Conner Falls to Indians in Season Opener for Second Straight Year
The Madison Central Indians dominated the Conner Cougars in the season opener, winning 56-6 in the Roy Kidd Bowl in Richmond.
The Indians' explosive ground attack was on full display, with 3,468 rushing yards last year, the most in Class 6A. They showed no signs of slowing down, scoring on their first six possessions and taking a 42-6 lead at halftime.
Conner's struggles were evident early on, with the Indians scoring just two minutes into the game after a big kick-off return by Jeffery Hairston. Quarterback Carson Herbst capped the short drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Herbst was a force to be reckoned with, scoring on a 31-yard run with 6:15 left in the first quarter. Hairston made it 21-0 with a 19-yard touchdown run.
The Indians' offense was well-oiled, with multiple players getting in on the action. Collins got on the board with a 15-yard touchdown pass, but it was Herbst who found the end zone again, this time from 39 yards out.
Corinthian Barnes, who had a team-best 22 rush touchdowns last season, scored on a 20-yard run in the second quarter. Herbst had a 32-yard run with 4:37 left before half to push the lead to 36 points.
"It just happened to be that my number got called the most tonight," Herbst said. "You read the defense. You realize you are free and your family carries you to the end zone."
Hairston had a 20-yard touchdown run in the third before Herbst scored his final touchdown on a 1-yard run. The Indians are set to return to action next Friday at home against Johnson Central, looking to continue their dominant start to the season.
The Conner Cougars, on the other hand, will be looking to regroup and bounce back from a tough opening game. With a young team, they may struggle to keep up with the likes of Madison Central, but they will be eager to prove themselves in the weeks to come.
Source: Yahoo Sports