Everyone knew the Madison Cowboys were good. But this time they shocked the state with their 30-23 victory over the sixth-rated team in the country, Lincoln.



The Lincoln Trojans 23-game winning streak came to an abrupt end Friday night when Madison proved they don’t lose in Boot Hill. Lincoln was ranked at sixth in the nation by USA Today and number one in Class 4-A. Madison was rated number two in Class 2-A by the Florida Sports Writers poll.



Only three minutes into the the first period, Madison’s Darius Travis jumped on a fumble in the end zone to score the Cowboy’s first TD of the evening. Three minutes later, Cowboy Tyrone Weatherspoon intercepted a pass and returned it for 82 yards for another Madison defensive TD. After another TD scored by the Madison defense off a recovered fumble, Madison had Lincoln reeling from shock and deep in a 20-0 hole. Three touchdowns and the Madison offense had barely touched the ball.



But Lincoln came rolling back stacking up 14 points in the second quarter while Madison added only three more points from a field goal. The score was 23-14 Cowboys at the half. The Lincoln Trojans came back and tied it up with a touchdown in the third period and a field goal in the fourth.



But Madison sent the shock waves rolling when they scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter off sophomore running back Desmond Gee’s four-yard run with 4:44 left in the game.



The Cowboy defense held as the Trojans tried to make a late-in-the-fourth quarter comeback. They did that successfully in their first four games of the year, rallying each time to win. But not this time.



The Cowboys are known for a tough, hard-hitting defense and that’s what won the game for them. Look for Madison to rise to number one in Class 2-A. They deserve it.



Janet Schrader may be reached by calling 1/386/362-1734 ext. 132 or by e-mail at janet.schrader@gaflnews.com.