MADISON TOWNSHIP — The Madison football team pulled off one of the most shocking upsets of the season on Friday night by tripping arch-rival Mansfield Senior 13-7 in the annual Battle of Mansfield at Ram Field.
This victory snapped a 25-game losing streak for the Rams (1-8 overall, 1-5 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference), who came into the contest with just one win in their last 45 games. Madison’s most recent victory was a 40-0 blanking of Akron North on Sept. 7, 2018.
But Coach Dave Stupka’s squad got the best of a defensive struggle. It started when quarterback Hunter Hutcheson scored on a 1-yard dive with 5:18 showing in the first half. The PAT made it 7-0.
However, Senior High (3-6, 2-4) responded immediately as Dakarion Mitchell romped for a 22-yard touchdown. The extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 2:42 showing in the second quarter.
Neither team mustered any points in the third quarter and deep into the final period. Then, almost out of nowhere, Madison junior Isaac Brooks ripped off an electrifying, 80-yard TD bolt with just 2:53 remaining in the game. That proved to be the game-winner.
Brooks registered 123 yards on 18 carries to pace both clubs. The Rams managed just four first downs, and 135 yards of total offense, all of it on the ground — 80 on one play.
While Mansfield Senior’s defense offered a stifling effort, Brooks’ stunning dash proved to be enough.
Madison’s defense also played well.
Mitchell had 84 yards on 15 carries for the Tygers. Freshman quarterback Duke Reese completed 11 of 18 passes for 73 yards, but Mansfield Senior could not crack the end zone after intermission.
Senior High led in first downs 11-4, total yards (232-135) and time of possession 25:41 to 22:19. Yet four turnovers, including two interceptions, stalled the offense.
Overall, Mansfield Senior has a 29-23-3 edge on the Rams in this series.
The Tygers will return to action for their regular-season finale next week at Norwalk (4-4), which lost 21-7 at Ashland in Friday night’s playoff tilt.
