Madison County checks in at No. 21
SOCIAL: Follow on Twitter | Friend on Facebook
FlaVarsity Football Analyst John Patton (follow him @FVStaff on Twitter)and staff continue to break down the FlaVarsity Top 25 Pre-season poll. Here's our No. 21 team.
Advertisement
WHO: Madison County Cowboys
2011 REWIND: After a 9-1 regular season, the Cowboys won three straight playoff games by a combined score of 101-3, but lost their starting QB before the state championship against American Heritage-Delray. Madison never got untracked on offense and couldn't stop Greg Bryant and company as the Stallions beat Madison 30-3
TOUGH TO BELIEVE: Madison did not make the playoffs until 1995, but has made 17 consecutive appearances since - and have appeared in seven state championships. Three different coaches have during that time have brought home two titles.
BY THE NUMBERS: Four-star offensive lineman Ira Denson (verbal commitment to Florida State) leads an offensive line that dominates opponents with the run. On defense, DB Shedrick Williams is a head-hunter who, along with JR QB D. J. McKnight got a lot of experience in last year's title game.
Aside from experience, the Cowboys have tradition. Boot Hill - the home stadium for Madison - is one incredibly tough place to play. Madison will play "anyone any time anywhere," but games at 'The Hill' are electric - especially when the fog rolls in.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Denson, Williams, DE Brandon Crawford, WR Tre Arnold provide senior leadership. RBs Deonshay Wells and Donte Oliver - both juniors - will lead the offense along with Keyon Bruton. LBs Brice Hamilton and Deondre Miller provide the 'Cur Dog' defense with some hard hitters.
OUTLOOK: Madison County was a juggernaut in Florida last year. Two losses - one to Colquitt County (Ga.) to start the season and one to American Heritage-Delray were sandwiched in-between 12 straight wins. Only Gainesville (21-17) came close to knocking off the Cowboys - until the finals in Orlando.
Williams, Wells, Arnold and Oliver all grew up last year in the title game, with all four playing both ways.
FOUR GAMES OF FOCUS: Jefferson Co. (9/7), @Edgewater (9/14), Gainesville (10/26), Providence (9/28)
Not a FlaVarsity Premium subscriber? FlaVarsity costs just 27 cents a day and you get access to the entire Rivals.com network! To get a free seven-day trial, click here.
We will continue the countdown up until the opening day (August 30). Here's some previous stories related to the FlaVarsity Pre-season Top 25