A one-win season may not seem like a reason to celebrate, but first-year Madison High School Head Coach Milton Green knows to look beyond his team’s 2021 record and focus on numbers that matter for the future of the program.
One of those numbers is 14, as in the number of total players on a roster depleted by the impact of COVID-19, among other factors. Another is 8, as in the number of times his team, mostly playing both sides of the ball, led at halftime in 2021.
“For us to have 14 players, the smallest team in Louisiana, they've got the biggest hearts in the world," Green said. "This whole year, we've led at halftime eight-out-of-ten games with 14 players. That just shows the grit and the grind they put into this."
The Jaguars finished the season with only one win, but Green said his team’s ability to stay in games for four quarters was nothing less than impressive, considering the factors working against them. Another reason, he said, for his team’s resilience is the number 3.
“It was big night for our three-headed monster," Green said after the Jags’ early October victory over Rayville on the road.
Green was referring to the triple threat of MHS quarterback Jeremiah Marshall and running backs duo Jiquan Davis and Corey Moore. But Green also talked about the overall spirit of his program and the bright future he sees for it.
“This just shows that when you put hard work in, you get good results. Just hats off to the program, the administration and the kids. It was a major comeback after a lot of minor setbacks.”
Following the Jags' loss to the rival Delhi Charter Shool Gators in a close shootout at home to end the regular season, Green again spoke with enthusiasm about what is to come for the MHS football program.
“I'm so proud of my seniors," he said. “They laid down the foundation and the sky is the limit for Madison High School. We start Monday. We've got workouts Monday; practice starts Monday, and that's all we care about right now.”
But, Green has started the new cycle of workouts, training and overall preparation for next year’s season losing eight of his active players, including Davis and Moore, to graduation. Despite that, Green sees Marshall and other younger players stepping up into leadership roles and bringing with them an entirely new group of up-and-coming Jaguars stars.
