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The Madison County Journal INSIDE THIS WEEK Week 10 predictions are in Check out the football picks for week 10 of The Madison County Journal Pigskin Picker 2B IB Thursday, November 5, 2009 www.MainstreetnewsSPORTS.com Ben Munro/ ben@mainstreetnews.com (706) 795-2567 Playoffs or not, win over Glads Friday would be big Since I don’t coach or play for Madison County, I’m yet again taking the liberty of looking ahead. Should Madison County upset Clarke Central Friday night on the historic grounds of Billy Henderson Stadium Friday and not qualify for the postseason, the Red Raider reac tion will be interesting. Would the win be viewed as only a consolation prize in a near-miss season? Or will Madison County savor a 6-4 record in a tough region, punctuated by a vic tory over one of the few true local rivals on the football schedule? I suspect the latter. One of the less appealing aspects of Madison County’s region configuration is the lack of natural enemies. Back in the old 8-AAA, schools from border coun ties - Franklin County, Elbert County, Hart County — surrounded the Red Raiders, while other places like Oconee County and Stephens County were nearby. Familiarity always breeds good contempt and spirited football games. But in 8-AAAA, Madison County faces three schools from Conyers, which require hour and 45 minute bus rides. Meanwhile, Loganville and Monroe are about an hour away, as are trips to Winder to face either Apalachee or Winder- Barrow. The drive north to Habersham Central is about an hour, too. So only the Athens schools — Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central — fit geographic rival billing. Which brings us to Friday and Clarke Central. After all, the trip from Danielsville to South Milledge Avenue is just 17.5 miles. Having this game last on the schedule fits nicely for the Red Raiders in any season. Beat say, Monroe Area, in the last game, and Madison County might savor that for a week. Should the Red Raiders beat Clarke Central, they’ll probably savor that the entire offseason. There's too much cross over for this game not to mean a little extra. Madison County knows these guys. Many of the players’ parents likely work in Athens. And there are probably even family ties here and there between the two schools. So whether or not Madison County advances to the playoffs Friday, I suspect the Red Raiders will celebrate as if they did, if they can some how beat the Gladiators. But, of course, that's a huge “if.’’ Ben Munro is a reporter for The Madison County Journal Ben Munro From the sports desk Cross Country Brakhage sets pace for MCHS at region In the final race of the year, Corey Brakhage led all Madison County runners with a 19:53 this past Saturday’s Region 8-AAAA meet in Conyers. Brakhage finished 31 st overall as Madison County placed eighth out of 11 squads in the boys’ team standings. Brakhage was tire only Madison County runner to break the 20-minute mark. Following Brakhage were Dalton Owensby (42 nd , 20:35), Codey Brakhage (44 th , 20:42), Scott Barnes (46 th , 20:43), Chris Dove (49 th , 20:58). Chris Brown (68 th . 23:44) and Brett Coggins (71 st , 25:12). Winder-Barrow won the boys’ region title. Three Madison County girls participated in tire region meet, though tire Lady Raiders didn’t earn a team score. Elise Coberly finished 54 th with a 30:45, followed by Mendi Cromer (57 th , 30:57) and Haley Costello (61 st , 32:55). REGION TIMES BOYS Corey Brakhage, 31st, 19:53 Dalton Owensby, 42 nd , 20:35 Codey Brakhage, 44 th , 20:42 Scott Barnes, 46 th , 20:43 Chris Dove, 49 th , 20:58 Chris Brown, 68 th , 23:44 Brett Coggins, 71 Bl , 25:12 GIRLS Elise Coberly, 54th 30:45, Mendi Cromer, 57th, 30:57 Haley Costello, 61st, 32:55 Winder-Barrow also won the girls' region title. Seven Madison County boys participated in tire junior var sity list, with Drew Cofer having the best showing there for tire Red Raiders. He finished 49 th with a 24:30. Others running were Eh Smallwood (55 th . 25:32). Austin Kelley (57 th , 25:48), Mark Pulliam (61 st , 26:29). Crew Mayne (63 rd . 