Madison Academy quarterback Blake Coward checks the defense in first-quarter action against Maplewood (Nash.). Coward completed passes to five different Mustangs Friday night. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – The Madison Academy Mustangs (1-1) were on the winning side of things Friday night as they welcomed Maplewood High out of Nashville, Tenn. The score stood at 28-0 at halftime as the Mustangs rode the advantage to victory.

“The defense did an outstanding job just kind of stopping them from the get-go,” head coach Eric Cohu said.

Madison Academy quarterback Blake Coward was 6-for-10 passing with 137 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Coward threw a strike to Baylor Cohu in the game’s beginning that put the Mustangs on the five-yard –line, where Malik Miller ran it in for the game’s first score.

On the ensuing possession, Cohu picked off a Maplewood pass on second down and ran the ball 37 yards for a pick-six to make it 14-0. Coward threw a 50-yard strike to Emerson Brooks to widen the Mustangs’ lead to 21-0 at 3:31 in the first quarter.

Eric Cohu praised the team’s focus to bounce back after the last-second 27-24 loss to Leeds last week on ESPNU.

“Our guys have tried to stay the course and stay focused,” he said. “I think our guys recognized the business nature of needing to bounce back this week because it’s time to hit region ball now.”

Kiki Matthews led Madison Academy on the ground with 90 yards off of eight carries, including a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Kerryon Johnson carried the ball three times for 11 yards but added a 6-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

The Mustangs now enter 3A Region 8 competition with a date against West Morgan Sep. 5.

“You want to get momentum before you go into region,” Cohu said.