Madison set to represent Big Bend in FHSAA title game
By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer
Teams from throughout Florida are coming Tallahassee to play on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Stadium for state titles in their respective classifications.
None of the five teams from local high schools that started the playoffs will be on the field, but the Big Bend area will be represented by a well-known football program. The Madison Cowboys will be one of the teams that gets a shot in the first state championship games on FAMU’s campus since 1976.
“We are excited about it (the championship game) being up here in North Florida and being at Bragg is a really cool place,” said Cowboys coach Price Harris. “I’ve been to a couple of games there and it’s always so much fun.”
The championship games begin Thursday morning. Saturday will be the final day of competition.
Madison County will headline the opening day with an 8 p.m. kickoff against Hawthorne (12-0), which is coming into the game on a 13-game winning streak that goes back to last season. The Cowboys made it to the title game with an impressive 61-22 win over Bozeman last Thursday night. Hawthorne beat Blountstown 49-0 to secure its berth in the title game.
Madison is coming to familiar territory. It was in Tallahassee where the Cowboys took a 34-21 win over Rickards High School earlier this season. Price called the matchup with Hawthorne a home game, considering that Madison is a 45-minute ride to Tallahassee.
The team will travel to Tallahassee early on game day, Harris said.
“We believe that sleeping in our own beds is a good things so we’re going to sleep in our own beds, get up on Thursday and come on over and play some football,” Harris said.
Cowboys’ fans will be in tow, too. Most of the 8,000 fans who packed into Boot Hill Stadium for home games are expected to travel to Tallahassee.
“I think the last person in Madison will turn out the lights and we will pack the stadium as much as we can,” Harris said.
Madison had the home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This is the first time that Harris will coach in a championship game, although he has made four previous post-season runs.
This matchup against Hawthorne is a rematch of the 2021 state championship that Hawthorne won by a point. It was also the last time that the Cowboys were in a state final.
The Cowboys got this far this season because of a brotherhood that they fostered since the start of the season.
“They love each other,” Harris said. “That’s the bottom line. A lot of teams might have super stars. We’ve got some real good players but these guys are special.”
Fourteen of those players are seniors. Dual threat quarterback Za’vion Bryant is the leaders on offense. His supporting cast includes running back John Christian.
Tre’vion Gillyard, a two-way player who scored twice against Bozeman, is expected to spend more time at safety against Hawthorne.
More than 30,000 student-athletes, coaches and fans are expected to be in town during the three-day run of the championships. The economic benefit to the city is expected to be about $11 million, according to county government officials.
“We are honored to again host all nine FHSAA football state championship games this year,” said Kerri Post, Director of Leon County Division of Tourism. “We look forward to welcoming back fans from around the state to enjoy three days of state championship football on Ken Riley Field at FAMU”s Bragg Memorial Stadium and to explore everything there is to offer here in Tallahassee-Leon County.”
While the agreement to have the games on FAMU’s campus is a one-year deal, Bragg Stadium could be in the conversation when bidding begins after reclassification of FHSAA programs, said Craig Damon, FHSAA Executive director.
The focus for Harris and the Cowboys is on the now, though.
“We love football,” Harris said. “Getting to play another week is always a blessing.”
