A key reason for the undefeated Madison Warhawks’ 2024 success has been the team’s ability to build early leads — often large ones — in football games.
The Warhawks (14-0) have trailed in just three games this season. The squad rallied to win each, two by blowouts.
On Dec. 7 in a Virginia High School League Class 6 state-semifinal contest against the Lake Braddock Bruins, the host Warhawks again took a big lead, 21-0 at halftime, en route to a 42-19 victory. Lake Braddock (11-3) never got closer than 14 points.
“It always helps if you can get a big lead,” Madison coach Justin Counts said. “We’ve had a good defense that makes plays all season. That makes it hard for teams to come back very much against us.”
That defense came up with two turnovers deep in Madison territory against Lake Braddock that stopped drives.
Madison also led Lake Braddock 21-0 during an early regular-season game, ultimately winning 36-15.
The 2024 season began for Madison by leading Stone Bridge from start to finish in a 17-0 win.
The only three games Madison trailed in this season were against the Marshall Statesmen by a 7-0 score, the Westfield Bulldogs, 14-7, and against Washington-Liberty by a 14-13 margin at halftime in the 6D North Region tournament-championship game. Madison defeated Marshall, 35-7, topped Westfield, 26-21, and downed W-L 48-21.
The Warhawks hope to continue the trend of getting leads and staying ahead in the Dec. 14 Class 6 state final against the undefeated Oscar Smith Tigers (14-0) of Chesapeake. That game is at 5 p.m. in Harrisonburg at James Madison University.
