Madison Academy rolls over John Carroll in football battle

BIRMINGHAM – Madison Academy has traveled over 400 miles to play road football games in 2026.

During the most recent journey, the Mustangs’ second to the Magic City, they made themselves at home.

Madison Academy bolted to a touchdown on the game’s opening possession and never looked back, defeating John Carroll Catholic 42-0 in a Private School Double-A, Region 2 clash Friday night.

“We played very well,’’ Mustangs head coach Bob Godsey said. “I felt like this week in practice we had turned the corner a little bit from a confidence standpoint and maybe even a the regular season, and if they earn the No. 2 seed and the bye that comes with it Sparkman will have a two-week gap before the postseason.

Meanwhile, Sparkman head coach Ronnie Watson did a Peyton Manning impression and climbed atop scaffolding fronting the school’s band and directed the postgame fight song.

Times are currently high among the Senators.

“It’s like we told the guys during the week–yesterday is over and we ain’t promised tomorrow,’’ Watson said. “It’s all about today. They came out, executed when they needed to execute and got back to winning ways.’’

Against Grissom, Naylon and senior sophomore Daniel Maxtion combined to complete 14-of-25 passes for 129 yards with one touchdown apiece. Nylon had two receptions for 61 yards and a TD, and senior Braylon Lawson had 93 yards on 10 rushes with a score.

Senior linebacker Isaac Jeffery led Sparkman with 11 tackles, including three for loss.

As for a possible three-week gap between the Buckhorn finale and a potential first-round bye, Watson sees the positive.

“You get healthy,” he said. “Of course, we didn’t know when we made the schedule how everything was gonna go in the region. First thing is you get healthy, and then you work on fundamentals and start game planning for whatever you got.’’