Chiefs outlast Madison Academy for key Class 4A Region 8 win
Brad Nevels | For The Sentinel
North Jackson head coach Joe Hollis knew his team was in for a hard-fought battle Friday night. This battle against Class 4A Region 8 foe Madison Academy came down to one play late in the game.
A North Jackson turnover on downs gave Madison Academy the ball back on its own 26-yard-line down six points with 3:21 left to play. The Mustangs gained 11 yards for a first down on the first play of the possession. Madison Academy picked up 8 yards over the next three plays, leaving them with fourth down and two yards to go to keep their hopes of a win alive. North Jackson crushed those hopes. Freshman quarterback Charleston Owens took the snap and ran to his left, but he was swallowed up by Diego Holt and Draco Poole for an 8-yard loss. North Jackson took over with 2:20 left in the game and ran out the clock.
Hollis told his team to “just do what you do” in the timeout before the fourth down stop.
“I told them to know their assignments, play physical, hit them in the mouth, and get him on the ground,” Hollis said with a laugh. “And they did that.”
North Jackson’s (5-1, 4-0) win snapped a four-game losing streak to Madison Academy (2-4, 2-2).
“We’re going to celebrate tonight. We went 1-0 this week,” said Hollis. “But all of our focus and attention is going to go on Plainview tomorrow.”
North Jackson jumped out to a fast start Friday night in Madison. The Chiefs defense forced a turnover on downs the first possession of the game. It then put together a nine-play drive, capped off by Hasani Jackson’s 4-yard touchdown run. Bruce Ramirez’s point after attempt was blocked. The Mustangs went three-and-out on its next possession. A 44-yard pass from quarterback Creed Richardson to Holt set up Holt’s first score of the night. North Jackson’s two-point attempt came up short, and the Chiefs led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Madison Academy scored the only points of the second quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Neil Radak that bounced off the crossbar and through.
North Jackson drove down the field on the opening possession of the second half, but came away empty. On fourth and one from the 11, Holt ran in a touchdown, but it was called back for an illegal block below the waist. There was miscommunication on the fourth and long play, and Richardson was stopped for no gain. Madison Academy took advantage of the turnover. Joshua Williams scored on a 26-yard run that capped off a nine-play, 74-yard drive. Radak’s extra point sailed wide right. North Jackson answered with a long scoring drive of its own. The Chiefs picked up five first downs on its 10-play, 4:34 possession. Holt scored his second touchdown of the night, putting North Jackson up 18-9 at the end of the third quarter.
Madison Academy threatened to score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs had first and goal from the 5-yard-line after a 37-yard pass. North Jackson came up with back to back tackles for loss and forced another Radak field goal, this one good from 23 yards.
North Jackson looked like it was going to put the game away for good following the field goal. The Chiefs drove down to the 11-yard-line on 10 plays taking over six minutes off the clock. Faced with fourth-and-inches, the snap rolled back to Richardson, who was tackled for a loss. The Chiefs defense came up big on the next possession, and North Jackson escaped with a 18-12 victory.
Holt led the way for North Jackson with 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts. He ran for 102 yards in the second half. Nick Price Jr. added 58 yards on the ground. Richardson completed five passes for 81 yards.
There was a palpable joy radiating from Hollis after the game.
“I’m really proud of these kids. We knew it would be a physical war. We went into a lull in the middle of this game, but our guys just kept their composure and kept fighting. We bent, but we didn’t break,” said Hollis. “They just fought their tails off to the end of this game. I’m just so proud of this group. That’s true Chief football right there.”
North Jackson will face another region test next week, when Plainview comes to R.D. Hicks Stadium.
