To start the game off, the whole first quarter was like watching the first few rounds of a boxing match, where each opponent is reading what each team is going to do and that was exactly what the first quartered entailed. Istrouma started with the ball and spent close to half the quarter to get all the way to the Chargers 28 yard line on a 14 play drive, unfortunately the defense for Madison Prep held strong and forced a turnover on downs. Right back, Madison Prep had a very similar drive it also resulting in a turnover on downs, but they got even a little more close to the endzone turning the ball over on downs around the Istrouma 17 yard line. That was it for the first quarter basically only two drives combine, and one play on Istrouma second drive
Second quarter is where the action started to happen, a big play for the Indians involved Dyion Chavers and Kyree Paul which they attempted last minute against Brusly, which is a weak side hitch and toss, so they throw it to Dyion Chavers, for a 5 yard hitch, then Chavers toss it to Kyree Paul who is running a wheel route, and this was successful for around a 20 yard gain, so a little trickery for the Indians to try and the Indians on the board first. Two plays after that trickery, a go route to Nickzavier Johnson for a 15 yard catch which was a very impressive show of his ball tracking skills because the ball was up in the air for a good time, with that catch the Indians were inside the Chargers 15 yard line. After the big catch, the offense stalled inside the redzone, and I do not know if the cold weather had to do anything with it but, Frank Alexander, the quarterback for the Indians lets a ball sail right into Andre Gibson Jr. hands to get the interception. Luckily the Istrouma defense held them to a punt after the interception, after getting the ball back the Indians did not convert a first down, and with a few seconds on the clock for the Chargers, they ran two plays to possibly get into the endzone with two shot plays but they did not convert either. So going into the second half the score is still 0-0.
Right out of kickoff, for the Chargers, Alfred McKnight, on an inside zone, breaks lose for a 25 yard gain, unfortunately he stepped out at the 40 yard line if not he would have been in for a touchdown. After that big run the Indians hold them to a fourth down which gets converted by the legs of Tylan Johnson on a QB draw, that got them not just the first down but also inside the 20. Two plays after that conversion Madison Prep gets on the score board with a 17 yard rushing TD by Jeremiah Anderson with a successful PAT to be first on the board and up 7 to start the half. Something must have happened for both teams during halftime, because both teams came out swinging in their first drives of the game, the Indians threw a punch back at the Chargers with a 62 yard rushing touchdown by Kyree Paul unfortunately the two point was no good, the score being 7-6 Madison Prep. After the touchdown, the Indians were giving a boost of confidence, and that translated on the next drive for the Indian defense, forcing a punt, and on that punt, a bad snap then the punter was stripped and recovered by the Indians inside the Chargers 30 yard line. This drive going into the fourth quarter where the score was still 7-6 Madison Prep. The drive ended up being a time consuming drive, that unfortunately ended up a turnover on downs for the Indians.
Luckily the defense for both the Chargers and Indians, decided to give everything they had this game, because the Indians after turning it over on downs, the Indian defense did the same thing and forced a turnover on downs for Madison Prep. On the offensive drive after forcing the turnover, Kyree Paul fumbles the ball on the handoff, and is recovered by Madison Prep with seven minutes left in the game. After that costly fumble, the Chargers started to chew clock hoping to not allow the Indians to get another chance, and after constant QB runs, and inside zones, Madison Prep was knocking on the door of the endzone, the Indians held them to a third down inside the 10 yard line, and on that third down play, it was looking the Indian’s defense was going to come up big with a sack, unfortunately the corners were watching the quarterback and that left Amaren Sanders open for the nail in the coffin, with a good extra point, 14-6 Madison Prep. Heading into a miracle drive for the Indians, the Charger’s defense stepped up huge forcing a fourth down, but a costly facemask allowed the Indians to possibly get into a reasonable Hail Mary attempt position, Frank Alexander showing rookie mistakes, was not paying attention to the clock snapping the ball with 10 seconds left, with an incompletion, and with time expiring Frank Alexander throws one last prayer to Dyion Chavers, which was batted down and the ball game was over. 14-6 Madison Prep.
It always sad seeing a team with such a great senior class, lose in heartbreaking matter, and Coach Sid Edwards wanted to make those seniors feel special so after the game, Coach Edwards lined up all the seniors on the line and made every underclassmen and coach give them a hug, before this Coach Edwards got very emotional not because they lost but because he does not get to coach, these seniors anymore come Monday. It was a fun ride, for me to be with this historic run this group of kids had, doing something that has not been done since they were born back in 2003, so just because they lost, does not mean they did not lose for nothing they made school history, and that is something they should be proud of.
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