TANNER —
Hayden Stephens could hardly contain himself. Running off Rip Swanner Field moments after Tanner’s 13-7 win over Madison Academy, Stephens was ecstatic.
“I’m not used to this,” said the junior running back about doing a post game interview. “I knew I would be carrying the ball a lot more than last year. It feels great to get a win like this. I don’t know how to describe it.”
Stephens scored the game-winning touchdown with 21 seconds left in the third quarter on a 52-yard touchdown run. The junior speedster darted past the Mustangs’ front seven and put a nifty move on safety Kerryon Johnson to go untouched for the score.
“I saw an opening inside and there was just one safety left,” Stephens said. “I made a cut inside and it was wide open over there.”
The score gave Tanner a two score lead in a game in which its defense had dominated to that point. Through three quarters, Class 2A No. 3 Tanner held Class 3A No.4 Madison Academy to 43 total yards of offense.
As dominant as Tanner’s defense was, Madison Academy got back in the game two plays later when Johnson ran untouched up the middle for an 80-yard touchdown score on the first play of the fourth quarter.
The teams exchanged punts in the fourth quarter until Madison Academy was left with one last chance to get back in the game on a fourth-and-four play from the Tanner 35-yard line with 1:22 to play. Just as they had done all game, the Rattlers’ defense smothered Madison Academy ball carrier LaMarkus Martin for no gain to give Tanner the ball back and seal the win.
“I thought they played great,” said Tanner head coach Laron White. “Our guys were tired and they didn’t quit. They didn’t give up. Some of them were banged up. That defense played great. They had that one big play, but that happens. We’ll fix that.”
Tanner’s defense held Madison Academy to 134 total yards on the night. The Rattlers ran for 180 yards, led by Stephens’ 20 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown.
In his first start at quarterback, Tanner sophomore Jonathan Fletcher went 4-for-7 for 34 yards and no interceptions. Fletcher opened the scoring on the Rattlers’ opening drive when he rolled left on a bootleg to walk into the end zone for a three yard score.
The 17-play drive set the tone for the rest of the game as Tanner controlled the clock, limiting the Mustangs to 31 yards in the first half. The Rattlers were boosted by a Fred Rich interception and a Kyle Shoulders sack that ended Madison Academy drives in the first half.
Tanner committed one penalty for five yards while Madison Academy was called for five penalties for 35 yards.
Tanner (1-0) will host Red Bay next week while Madison Academy (0-1) host Lauderdale County.
Local News 2
Tanner beats Madison Academy with suffocating defense
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ACE IN THE HOLE
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Hodges, Williams finish in the top 5 at state golf tourney
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