Jags win again Madison Central thumps Warren Central 28-7
There may very well be a team in Mississippi with a recipe to contain Madison Central quarterback Jimmy Holiday, but that remains to be seen.
Warren Central became the latest heavyweight to try its hand against Holiday, but the Vikings made the long drive back to Vicksburg Thursday night following a 28-7 beat down at the hands of Holiday and the No. 1 Jaguars.
Jimmy "the Jet" was fantastic again, rushing for 177 yards and two touchdowns and completing 10 of 12 passes for 89 yards and two more scores.
Both of his touchdown passes - a 3-yard connection with Blake Gunter and a 10-yard toss to Luke Robertson - came in the first half.
The Jaguars (6-0) took a 14-0 lead into the break, then came out running in the second half.
Holiday and the MC offense marched 80 yards on the opening drive of the second half, capped by Holiday's 29-yard touchdown run that put the Jags ahead 21-0.
"We did what we wanted to do and came out with some fire," Madison coach Anthony Hart said. "We weren't too happy with ourselves the past two games in terms of our enthusiasm and mindset, but we got back into a rhythm against Warren Central."
The Vikings' lone score came with seven minutes to go in the third quarter, when sensational tailback Kentrick Thompson broke through the line and out-raced the entire Madison Central defense for a 46-yard rushing TD.
Not to be outdone, Holiday capped his splendid performance with a 55-yard run for a touchdown on the Jags' ensuing possession to extend the lead back to three scores.
"There's not really much left to say about Jimmy," Hart said. "He seems to play his best in big games, and we're hoping that continues for the rest of the season."
The win set up another big game for Madison Central this week. Big Blue is taking its show on the road to Starkville (6-2, 2-0 in 2-6A).
The two foes sit alone atop the standings ahead of South Panola and Warren Central, which are both 2-1 in region play. The Yellow Jackets defeated Greenville 49-26 last week, and they've now won 30-straight home games.
"It's always a big game between us and Starkville," Hart said. "It's a tough place to go and win, but we've been talking about beating them up there since the start of camp, so that's what we're preparing to go up there to do."
Hart added that other than junior linebacker Jackson Mize, who has been out since the start of the season, Friday's game will be the first of the season in which he doesn't have a starter or key player out due to injury.
"It's been a while," he said. "But it's coming at the right time."