Friday night’s game between the Madison Warhawks and Steele Canyon Cougars featured abattle of two very different offensive styles and schemes. But by night’s end, the Warhawks’ air-raidoffense would trump the ground and pound Cougars by the final of 35-21.
“It was really important to come out here and get this win,” said Madison coach Rick Jackson. “We’re a young team with a lot of inexperience and lot of guys who haven’t played varsity football.” The Warhawks offense would be led by quarterback Isaac Diaz, who threw for over 200 yardsand four scores, and his trio of wideouts Ryan Jackson, Kam Wafer, and Romed Pepi.Madison’s ing game found sustained success utilizing 50/50 balls. With a clear advantage inheight, wingspan, and leaping ability on the outside, Diaz connected with Jackson and Wafer in the first half, helping Madison grab a 16-8 lead at the half.
“We have to be able to run the ball; that is number one, but we feel like we can throw the ballaround with anybody,” Jackson said. “We feel like we have six or seven wide receivers that are really solid. We just have to see how teams are playing us and play that chess game with the defense.”
While Steele Canyon was able to keep things tight for the first half of Friday night’s game, thewheels would soon start to come off in the early stages of the third quarter. Following a touchdown to open the period by Madison, Steele Canyon fumbled the ensuing kickoff, where it would be scooped and scored by the Warhawks’ Theanni Saulo.
Steele Canyon yet again fumbled the ensuing kickoff, handing the ball right back to the Warhawks.The second fumble was the third of four fumbles that the Madison defense and special teams unit forced on the night.
“Having and creating those turnovers helps,” noted Jackson. “We have to get the other team’soffense off the field and that’s a priority of ours. We had three of our starters back tonight, and I told the guys that the reps we got tonight were huge and they’ll pay dividends down the road. Our defense and special teams were great tonight.”
Just one play later, after the second straight fumble, Diaz would hit Jackson for a 12-yard touchdown , making it a 35-8 game and putting the game on ice.
The 6-foot-3 Jackson proved to be the X-factor for the Warhawks, as the senior found theback of the end zone three times on the night, all coming on deep balls outside the numbers.
Madison 35, Steele Canyon 21Madison 8 8 19 0 — 35Steele Canyon 0 8 6 7 — 21
M: Jackson 11 from Diaz ( Diaz to Treichel )S: De Arcos 7 from Caha Noah (Caha to Haisch)M: Wafer 33 from Diaz (Diaz to Quinn)M: Jackson 28 from Diaz (2pt failed)M: Sualo 21 fumble recovery (kick failed)M: Jackson 12 from Diaz (H. Brown Kick)S: Haisch 73 from Caha (2pt failed)S: Caha 2 run
