ScoutSouth.com: North Jackson Wins Region

The battle between North Jackson and Madison County for the Region 7 title turned out more of a blowout than a battle. The top-ranked Chiefs routed the visiting Tigers from Madison County 45-7 to take the Region 7 crown Friday night in Stevenson.

Scoring on two pass plays, two runs, a blocked punt, an interception, and a field goal, North Jackson turned Madison County every which way but loose. Tana Patrick caught touchdown passes of 26 and 30 yards to lead the Chiefs' scoring, and Ron Gary rushed for 173 yards and scored a touchdown in the winning effort.

The Chiefs also got a rushing touchdown from A.J. Matthews and a field goal from Christoffer Stoevring who has only missed two kicks the whole season, including PATs.

It was the defense that was the big story Friday night, holding one of the top offenses in the state in check. Madison County came into the game averaging over 46 points a game, but North Jackson held them to only 7 in the title game.

So effective was the North Jackson defense, five times the Tigers were forced to go three-and-out in the game. On Madison County's deepest penetration into North Jackson territory, Shawn Lawrence intercepted a Tiger pass at the Chiefs' 12 yard line and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown.

Jovani Taylor did some major damage of his own by blocking a Tiger punt and then returning it for a touchdown. The Tigers' quarterback was sacked five times and continually harassed in the game, rendering the Madison County passing game powerless.

Tiger running back Cameron Cross, who came into the game with over 1,500 rushing yards, was held to only 35 yards on 12 carries and no touchdowns in the game.

Along with the big plays by Lawrence and Taylor, Frankie Crabtree was the defensive leader for the Chiefs with 14 tackles, a QB sack, and a pass breakup.

Ryan Crowe had 10 tackles and a sack, while Zack Hammontree had eight stops in the contest. Nic Cobb, Tana Patrick, and Cody Cagle had seven tackles each, and Patrick also had two quarterback sacks.

North Jackson is now 9-0 for the season and finishes a perfect 7-0 in the region, heading into the playoffs as the top qualifier from the region.

As the No.1 qualifier from Region 7, the Chiefs play the No.4 qualifier from Region 5, which is the Oneonta Redskins.

Madison County falls to 8-1 overall, 6-1 in the region and clinches the No.2 qualifier position in the playoffs. The Tigers will host Midfield, the Region 5 No.3 in the first round of the playoffs.

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