developing players there.  Meanwhile, Dashan Merritt takes over at quarterback for four-year starter Kyle Harris.

 

“The kids are good players and all, but again, the experience—we miss the experience factor because a lot of the guys who graduated started for three years.”

 

Last year’s experienced Lions’ team went 5-5 in the regular season before losing to McNair in the Class AAA state playoffs.

 

Meanwhile, Madison County has also seen its share of turnover from last year after a trip to the state playoffs.  However, Durham expects the Raiders to be fully up to the task when the teams kick things off Friday.

 

“They seem to—not that they don’t play other people hard—but to play us extremely hard,” Durham said.  “So a lot of time if you do have a younger player in there, they’re going to probably step it up and play a little harder and play with a little more experience that night.”

 

This marks the sixth straight year Madison County and Franklin County have met to open the season.  Durham has been on the Lions’ sidelines for each of those six contests and said he enjoys having this rivalry game first upon the schedule.

 

Durham said that Madison County, given its success, is a good measuring stick for his team as it prepares for the 8-AAA schedule.

 

It’s usually a close game, too, Durham points out.

 

The coach is 1-4 against the Raider.  Three of those losses have been by eight points or less.  His win over Madison County came in 2002 in a 7-6 barnburner.

 

Durham added that he has a lot of respect for Raider Coach Randell Owens, who is 3-0 against the Lions.

 

“It think it’s a good game and a good game for both teams, because it usually a good gate and its great competition,” he said.

 

For now, Durham is keeping things simple as he and his staff prepare for this game.  Like the Raiders, Friday night will be the first test for several Lions players.

 

“The less complication, the more the kids can remember,” Durham said.  “ . . . That’s been our philosophy.  Whether it’s going to work or not, I don’t know.”