Football: Warhawks Keep Win Streak Alive

The Madison Warhawks beat Liberty District rival Langley Saxons by a score of 24-21 in a closely contested game filled with big plays. The win kept Madison unbeaten in District play and raised their overall record to 4-1. With the loss, Langley dropped to 1-1 in the District and 3-2 overall.

Langley's offense seemed in control as they took the opening kickoff, marched down the field in four plays and scored on an 11-yard run to take an early 7-0 lead. After a quick three and out, Madison punted the ball to Langley, who again moved the ball drive deep into Warhawk territory. However, as they have done all year, the Warhawk defense — who have christened themselves the Dark Side — stood firm and stopped the Saxons on fourth down. Warhawk defensive lineman Joe Koshuta broke into the backfield and blocked the pass attempt to end the Saxon’s drive and keep the score at 7-0.

After moving the ball to midfield, Madison's offense stalled and Nick Dorka angled a 45-yard punt out of bounds at the 2-yard line. On first down, Madison senior linebacker Nick Hoy delivered one of the first big shots of the game. Anticipating run, Hoy bulled into the Saxon backfield and slammed the runner to the turf for a safety giving Madison its first points and the momentum. Taking the kick after the safety, the Warhawks' offense moved the ball into Saxon territory on a 34-yard pass from Dan Powers to Tom House. Several plays later, Madison took a lead 9-7 when Powers found Ben Sanford in the left corner of the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown pass.

Langley took the ensuing kickoff and once again, looked in control, using six plays to move down the field and score a touchdown to take a 14-9 lead. The end of the first half was filled with mistakes and big plays by both teams. Langley stuffed a Madison fake punt. Sanford intercepted a Langley pass in the end zone. Madison fumbled the ball back to Langley. And on the last play of the half, Sanford picked off his second pass and raced 85 yards for a touchdown as time expired giving Madison a 16-14 lead at the half. 

The Saxons mounted an eight-play scoring drive on their first possession of the second half to take back the lead at 21-16. With Langley holding the lead and time winding down in the fourth quarter, Madison's Jacob Hall fielded a punt near midfield and returned it 51 yards to the Langley 3-yard line. Grant Hoffman scored on a run up the middle and Dan Powers ran around left end for a two-point conversion that gave the Warhawks a 24-21 lead. 

However, Langley had plenty of fight left. With several minutes remaining the Saxons moved the ball deep into Warhawk territory, but Sanford came up with his third interception of the night to stop the drive. Madison was unable to get a first down, and Dorka punted the ball inside the Langley 10-yard line. The Saxon punt returner shook several tacklers and seemed headed to the end zone and the winning score when Hall chased him down for a game-saving tackle at the 10-yard line. Once again, Madison's defense came up big forcing the Saxons to attempt a game-tying field goal. And when the ball sailed wide left, the Warhawks came away with the 24-21 victory in a game that could have gone to either team.  

Madison's next game will be at home against the Thomas Jefferson Colonials at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Final

Madison

0

16

0

8

24

Langley

7

7

7

0

21

L:  11 run (kick)
M:  Hoy tackles runner in endzone (safety)
M:  B Sanford 17 pass from Powers (Dorka kick)
L:  29 run (kick)
M:  B Sanford 85 int return (Dorka kick)
L:  5 run (kick)
M:  Hoffman 3 run (Powers run)

Madison Offensive Stats

• Total Plays: 42
• Total Yards: 222
• Rushes-Yards: 23-88
• Com-Att-Yards: 7-17-134
• First Downs (R, P, Pen): 9 (2r, 6p, 1pen)
• Off Sacks-Yards Lost: 2-15
• Penalties-Yards: 4-30
• Fumbles-Lost: 1-1
• Punts-Avg: 5-47.2
• Kickoffs-TBs: 3-3

Madison Rushing (Atts-Yds-TDs) 

• Hoy: 5-26-0
• Cooke: 5-12-0
• Powers: 3-15-0
• J Hall: 4-4-0
• Henderson: 2-14-0
• Williams: 2-11-0
• Hoffman: 2-6-1
• Totals: 23-88-1

Madison Passing (Comps-Atts-Yds-TDs-Ints)

Powers: 7-17-134-1-0

Madison Receiving (Atts-Receptions-Yards-TDs) 

• B Sanford: 7-2-22-1
• House: 3-1-34-0
• Ebersole: 3-2-30-0
• Cooke: 1-1-22-0
• N Williams: 1-0-0-0
• K Mancini: 1-1-26-0
• Schwab: 1-0-0-0
• Totals: 17-7-134-1

Kickoff Returns (Number-Yards-TDs)

• Hoffman: 3-65-0
• Goddard: 1-19-0

Punt Returns (Number-Yards-TDs)

J Hall: 1-51-0

Interception Returns (Number-Yards-TDs)

B Sanford: 1-85-1

Madison Defensive Stats

Player

Tackles

Assists

Sacks

Tackles for Loss

Passes Defended

Fumble Caused

Fumble Recover

Ints

Hoy

7 (1 safety)

5

1 (-1 yd)

Schwab

2

10

B Sanford

1

4

3

Wagaman

1

6

1

K Mancini

4

1

3

Durham

1

4

1 (-1 yd)

2

J Hall

1

3

Henderson

2

5

1(-5 yd)

Goddard

1

4

2

Goldsmith

2

Bowen

1

C Hall

2

1

TOTALS

22 (1 safety)

46

1 (-5yd)

2 (-2 yds)

8

0

0

3

Nick Dorka contributed this report.

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