DANIELSVILLE, Ga. – Three turnovers were the difference as Madison County won a shootout in region 8-4A over North Hall Friday night, 49-35.
"Offensively, we just turned the ball over at critical times," said head coach Sean Pender. "We can't turn the ball over and be successful against a team of this caliber."
With North Hall in the lead 35-28 at the midway point of the third quarter, Madison County rattled off the final 21 points on three rushing scores by Camden Smith to push their way into the second spot in region 8-4A.
North Hall got plenty of offense in the game, accounting for 571 total yards of offense, led by Tanner Marsh's 253 yards of passing and 133 yards on the ground. With those performances, he breaks the single season and career records for passing yards and passing touchdowns and also set the single game record for total offensive yards.
After the Red Raiders scored on the opening possession of the game, North Hall answered just 32 seconds later on a 23-yard run from Marsh to tie the game before taking their first lead on a pass from Marsh to Ryals Puryear for 42 yards. Madison County answered late in the quarter with a 63-yard rushing score, but the Trojans hit right back with another passing score from Marsh to Breckan Kirby to retake the lead.
The Red Raiders tied it up just over a minute later before North Hall went down and scored again, this time with Marsh's feet running for 16 yards and a 28-21 lead. Tied at 28-28 at halftime, Marsh found Kirby again for a 6-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter before Madison County finished on the 21-0 run.
Tate Ruth finished the night with 174 yards rushing on 18 touches.
North Hall will host Chestatee next week before heading into a bye week.
