An extra point off the foot of Clint Hearne proved to be the difference as Madison football edged Carroll County 7-6 in Carrollton on Friday.
The first gridiron meeting between the two schools since 1982 — and just second ever — was a defensive struggle from beginning to end as the two teams combined for less than 400 total yards.
In the end, it was Madison’s ability to collect an extra point after a touchdown that gave the Cubs their first win of the season, and lowest-scoring win since 2005.
Both teams scored their only points in the first half. Carroll County (0-3) went nearly the length of the field to score its lone touchdown — 83 yards on 14 plays — culminating in a 29 yard touchdown pass from Parker Mumphrey to Payton Williams with 40 seconds left in the first quarter. But the Panthers were stuffed on their two-point conversion try, a miss that proved fatal.
“Our long snapper, Kenyion Mumphrey, was injured two plays before the touchdown,” Carroll head coach Lonnie Oldham said, “our backup snapper sent it over the kicker and we could not get the ball over for a two-point conversion.
Carroll County reached inside the Madison 20 only once more in the game as the Cub defense clamped down tight. Madison coach Leroy Wilson said the Panthers surprised them with their run-heavy game plan early on, but they were able to adjust.
“That long drive they went into a double tight set with three backs, which we hadn’t seen yet. I mean they were a 76% pass team on film so that surprised us,” Wilson said. “But our defense held their own. We did give a score on that drive, but same time, the extra point was huge.”
“We had not been effective running or passing the ball so I decided to pull in everything tight and we ran a wishbone set,” Oldham said.
Madison (1-2) answered early in the second quarter when James Schafer took a screen pass, broke two tackles and outraced the Carroll defense to the end zone for a 40-yard score to tie the game. Hearne, a junior on loan from the soccer team, then smashed the extra point through the uprights for the go-ahead — and game-winning — score.
The two teams spent the remaining 32 minutes of the game trying to score again to no avail. Each turned the ball over deep in enemy territory and neither truly threatened. Madison got close enough to attempt a Hearne field goal early in the fourth quarter, but a penalty blew up the drive.
In the end, it was defense that carried the day for both teams. Madison finished with 195 total yards, nearly equally divided between the ground and air. Senior running back Van Skinner rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries while quarterback Darius Jay threw for 94 yards on 5-of-19 passing with one interception.
Carroll was only slightly better, getting 218 total yards. Zayn Satchwell collected 64 yards on 19 carries while Mumphrey was 13-of-23 passing for 96 yards and was picked off three times.
“Injuries are really hurting the team, Parker Mumphrey was injured and will not be able to go next week against Grant County, Blayden Meadows will get the start tomorrow night at quarterback,” Oldham said. “He will be our third quarterback in four games and probably our fourth offense we have had to put in. Kenyion has a dislocated elbow and will be out three weeks. We did get Tyshon Hudson and Dylan Williams back and our line play really improved.”
Carroll County stays home and will take on Grant County (0-3) this week before traveling to Ludlow (2-0) next week.
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