Johnson’s long runs seal Win for Madison Academy
BY LINDSAY VAUGHT / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
Long after the final seconds ticked off the clock at Washburn Stadium on the Madison Academy campus there were still players on the field savoring the historic victory. Players lingered longer than usual in the locker room not wanting to leave.
For a program accustomed to basketball playoff wins the thought was sinking in that the Mustangs are now just one win away from a trip to the AHSAA Super Six and playing for a 3A state football championship.
Madison Academy’s big-play offense was clicking all night and Lauderdale County, with its one-dimensional ground game offense just could not keep up. The final score 35-14.
In the first quarter Lauderdale County counter-punched an early Mustang touchdown with one of their own. A grinding 80-yard drive took a toll on Madison Academy defenders, most of whom were playing both ways. The first quarter ended in a 7-7 draw.
But quarterback Hunter Olive answered with a key third-and-10 completion to Nick Haas. Two plays later he hit Haas for a 43-yard touchdown pass.
The Mustang defensive line was about to be tested. Led by tackle Frank Williams and nose guard Cole Swearingen they stopped the option by closing down the dive play runs of Lauderdale County’s leading rusher Earl Jackson. Jackson would gain only 42 yards in the game on 13 carries.
“Our defensive line rose up and made big plays,” said Madison Academy head coach Eric Cohu. “We made some adjustments after the first drive and my hat’s off to them Our defensive line has been underestimated and they keep getting better each week.”
Cohu’s defensive line features three underclassmen; sophomores Frank Williams and Nick Holman and junior Cole Swearingen who were key in getting stops and shutting out Lauderdale County the rest of the first half.
Talented freshman Kerryon Johnson broke open a close game with a scintillating 70-yard run on a pitchout that he cut back and outraced the Lauderdale County defense. It was the first of his 3 touchdown runs as he finished with 129 yards on 5 carries.
“Great offensive line work,” Johnson said after the game. “The openings were there and I just took advantage of them. Coach Cohu told us they would may make some plays and get momentum but we just kept grinding away.”
“The defense did an outstanding job. We came back and stopped the option and that is what won this game. Defense wins championships,” Johnson added.
Late in the first half defensive back Taylor Ziak forced a fumble and recovered it for Madison Academy to turn back a Lauderdale County drive. Academy led 21-7 at the half.
The defense would surrender one late insignificant touchdown to a Lauderdale County team that came in averaging 33 points per game.
“We switched up to stop the dive and we just kept going until the end of the game. We never let up,” said Frank Williams who played both ways at tackle in the game.
“They started losing momentum when we kept getting the big plays. I knew we could shut their running game down. Our region all the teams run. We were worried about their quarterback pulling it and stopping the dive which we did,” Williams added.
Quarterback Hunter Olive’s numbers don’t tell the whole story of his evening. Passing he was 6 for 13 for 102 yards and one touchdown. He got the ball to his playmekers, receiver Nick Haas who had 3 catches for 67 yards and Khyle Jackson who rushed for 33 yards and one touchdown.
According to Olive “holding the line of scrimmage” was the key to the win. “They were very tough. One of the best option teams in the state,” Olive said of Lauderdale County.
“This week we played our best game, we are rolling right now,” said Olive hitting on a key point that the Mustangs have no significant injuries unlike years past when key contributors went down.
Madison Academy (11-2) will play at Rogers (11-2) next Friday night with the winner moving on to the state championship game in Tuscaloosa on Friday Dec 2.
