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Madison Outdone by Oakton in the Outback Bowl

Scoreless second half leads to lopsided defeat

With the smoke from the grills billowing across the field on a late August night, the Madison Warhawks looked to be in control of this year’s installment of the Outback Bowl.

But a poor Warhawk second half performance allowed the Cougars to retain posession of the bowl trophy, winning 55-17 – a final score that was in no way indicative of the first half Madison battle.

Oakton had their first touchdown on an interception called back by penalty, and Warhawk running back Nick Hoy capitalized the very next play with a 61 yard touchdown run. 

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Hundres of Warhawks fans erupted in applause, as hundreds of decorated Cougar fans, who have grown accustomed to big victories in recent years, stared on in utter disbelief.

Madison Head Coach Lenny Schultz then made the bold move to call for the surprise onsides kick, and was rewarded with a free possession, one resulting in a field goal and an early 10-0 lead .

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However, the Cougars would respond with a big interception, a touchdown on the following play, and another on a baffling punt return to take the lead. The same returner, however, swung the door back open for the Warhawks by dropping the next punt. Moments later, Jacob Hall bulldozed his way in for the score and the Warhawks were back on top 17-14. 

The lead was short lived. Oakton scored on their next two possessions to take a 27-14 lead into halftime, and continued their scoring ways throughout the second half.

As the Madison passing game began to stall in the third quarter, so too did the running attack. Hoy busted through the seams for a big run up the middle only to be stripped from behind for the turnover.  Defensively, the Warhawks had trouble handling the option, as well as the power run game up the middle, and as the Cougars tore their way up the field, they chewed time off the clock..

With the game slowly getting out of hand, Coach Shultz looked to roll the dice one more time, but the fake punt passing play was intercepted and taken in for another score. 

The Warhawks will look to get back on track next Friday against a W.T. Woodson squad that dropped their home opener 44-0 against Chantilly. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. at Woodson High School.

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