Published: September 06, 2008 01:05 am            

Sparks runs Floyd past Madison

Floyd off to best start since 2000

FLOYDS KNOBS — With the Scott Field turf dampened at Floyd Central, the host Highlanders turned to a power running game to pull out a 31-21 victory over visiting Madison Friday night.

Junior running back Aaron Sparks carried the ball 29 times for 199 yards and three touchdowns to lead Floyd Central to their third consecutive win and first Hoosier Hills Conference victory.

Sparks carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the third quarter alone as his squad held off the Cubs (0-3, 0-1 HHC).

“We protected the ball well and had to grind it out, which is the type of team we are,” Floyd Central coach Brian Glesing said. “But we missed a few tackles and made a couple of mistakes, and that will cost us with what we have coming up.”

The Highlanders, perfect through three games for the first time since 2000, jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 5:39 left in the first quarter following a 27-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Cole Richards and an 11-yard Sparks touchdown run.

Neither squad was able to enter the scoring column after that point, until Madison marched down the field on a 13-play, 6-minute drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Chris Ball with 48 seconds left in the first half.

Floyd Central quarterback Max Guenther rushed twice for 40 yards with time running out in the half and advanced the Highlanders into Cub territory. On a 1st and 10 at the Madison 40, his pass intended for Matt Lowe was picked off by Madison’s Nate Weber, and the score was 10-7 at the half.

Sparks took over in the third quarter behind a solid push from the Highlander offensive line. All eight plays in Floyd Central’s opening drive of the second half were Sparks runs, and the tailback scored from 10 yards out with 8:14 left in the third quarter to help push the lead to 17-7.

Madison struck back two plays later, following a 75-yard touchdown scamper by tailback Craig Brittain that narrowed the lead to 17-13. That play was indicative of the Cubs’ effort all night, as they remained competitive with Floyd Central but never got over the hump. 

Madison only trailed by three, 24-21, following a Zach Zehren to Weber touchdown strike for 47 yards and a Ball run for a two-point conversion with 9:51 left in the contest.

Floyd Central answered with a touchdown on its next position after Guenther faked a handoff to Sparks and ran around left end for 20 yards and the final touchdown of the night. Richards followed with the extra point that resulted in the 31-21 margin.

Madison finally cracked on its next possession when Ball fumbled near the Floyd Central 45, where Michael Brown recovered for the Highlanders.

“I’ve got to give our guys credit. They never hit the panic button,” Glesing said. “But we can’t make these mistakes. It’s nice to be 3-0, but with the schedule we have coming up, we’ve got to step up.”

Floyd Central travels to Seymour Friday night before coming home to face Jeffersonville and Columbus East on consecutive weeks.

 

 

MADISON  0  7  6  8—21

FLOYD CENTRAL  10  0  14  7—31

 

1st Quarter

F — Richards 27 field goal, 6:37.

F — Sparks 11 run (Richards kick), 5:39.

 

2nd Quarter

M — Ball 1 run (Zehren kick), :48.

 

3rd Quarter

FC — Sparks 10 run (Richards kick), 8:14.

M —  Brittain 75 run (kick failed), 7:51.  

FC — Sparks 2 run (Richards kick), 1:14.

 

4th Quarter

M—Weber 47 pass from Zehren (Ball run), 9:51.

FC—Guenther 20 run (Richards kick), 8:07.

        

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