CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Hawthorne overcomes first half struggles to defeat Madison County for second straight state championship

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Three turnovers in one game would prove costly for the majority of teams playing a game in the playoffs or in a state championship contest. For the Hawthorne Hornets (13-0), they managed to put a lid on the turnovers and mistakes they made against the Madison County Cowboys (10-2) to clinch a 22-13 victory in the Class 1R state championship game Thursday night.

In cold weather where a lot of people needed their warmest jackets at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium, the game had plenty of heat and intensity for the rural classification state championship.

Hawthorne makes uncharacteristic mistakes

For quarterback CJ Ingram who was 24-0 coming into the game as a starter and threw four touchdown passes in the game against Blountstown last week threw three interceptions that the Hornets were thankful did not prove costly as they were able to keep the Cowboys in check.

CJ Ingram’s first interception came on the first drive of the game as the Hornets were marching downfield as the Cowboys brought pressure in from Jorien Bell to force Ingram to hurry the pass which Tre’vion Gillyard took advantage by interception at the 10 yard and returning it 24 yards to the Cowboys’ own 34 yard line but was moved back to the the 22-yard line after a holing penalty which would set the Cowboys up for the first drive of the game. Madison County would drive down the field  all the way down to the Hornets’ 24 yard-line, but would come away empty handed.

Uh oh… CJ Ingram for Hawthorne intercepted by Madison’s Tre’vion Gillyard. Hawthorne’s drive ends there! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/J0nC7OyFpz

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

However, for Hawthorne the mistakes started to increase as Madison County forced the Hornets to go three-and-out that saw a punt blocked by Sean Williams who would give the Cowboys the ball the Hawthorne 17-yard line. That drive saw the Hornets go backwards in part due to a bad snap which seem to be an issue for the Hornets at various times through out the night where snaps were way too high for Ingram to take.

That blocked punt gave the Cowboys their best field position of the game as they took advantaged of the short field that would take five plays to score a Varian Terry touchdown from five-yards out to make it 6-0 near the end of the first quarter after the two-point conversion failed.

CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN MADISON COUNTY!

Varian Terry takes in from five yards out as the Cowboys cash in on short field position!

Madison County 6, Hawthorne 0 – 0:27 1st Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A… pic.twitter.com/d66o3YC0Rr

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

Hawthorne, determined to not let things get out of hand responded to the Madison County touchdown with one of their own by Alvon Isaac from eight-yards out that capped off a nine-play, 61-yard drive with 7:19 left before half time to even the score up at 6-6 after the point after try from Sam Carroll failed.

TOUCHDOWN HAWTHORNE!

Alcon Isaac takes the ball in himself on an 8 yard carry! PAT no good.

Madison County 6, Hawthorne 6 – 7:19 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught @mpallman pic.twitter.com/3UYjQ11kV2

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

Ingram’s second interception came with 4:46 left in the first half near the end zone when Williams intercepted the pass at the one that ended any hope of the Hornets putting more points on the board and taking the lead. That turnover would lead to Madison County’s second touchdown of the night.

Not to be outdone by getting the Cowboys getting their second score of the night, CJ Ingram orchestrated a drive that took most of the clock down to the final minute that would be capped off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Matthew McKinley-Daniels that would even the score up after converting the point after try to make it 13-13.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN HAWTHORNE!

CJ Ingram to Matthew McKinley-Daniels for a 24 yard TD! We are all tied up!

Madison County 13, Hawthorne 13 – 0:51 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone… pic.twitter.com/lpZFxkL4Mn

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

With the turnover in hand after the kickoff to Madison County, Hawthorne had a chance to add more points right before halftime, but that would prove to be an issue once more for the Hornets as CJ Ingram would throw his third interception of the night right into the hands of Cowboys defender LJ Crumbly in the end zone as the half came to a close.

Madison County came to play, but also suffered issues

Madison County came to play, giving Hawthorne everything they could give despite the fact that several starters had to play both ways as it is customary for many rural football programs due to the availability of players on the roster.

At first however, the Cowboys were able to limit their mistakes in the first half with the first of two came with quarterback Za’vion Bryant fumbling the ball with just under five minutes left in the first half on a sack by Jaiden Trengrove with the fumble recovered Andrew Zock who led the Hornets coming into the game with tackles. However, the feeling of losing the ball would be erased quickly after the Cowboys intercepted CJ Ingram for the second time.

After getting the ball back in fast order, Terry made a statement with his second rushing touchdown of the night, going 99-yards in just one play that frustrated the Hawthorne sideline as they watched Terry hurry down the Cowboys sideline for the score to make 13-6 with 4:32 left before halftime.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN MADISON COUNTY!

Varian Terry takes the turnover and runs it 99 yards down the sideline!

Madison County 13, Hawthorne 6 – 4:32 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone… pic.twitter.com/d0thrSazH2

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

The second biggest mistake of the night came when Bell fumbled the kickoff return from the Hornets after their second touchdown that seem to put Hawthorne in prime position to put more points up on the board and take the lead for the first time in the game. However, the Cowboys would again overcome the mistake and prevent the Hornets from scoring before the half.

Hornets pitch second half shutout

Hawthorne did everything they could to keep Madison County from scoring and they did it successfully keep the Cowboys out of the end zone for the final two quarters, but it did not appear that way at first as Madison County had what appeared to be a touchdown play get wiped off the board due to holding and Nathan Jennings taking away any chances to score early on the third quarter with his own interception.

And just like that… Nathan Jennings intercepts a Cowboys pass and Hawthorne has the ball! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/i3oCmPIVwM

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

As the score entered the fourth quarter, things were still tied at 13-13 as neither team could figure out a way to break the logjam, making some wondered if overtime could be a possibility with the way both teams were playing.

Instead, the logjam would be broken with 9:30 left in the game when Hawthorne forced Madison County into a three-and-out situation backed up into their own end zone. On the snap for the punt, the snap sailed high and out of the back of the end zone that would give the Hornets a safety and making the the score 15-13.

CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

SAFETY! Snap goes over the head of the Madison County punter. Free kick for Hawthorne coming up.

Hawthorne 15, Madison County 13 – 9:40 4th Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone… pic.twitter.com/3XxhdtP17M

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

Hawthorne which took the free kick all the way down the one yard line of Madison County in hopes of putting the game way saw another miscue of a high snap on fourth-and-one as Ingram had to hurry to recover the ball to keep the Cowboys from potential scooping the ball and scoring. However, with that being a fourth down play, it gave Madison County an opportunity the chance to put a drive together and get points on the board to retake the lead.

However, that would not be the plan as everything as wild as you could get in a football game happened when a reverse play in the end zone by John Christian went as about as bad as it could when Christian fumbled the ball that saw Naziy Gant recovered the fumble to give the Hornets a touchdown and a 22-13 lead with 2:09 left to seal the game up.

CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN HAWTHORNE!

Madison fumbles a pitch on a reverse in the end zone and Hawthorne recovers! Naziy Gant on the recovery!

Hawthorne 22, Madison County 13 – 2:09 4th Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach… pic.twitter.com/EPYrB8VOcF

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023

Cornelius Ingram wins second state title; Hawthorne owns state’s longest win streak

For Cornelius Ingram who has been the Hornets’ head coach for the last eight years has now won two state championships for his alma mater, which was considered more of a pipe dream for the Hornets who struggled to make the playoffs during his time as a Hornet athlete. Hawthorne also now owns the state’s longest winning streak heading into the 2024 season with 25 straight wins with their last lost coming against Madison County in the 2021 Class 1A state championship.