High School

Hawthorne overcomes mistakes to defeat Madison County for 1R title

Despite three interceptions in the first half, the Hornets are able to avenge 2021 state title loss to Cowboys

Andy Villamarzo

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA- It was never going to be pretty. 

With history to help guide us on what a Hawthorne-Madison County rematch for a state championship game could look like, circa 2021's meeting, limiting mistakes and capitalizing off turnovers is usually a good formula. 

Hawthorne, the defending 1R state champions, was the one with the miscues and in the end, they were able to overcome all of them. 

The Hornets despite three first half interceptions, got a safety and fumble recovery for a touchdown, edging them past the Cowboys, 22-13, for the Class 1R state championship at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Ken Riley Field. Hawthorne avenged a 13-12 loss to Madison County in the 2021 Class 1A state championship game. 

"To be mentioned with Madison County, who have had so much success over the years, that's what it's about," Hawthorne head coach Cornelius Ingram said. "I challenge my kids every single day, whether they're going to class or whether they're going home to their parents. Especially out in the football field, just a great feeling that I get to experience in my hometown."

For Hawthorne, it's back-to-back state championships and they're the only two in program history. Coming off a 49-0 rout of Blountstown the week before in the state semifinals, many wondered if Hawthorne could keep up its highly efficient offense.

That answer became emphatically no and that's because of a stifling Madison County defense throughout the evening. The game's opening possession for the Hawthorne didn't go as planned, with it ending on an interception thrown by Ingram and picked off by Madison County free safety Tre'vion Gillyard. 

Madison County (10-2) stayed true to itself as a primarily running football team and that generated the game's first score. Late in the first quarter, senior running back Varian Terry scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to push the Cowboys ahead, 6-0. 

Hawthorne (13-0) was finally able to get on the scoreboard near the midway point of the second quarter when Ingram dialed up a reverse play with USF commitment Alvon Isaac, that went seven yards to pay-dirt and tied things up at 6-6. Then, some of the inconsistencies on offense for the Hornets started to occur.

The Hornets looked to be seemingly changing the momentum of the game when linebacker Andrew Zock (Navy commitment) scooped up a fumble and gave Hawthorne field position inside of Madison County's 30-yard line. Instead, the Hornets would give it right back on Ingram's second interception throw.

On the ensuing play from their own 2-yard line, Terry got up the left sideline and went 98 yards for a touchdown, putting Madison County ahead, 13-6. Trailing to another team is something Hawthorne hadn't done very much this postseason, but the Hornets answered just before intermission. 

Ingram would connect on a 24-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Matthew McKinley-Daniels and tie the game up at 13-all with 44 seconds before halftime. Hawthorne had another opportunity right before halftime, inside of Madison County's 10-yard line, but another interception turned the Hornets away from taking control. 

Bad or mishandled snaps became a common theme in the game and it was the difference in the second half. The game remained tied throughout the third quarter, but on a Madison County punt, the snap sailed just over the head of 6-foot-3 senior Keoni Nelson's head and through the back of the end zone for a safety, giving Hawthorne a 15-13 lead.  

What proved to be the dagger was a fumbled exchange for the Cowboys on a double-reverse play with 2:09 left in the game, with Naziy Gent falling on the ball for a touchdown to put Hawthorne up 22-13 and securing the victory. 

(Photos by SBLive Sports Florida photographer Matt Christopher) 

FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl

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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.

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