So how does the Madison County defense top this?
The Red Raiders limited Habersham Central to a paltry 75 yards of total offense last Friday, recorded five sacks and forced three turnovers in a 35-6 drumming of the “other” Raiders from Mt. Airy.
This Friday, Madison County faces defending region champion Loganville.
“We’ve just got to come out and do it again … We’ve all got confidence in each other to do what we’re supposed to do,” Madison County linebacker Donavan Carey said after the victory.
This unit has reason to be confident.
The Madison County defenders have surrendered just 22 points in their last two games as the team has claimed sole possession of second place in 8-AAAA.
This week’s task: Stop one of the state’s top running backs, Storm Johnson, a highly-touted Division I-A prospect, who highlights Loganville.
But this is a defense that, over the past few weeks, has accepted whatever challenge has come its way.
Against Cedar Shoals three weeks ago, the defensive unit came up with two key stops late in a 29-28 victory.
Two weeks ago against Salem, the Raider defense produced a memorable goal line stand, stopping the Seminoles on six plays inside the five-yard line. That defensive series helped lift Madison County to a 21-16 victory.
Then against Habersham, the Madison County defense was all over the field, forcing three take-aways and limiting Habersham Central to just five first downs on the evening. Jeremiah NeSmith led the defensive effort with nine tackles, including two sacks. He already has eight sacks on the season.
Coach Randell Owens credited his defensive staff’s preparation and his players’ week of practice for the Habersham game success.
“We had the best week of practice since I’ve been here,” Owens said.
And the Raider defense is playing the best it has all season. Madison County’s defense has demonstrated a marked improvement since the beginning of the year. The Raiders surrendered 28 points in their season-opening loss to Rockdale County and 29 the following week in a close win over Winder-Barrow. But Madison County allowed just one touchdown last week to a Habersham Central team that scored 42 points in its previous outing.
The resurgence is partly a product of simply being healthier.
The Raiders were ravaged by sickness and injuries at the start of the season, but Owens said his team was the healthiest it’s been all year during preparation for Habersham Central.
As for this week, most everyone on the sick and injured list — as of Monday — is now available, save for two players, who fall into the “probable” category.
“So we’re probably the best shape we’ve been in all year at this point,” Owens said.
The offense has helped, too, by keeping the defense off the field.
Owens noted a 14-play drive during the first quarter against Habersham Central. Though Madison County scored no points, it did keep the defense on the sidelines for quite a long stretch. And for those who play both ways, a long offensive drive is much less draining than a long defensive stand, Owens said.
“Our offensive plan meshed well,” he said.
Madison County hopes the same factors come into play Friday when the Raiders face Loganville.
Madison County, which held Habersham Central to just 23 rushing yards, must stop Johnson, who is a four-star recruit who recently decommitted from LSU. Owens said Loganville is talented athletically.
“They’ve had some situations where they’ve turned the ball over in crucial situations that have cost them,” Owens said. “But they’re scoring a lot of points against everybody.”
Madison County’s defense hopes to reverse that trend.
Because if it can, the Raiders have a shot to earn their sixth win of the year.
That would clinch a winning season and secure one part of Madison County’s two-part goal this season.
“Have a winning season and get to the state playoffs, and then anything can happen,” Owens said. “And that’s the mantra.”