26:53), Kyle Manning (66 th , 27:53), Taylor Crouse (72 nd , 32:04). Corey Brakhage was Madison County’s top run ner at region this past Saturday, with a time of 19:53. Ben Munro/staff Prep Football Week 10 Madison Co. @ Clarke Central, Athens, Friday, 7:30 p.m. Playing for pride or postseason? Madison County running back Kendrick Butler gets to the comer last week in Madison County’s 31-14 loss to Apalachee. The Red Raiders play Clarke Central Friday in Athens with hopes of securing a winning season and perhaps a playoff berth. Ben Munro/stafF Winning season within grasp, but playoffs uncertain By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com A win Friday may not guar antee a playoff berth, but Madison County can find motivation in plenty of other places. Losers of their last three games, the Red Raiders (5-4) face Clarke Central (7-2) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Billy Henderson Stadium with a chance to stop that losing skid, capture the pro gram’s first winning season in three years and beat one of their main rivals. Those non-playoff incentives should have Madison County ready to play, Owens said. “I hope so,’’ he said. “I think they would be ... We’re hurting, but we’ve got to grow up and rise up and get over it and move and take advantage of the FRIDAYS OPPONENT ■ Who: Madison Co. at Clarke Central ■ When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ■ Where: Athens, Billy Henderson Stadium ■ Series: Madison Co. leads 3-2 ■ Last year: Clarke Central 19, Madison Co. 7 ■ Last week: Clarke Central 55, Winder- Barrow 12; Apalachee 31, Madison Co. 14 ■ Opponent’s coach: Leroy Ryals (fourth season, 28-12-1) ■ Opponent’s all-time record: 331-136 ■ What else: If the Red Raiders win Friday, it would secure only the program’s seventh winning season. The others came in 1982, 1983, 1991, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Madison County finished with winning records in 2000, 2001 and 2003, but played a non-region schedule opportunity that is in front of us — a winning season.” All hope is not lost on postseason front, either, but the Red Raiders need major help this Friday. The "easiest” scenario is for Salem (6-3) to lose to region champion Apalachee (9-0) and Winder-Barrow (2-7) upset Loganville (5-4), which would propel Madison County to the no. 4 seed with a victory. There’s another possibility that Madison County, Salem and Rockdale County (which would have to lose to 0-9 Monroe Area) could finish in a three-way tie for third with 6-4 records. With only two playoff spots available, the three teams would have to play GHSA-mandated mini games next Monday to determine those playoff spots. “The top two teams out of that (mini- — See ‘Football’ on page 2B Apalachee 31, MCHS 14 Raiders can’t contain ‘Cats in 31-14 loss By Ben Munro ben@mainstreetnews.com Madison County scored early, but Apalachee scored often as the Wildcats con tinued their perfect run through Region 8-AAAA Friday. The Red Raiders took a 7-0 first quarter lead on seventh- ranked Apalachee, but the OWENS Wildcats (9-0) reeled off 31 consecutive points to win 31-14 on Madison County’s senior night. The loss dropped the Red Raiders to 5-4, severely hurting Madison County’s chances of a state playoff berth. Apalachee dominated the night defensively, holding the Red Raiders to -3 yards rushing, while racking up 326 yards rushing on the offensive side of the ball in a game played on a soggy field in a steady mist. “Apalachee, without a doubt, is the best team in the region around the clock,” Madison County coach Randell Owens said. Madison County drew first blood against the Wildcats just a minute and a half into the game with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Stan Maxwell to Presly McKeever on a fake punt. But Apalachee answered with a safety with 3:15 left in the first quarter and never looked back. The Wildcats went up 10-7 with 1:16 left in the first quarter with a 64-yard touchdown pass to John Ansley and two-point con version from Jon Lee, fol lowed by second-quarter touchdown runs of 35 and 11 yards from Lee as Apalachee led 24-7 at the half. Zack Gentry caught a — See ‘Loss’ on page 2B Subvarsity Football Junior varsity shoots for fourth victory tonight The Madison County junior varsity football team shoots for a 4-2-1 finish tonight (Thursday) in its season finale against Gainesville, Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. Madison County (3-2-1) is coming off a 27-8 victory over Winder-Barrow Oct. 22, which included a season-high four touchdown passes from quarter back Alex Jordan. Madison County's game against Gainesville today was added to take the place of a cancelled con test with Clarke Central back on Oct. 1. The team is nearly undefeated with its two losses coming by just one point. Madison County's three vic tories this year have come over Monroe Area, Banks County and Winder-Barrow. Basketball MCHS intrasquad hoops games ahead The Madison County basketball season will get off to an unofficial start next Friday (Nov. 13) when both the boys' and girls' teams play their annual Red and Gray scrimmages. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at the MCHS gym. Both teams then play scrimmage games the following Tuesday (Nov. 17) at Hart County at 6 p.m. before opening the season against Southwest Atlanta Christian Nov. 20 starting at 6 p.m. KAYLA FREEMAN