Madison County scored early, but Apalachee scored often as the Wildcats continued their perfect run through Region 8-AAAA Friday.
The Red Raiders took a 7-0 first quarter lead on seventh-ranked Apalachee, but the Wildcats (9-0) reeled off 31 consecutive points to win 31-14 on Madison County’s senior night. The loss dropped the Red Raiders to 5-4, severely hurting Madison County’s chances of a state playoff berth.
Apalachee dominated the night defensively, holding the Red Raiders to -3 yards rushing, while racking up 326 yards rushing on the offensive side of the ball in a game played on a soggy field in a steady mist.
The Red Raiders will try to salvage their season next week at Clarke Central in the regular season finale against the 7-2 Gladiators.
Madison County drew first blood against the Wildcats just a minute and a half into the game with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Stan Maxwell to Presly McKeever on a fake punt.
But Apalachee answered with a safety with 3:15 left in the first quarter and never looked back.
The Wildcats went up 10-7 with 1:16 left in the first quarter with a 64-yard touchdown pass to John Ansley and two-point conversion from Jon Lee, followed by second-quarter touchdown runs of 35 and 11 yards from Lee as Apalachee led 24-7 at the half.
Zack Gentry caught a 19-yard touchdown pass to start the third quarter as the Wildcats ran out to a 31-7 lead en route to their ninth consecutive region win.
Apalachee, which pounded out 23 first downs and finished with 419 total yards, is now one victory away the school's first 10-0 regular season.
Meanwhile, Madison County was limited to just 157 yards on the night in its third-straight loss.
The Red Raiders’ only other score came with the game already in hand as Jacob Owens connected with Kendrick Butler for a 35-yard touchdown with 3:28 left in the third quarter.
Score-by-quarter
AHS 10 14 7 0 — 31
MCHS 7 0 7 0 — 14
Statistics Rushing — Cooper 3-13, Maxwell 2-0, Owens 12- -13
Passing — Maxwell 2-2, 1 TD, 90 yards; Owens 9-23, 1 TD, 74 yards
Receiving — McKeever 1-51-1TD; McCrary 2-50, Butler 2-40-1TD, Cooper 2-21, Maxwell 3-2
Region scores Apalachee 31, Madison Co. 14
Clarke Central 55, Winder-Barrow 12
Rockdale Co. 31, Loganville 28
Salem 21, Habersham Central 7
Heritage 20, Monroe Area 7
Cedar Shoals was off
Region standings
Apalachee 9-0
Clarke Central 7-2
Rockdale Co. 6-3
Salem 6-3
Loganville 5-4
Madison Co. 5-4
Hab. Central 4-6
Heritage 3-6
Cedar Shoals 3-6
Winder-Barrow 2-7
Monroe Area 0-9
Rockdale Co. 31,
