Madison County rallies to beat Ardmore in season finale

ARDMORE – Madison County closed out a “tough season” on a high note Friday with a 24-21 come-from-behind win at Ardmore.

The Tigers (3-7 overall, 2-5 Class 5A Region 8) scored 17 points in the second half after trailing 21-7 in the third quarter. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Madison County.

“I’m proud of our guys for battling through adversity,” said Head Coach Scott Sharp. “Down 21-7 in the third, our guys kept competing and found a way.”

Isaiah Perdue rushed for two touchdowns in the second half comeback, including the game-winning score on a 49-yard run late in the fourth-quarter with the Tigers trailing 21-16; a two-point conversion provided the final 24-21 margin.

Perdue helped key the comeback when he broke outside and ran down the sidelines for 45 yards and the touchdown early in the third quarter after Ardmore (3-6, 1-6) had taken a 21-7 lead. But the point-after failed and Madison County trailed 21-13.

Wiley Henshaw made up for the missed PAT later as he hammered a 36-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to cut the Ardmore lead to 21-16. The field goal was set up after the Tigers recovered an Ardmore fumble.

The Madison County defense again rose up in the final moments of the game forcing Ardmore to attempt a 46-yard field goal which narrowly missed.

The Tigers started off the game slowly, trailing 14-0 in the first quarter.

But Mekhi Burdette scored early in the second quarter and Henshaw’s point-after cut the Ardmore lead to 14-7. The score, though, held up to halftime.

Sharp said he was pleased to end the season on a high note.

“It’s been a tough season,” he said. “But we are glad to send our 13 seniors out as winners.”