Coming off tough district losses to Apollo and then Owensboro in back-to-back outings, the Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons were in serious need of building a little bit of good mojo heading into the playoffs as they headed to Warren Central for their regular-season finale Thursday night. The Maroons looked to their ground game and came away with a 52-12 win over the Dragons on a chilly night at Joe Hood Field.
While the Maroons did get some positive energy going as they got back on the winning track by ending their two-game skid, there is some concern for the health of running back Markezz Hightower, who appeared to injure his hamstring on a 54-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
Madisonville started ‘grounding’ it out right from the opening kickoff. The Maroons took the ball to open the game and promptly went on a 65-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run from Hightower with 7:20 to go in the first that gave them a quick 7-0 lead.
Markezz Hightower and Ryder Sandidge combined for 60 rushing yards on the opening possession.
After getting a three-and-out on defense, the Maroons went right back on the attack, chewing up yards and game clock as they went. However, the drive stalled out on the opening play of the fourth quarter when the Maroons did not convert a 4th and 16 deep in Warren Central’s end of the field.
But the Maroon defense came up with its second straight three-and-out, and the Madisonville offense was back in business.
It took the Maroons just five plays to find the end zone this time. Markezz Hightower’s 3-yard run with 8:29 to go in the half gave the Maroons a 14-0 lead.
After diffusing a Dragon drive into the Madisonville end of the field, the Maroon offense had its only dud of the opening half, going three-and-out of consecutive incomplete passes. But Warren Central returned the favor with their third three-and-out of the first half to give the ball right back to the Maroon offense, and this time they would pay dearly.
On the second play of the possession, Markezz Hightower exploded for a 54-yard touchdown run with 4:50 to go in the half, putting Madisonville up 21-0. However, Hightower pulled up after reaching the end zone and was done for the night. He racked up 173 yards and three touchdowns, despite playing in just 19 minutes of the game.
The Maroon defense had its fourth three-and-out on the next Dragon possession, giving the offense one more chance before the break. Noah Mays connected on a 44-yard field goal inside the final minute of the half that sent Madisonville to the break with a 24-0 lead.
Things got a bit more interesting in the opening moments of the second half. On the third play of the half, the Dragons connected on a 72-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 24-6.
The Maroons had an answer, though. Madisonville marched down the field on a 7-play, 73-yard drive, finished off when Ryder Sandidge scored on a 10-yard run with 6:18 to go in the third to push the lead back out to 31-6.
Warren Central came right back, using its air attack to get down the field and then find the end zone from 15 yards out, and just like that, the lead was back down to 31-12. An interception three plays later for the Maroon offense, and suddenly the Maroon-clad contingent that made the journey to Bowling Green was on the edge of their seats. But they didn’t have to stay there long.
The Dragons would end up turning the ball back over to the Maroons at the Madisonville 48-yard line, and with that turnover went the last vapors of hope for Warren Central.
Ryder Sandidge’s 24-yard run capped off a 52-yard drive and made it 37-12 early in the fourth. After forcing a Dragon punt, the Maroons pulled out a little razzle-dazzle. Kirk LaGrange ended up with the ball on a double-reverse and rumbled 41 yards down the right sideline to put the Maroons up 45-12. Madisonville then added a late score on a two-yard pass from Alex Richards to Isaiah Pena.
Madisonville finished the night with 346 yards on the ground. In addition to the 173 from Markezz Hightower, Ryder Sandidge finished the night with 93 yards and two touchdowns.
The Maroons also had 53 passing yards to give them 399 total yards for the night. Warren Central had 67 rushing and 199 passing for 266 total yards.
The Maroons finish the regular season 8-2 and now get ready to head back to Bowling Green next Friday night as they will open the Class 5A playoffs by taking on the Greenwood Gators. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2014 season.
