A lot can happen in 2 minutes.
Caldwell County found itself driving late in the first half against Madisonville-North Hopkins with a chance to take the lead at the break.
The Maroons led 16-14 but the Tigers appeared to at least be in field goal range at Tiger Stadium in Princeton.
However, Caldwell eschewed a long kick attempt to go for it on fourth down, and Madisonville’s TreyVeon Sedgwick picked off a pass in the end zone with just 12 seconds left in the half.
But instead of just running out the clock, Madisonville quarterback Kanyon Johnson threw one deep, where Ryder Sandidge made the grab, eluding a pair of defenders and raced to the end zone on an 80-yard scoring connection on the final play of the first half.
Instead of the underdog Tigers getting to the locker room with a lead, it was Madisonville that opened up a 24-14 cushion at the intermission.
The Maroons weren’t done with the big plays, though.
After holding Caldwell’s offense to a three-and-out to start the second half, Sandidge returned the Tigers’ punt 72 yards for another. That came at the 10:36 mark of the third quarter and put Madisonville up 30-14 and put momentum squarely on the Maroons’ side.
Caldwell never recovered, with Madisonville going on to claim a 52-14 victory Friday night.
Johnson ran for three scores and passed for two more for the Maroons.
The senior quarterback ran for 138 yards and was 11 of 22 passing for another 186 yards with an interception, giving him 324 yards of total offense.
Junior running back Markezz Hightower rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Sandidge caught three passes for 131 yards as the Maroons improved to 2-0.
Caldwell (1-1) went toe-to-toe with the Maroons in the first half, though.
The Tigers’ Luke Maddox stopped Madisonville’s first drive with an interception.
Caldwell cashed that in when Daelyn Lander hit Gus Fox over the top for a 69-yard touchdown play. Sutton Ritchey’s extra-point kick put the Tigers up 7-0 at the 9:23 mark of the first quarter.
Madisonville grabbed its first lead at the 2:32 mark of the opening stanza. Johnson found the end zone on a 1-yard run on fourth down. Hightower ran for two to put the Maroons up 8-7.
Caldwell used a 13-play scoring drive to retake the lead. Lander scored on a 2-yard run as the Tigers went up 14-8 with 7:58 left in the first half.
Madisonville went back in front at the 1:37 mark of the second quarter. Johnson found Evan Wilson open in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard scoring toss. Johnson then ran for two to give the visitors a 16-14 advantage.
Caldwell moved the ball late in the half, but the interception in the end zone set forth the game-defining moments that put Madisonville in charge.
Johnson added a 2-yard scoring run with 6:00 left in the third period. He also ran for two to extend the margin to 38-14.
Hightower broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds left in the stanza. Johnson added carried in the conversion to make it 46-14.
Johnson picked up his final touchdown with a 51-yard run against Caldwell reserves with just 3:57 left in the game.
Madisonville had 260 yards rushing as a team and totaled 446 yards of offense in the contest.
Caldwell struggled to mount a consistent rushing attack all night and finished with 34 yards on the ground and 242 total yards.
Lander was 17 of 34 passing for 208 yards and three interceptions.
Fox caught 11 passes for 161 yards.
The Maroons had 15 first downs while the Tigers had 11.
Madisonville has taken three straight from Caldwell and leads the all-time series 17-15.
Madisonville will host Hopkins County Central (1-1) next week.
Caldwell County will travel to Union County (1-1) next Friday.
