Madison County and Hawthorne clash in state title rematch: Live updates

The Hornets edged out the Cowboys last year in the Rural classification final

Madison County senior Jahon Jackson (10) rushes toward the end zone in the Rural 1 Region 3 quarterfinal matchup between Madison County and Fort White on Nov. 11, 2022, at Boot Hill. The Cowboys won, 36-0. J9t4473 / Jack Williams/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK

When Madison County and Hawthorne take the field this evening at The Villages' The Range H.G. Morse Stadium, it'll be a case of deja vu.

The two programs clashed in last year's Rural state championship game at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee and now meet again for the rematch. Hawthorne edged Madison County, 22-13, for the crown and are gunning for a 3-peat. Madison County looks to win its first title since the 2021 season.

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Follow along at High School On SI for live updates throughout the afternoon between the two programs in Mid-Central Florida.

(Keep refreshing page for live updates from the game)

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Hawthorne	0	6	0	8	14
Madison County	7	6	0	8	21

PREGAME

Rural Invitational championship is slated to kickoff at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Madison County wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Hawthorne will receive first.

1st quarter

Dacarion Debose returns the opening kickoff to midfield for Hawthorne.

Hawthorne pins Madison County against the goal line after punting on the opening drive.

Leland Johnson picks off a pass for Hawthorne to end Madison County's first possession and returns to the Madison County 21.

Wild start to this game, Madison County's Ryshard Miller scoops up a fumble and returns it 61 yards for a touchdown, Cowboys take a 7-0 lead at 7:40 in the first quarter.

2nd quarter

On 4th-and-goal, Adrian Curtis hits Dacarino Debose on a 7-yard fade into the end zone for Hawthorne's first touchdown, though the PAT is missed to leave it 7-6 Madison County at 11:38 in the quarter.

Direct snap to Jason McDaniel for a 1-yard TD run, Madison County gets its second touchdown but also misses the PAT, so the Cowboys lead 13-6 with 3:50 left in the half.

Johnny Norwood of Madison County blocks a punt after a bobbled snap and the Cowboys have a chance to tack on another score late in the half.

Madison County takes a 13-6 lead into halftime

3rd quarter

Madison County drives down to the Hawthorne 27, but can't convert on a fourth down.

Frandon St. Fleur picks off a pass for Hawthorne in the end zone as the Hornets continue to stay within 13-6 of Madison County.

A scoreless third quarter despite a few opportunities for Madison County to add to its lead.

4th quarter

Johnny Norwood with another big play for Madison County, prying the ball out of the hands of a runner and snatching the loose ball in midair, then nearly returning for a TD before falling down at Hawthorne 12-yard line.

Great touchdown run on 4th-and-11 from the 13-yard line by Madison County QB LJ Crumity, who somehow bounced off a tackle well short of the first down and found his way to the end zone. Jason McDaniel runs in the 2-point conversion, Cowboys lead 21-6 with 8:01 to go.

Johnny Norwood, just minutes after causing and recovering a huge fumble, helped off with what seems like a calf cramp.

Hawthorne turns the ball over on downs on its own 31 with 7:05 remaining, Madison County with a chance to put this away.

It's a state championship game in December, but several players cramping up like a preseason game in August.

Madison County, which has avoided kicking field goals all night, attempts a 26-yarder and misses it well right. So it remains 21-6, but just 3:44 left for Hawthorne.

Keenon Johnson scores on a 3-yard run and Demetrius Brown catches the 2-point pass, Hawthorne cuts it to 21-14 but there's only 19 seconds left.

Well, a penalty wiped out the first 2-point try and QB Adrian Curtis got hurt. So backup Richard Roundtree Jr. comes in, misses the shotgun snap but picks it up and finds Dacarion Debose for the 2-pointer. So it's again 21-14.

And Hawthorne just recovered the onside kick! It's not over, 17 seconds left.

Adrian Curtis is back in for Hawthorne. They're on the Madison County 47, no timeouts.

Madison County with a blatant hit out of bounds, easy personal foul call and Hawthorne is at the 20 with 9 seconds to go.

Incomplete pass to the end zone, 3 seconds left. Likely one last shot for Hawthorne.

It's a bad snap, Curtis struggles to pick it up and ends up getting sacked as he lands on it. The game is over. Madison County wins it 21-14 and is the Rural state champion. Hawthorne falls just short of a three-peat.

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