Christian County quarterback Jordan Miles had a big night with a trio of touchdowns Friday at Madisonville-North Hopkins, but the Maroons laughed last with a pair of late scores in a 35-19 victory.
The loss is the third straight for the Colonels, leaving them at 1-3 with a matchup with Hopkinsville looming on Friday.
Christian County had struggled on the offensive side of the ball in losses to Logan County and Henderson, but the Colonels were clicking early with a touchdown on their first possession.
Miles found Elijah Underhill behind the defense for a 33-yard scoring strike to give Christian County its first lead since an opening-night win over Caldwell County.
However, the Maroons answered with a pair of rushing touchdowns. The first came on Markezz Hightower’s 13-yard run, and quarterback Anias Mitchell did it himself from two yards out for a 14-7 Madisonville lead with 8:06 left in the first half.
Just before halftime, Cyrus Greenwade broke a big run down to the Maroon 30-yard line. On 2nd and goal from the 12, Miles rolled right before reversing field and finding his way to the endzone. However, the Colonels’ extra-point attempt was blocked, and they had to settle for a 14-13 score at the break.
The teams traded scores in the 3rd quarter, beginning with a one-yard TD plunge by Ricky Bowles after the Maroons converted on 4th and three from just inside the 15-yard line.
The Colonels gambled on their next possession, going for it on 4th and one from their own 45-yard line as the 3rd quarter ticked down. Miles kept it himself, outrunning the Maroons down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. Still chasing points from the blocked extra point, Christian County’s two-point attempt was no good.
The game hinged on a pair of 3rd and long plays in the 4th quarter. First, with the Maroons deep in their own end, Mitchell hit Trae Carney down to the County 30-yard line. Then, on 3rd and long from the Colonels’ 35, Mitchell found Quintin Rodgers over the middle for a 1st down in the red zone.
Mitchell finished off the drive with a short scoring run up the middle to take a two-score lead, and the Maroons tacked on another seven points on Hightower’s second TD in the final seconds.
The Colonels passed for 159 yards and rushed 29 times for 210 yards. They were penalized ten times for 68 yards.
Miles ran for 128 yards and two scores, and Underhill had seven catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. Greenwade carried the ball four times for 56 yards.
Madisonville totaled 297 yards, including 118 yards rushing for Hightower. Mitchell threw for 156, and the Maroons were flagged eleven times for 105 yards.
