Brad Nevels | For the Sentinel
A Top-10 showdown with major region implications resulted in a heart-breaking finish for the North Jackson football team.
Visiting No. 7-rankedMadison Academy scored 15 points over the final three minutes to edge No. 9 North Jackson 57-56 in Class 4A Region 8 play Friday at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson.
The fourth quarter started with the score tied 35-all. Kadyn Pace scored a touchdown early in the quarter to break the tie, and Bruce Ramirez hit the first of his eight extra points. Madison Academy was forced to punt after Gary Little sacked Mustang quarterback Charleston Owens on third down. Three plays later, Keyton Long connected with Haven Massengile over the middle, who ran 79 yards for a touchdown. Madison Academy answered with a touchdown with 4:29 left in the game.
The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Chiefs good field position. Pace’s second touchdown of the quarter was set up by Nick Price, Jr.’s 43-yard run. Madison Academy answered quickly, using only 39 seconds of game time to score on a touchdown pass from Owens to Zyan Williams.
The Mustangs then recovered the onside kick attempt with 2:28 left to play. On first down from the 15-yard line, Owens scrambled left and stretched the ball over the pylon for a touchdown with 52.5 seconds left. Madison Academy lined up to go for two to take the lead. Owens took the snap, ran right, and made it to the front corner of the end zone, giving his team a one point lead. Massengile returned the following kickoff 32 yards to the Mustang 48 yard line. On first down, Long threw a deep pass to a diving Massengile, but the pass was ruled incomplete. The North Jackson offense sputtered after that and failed to gain any momentum before the horn sounded. Madison Academy scored 43 second half points in its comeback effort.
“This one is on me,” North Jackson head coach Joe Hollis. “I have to do a better job in certain situations to give our guys the best chance to win.”
North Jackson (4-2, 3-1) held a 28-14 halftime lead Friday night. Pace’s 32-yard touchdown run got North Jackson on the board first, but Madison Academy answered. The teams were tied at the end of the first quarter. Price had touchdown runs of 45 and 56 yards in the second quarter. Logan Elliott tacked on another touchdown with 43.7 seconds left to give North Jackson its two score lead at the half. North Jackson received the second half kickoff with a chance to go up three scores, but Price fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Madison Academy scored on the next play. The Chiefs answered with a four plus minute scoring drive capped off by Price’s 17-yard touchdown. Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Price’s second fumble of the quarter gave the Mustangs good field position again. Madison Academy (5-1, 4-0) took advantage, scoring again to tie the game at 35 going into the fourth quarter.
“I’m extremely proud of our guys and the effort they played with tonight,” Hollis said. “We fought to the very end, and they just happened to make one more play than us.”
Hollis said there were positives to take from Friday night’s loss.
“We can’t let this define who we are. We had a lot of great team efforts, and a lot of great individual efforts tonight. We just have to learn from out mistakes and grow and continue to get better every day,” Hollis said.
Price led the North Jackson offense with 367 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 32 attempts. Pace added 78 yards and three scores on the ground. Long completed four passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Massengile caught three passes for 103 yards and a score.
North Jackson travels to Rainsville next week to face No. 10 Plainview in another Class 4A Region 8 matchup.
