By: Ross Van De Griek
TALLAHASSEE- On Saturday night, the Madison County Cowboys (12-2) won their fifth state football title in school history & their third straight, with a 70-35 thumping win over Blountstown High School.
It was a record setting night, where both Blountstown senior running back Treven Smith & Madison County quarterback Vinsonta Allen each had five rushing touchdowns on the night. Blountstown senior running back Treven Smith set a FHSAA state championship game record, with 365 rushing yards on 24 carries tonight, breaking the previous record that was set by Chaminade-Madonna's Thaddius Franklin (333) who set his mark on Friday night in the 3A Final.
Madison County's senior class finished their high school careers with a 50-4 record & winning three state championships in four years. "The kids worked really hard & they truly deserve it", said Madison County head coach Mike Coe following the game.
Madison County senior quarterback Vinsonta Allen threw just six passes all night, as he threw for 166 yards & two touchdown passes. Madison County senior wide receiver Derrion Staten also had a touchdown pass tonight, where he had a 56 yard pass to junior wide receiver Jacoleman Young.
Blountstown (13-1) finished with their best season since 2013, where they also finished 13-1 under head coach Greg Jordan. Entering tonight, the Blountstown Tigers haven't given up more than 21 points in a single game all season. "We knew we were gonna be in for a track meet", said Blountstown head coach Beau Johnson after the game.
The scoring started on a 1 yard run by Madison County senior quarterback Vinsonta Allen, to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. Blountstown would follow up & get two touchdowns in a 14 second stretch by senior running back Treven Smith to give them a 14-7 lead. Later in the 1st quarter, Madison County junior running back Robert Hiers tied the game at 14-14, on a 4 yard run.
A couple of plays into the 2nd quarter, Blountstown running back Treven Smith had a 74 yard run, to regain the Blountstown advantage to 21-14. The rest of the quarter would be all Madison County, as they had touchdowns from sophomore wide receiver Zechariah Jones & senior quarterback Vinsonta Allen. Madison County took a 35-21 lead heading into the halftime locker room.
Madison County opened up the scoring in the 2nd half, as senior quarterback Vinsonta Allen found the end zone on a 15 yard run, to push the Cowboys lead to 42-21. Blountstown would answer right back, on a 60 yard run by senior running back Treven Smith to reduce their deficit to just 42-29. Madison County's Octavius Davis would return the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown & make it 49-29 Cowboys. Madison County would be in complete cruise control, as they took a 56-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Senior quarterback Vinsonta Allen wasn't finished yet, as he had a 57 yard touchdown run on the 2nd play of the 4th quarter, to push the lead to 63-29. Blountstown's Treven Smith answered with a 62 yard touchdown run of his own, to make it 63-35. The last scoring play of the night came on a 51 yard pass from Vinsonta Allen to Zechariah Jones.
The 105 combined points tonight, is the second highest scoring football state championship game in FHSAA history, only trailing the 2010 FHSAA Football Class 2B Championship game between Ocala Trinity Catholic & University School (Fort Lauderdale) where the Celtics won 56-55 (111) in 3 overtimes.