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The Workhorse

It’s a sight defenders dread seeing: 225 pounds of high speed tailback coming at them on a downhill run like a bull that has broken free. That’s what they get each time Bacon County’s Anthony Madison gets the ball. The senior has become a major part of the Red Raiders offense, establishing an effective running game to set up the Bacon County passing attack of Dawson Jewell to LaGondric Snell.

“He is a kid that can carry the ball 40 times a game, do a good job in pass protection, and as he has matured he has filled a role as a team leader in his actions on the field and in the school,” Kyle Langford, Bacon County head football coach, said.

In this season’s home opener against the Pierce County Bears, Madison rushed for over 125 yards and two touchdowns, all of which came in two quarters of work following a two-hour lightning delay. With the restart of the game came the resurgence of the Bacon County Red Raiders, who poured it on to soundly defeat their neighbors to the south 35-13.

“Bear hunting with my brothers,” Madison said. “It was a huge success.”

“Mad Dogg” Madison, as he is known, is a 6’1” north-south runner, meaning he doesn’t do a lot of quick cuts. Instead, Madison prefers to run straight ahead behind his pads, slamming into defenders and carrying them as he fights for extra yardage. He is also a threat to break tackles up the middle and find an opening for long runs.

He can step up to become a pass blocker or slip out to become a receiver on short screens that often turn into big gains. He made a highlight reel one-handed catch out of the backfield against Pierce that went for 13 yards and a first down. He has improved his field vision and receiving abilities in the offseason and added muscle to his frame.

“Anthony has gained 30 pounds in the offseason,” Langford said. “He has worked out extremely hard in the weight room. His max numbers have exploded, and I think that is all due to an increase in confidence in his abilities on the field and in the weight room.”

Madison has shown major improvement over the past few seasons. He did not become a starter at running back until halfway through last year when two players were injured.

In his first start, he rushed for over 200 yards against Swainsboro. In the final five games of last season, Madison ran for 875 yards and six touchdowns.

“He really carried the offense the last four games of the season,” Langford said.

This season, Madison has already picked up where he left off.

Against Berrien County, the workhorse back had 40 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns. In the first four games of this season, Madison was listed among the state’s leading rushers and was already well on his way to breaking the 1,000-yard mark by the halfway point of the season.

To continually improve himself he does push-ups and situps every night. He credited Langford for making him get out of bed at 4 a.m. to work out.

“Striving for greatness while others sleep,” Madison said.

When he enters Morris-Johnson Stadium on Friday nights, he is thinking about giving Alma something to talk about, which he often does. The word on the street is that Madison will help lead the Raiders back to the playoffs. Madison was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player for Langford’s Red Raiders football team last year. After becoming a varsity starter his sophomore season, he soon discovered a love for scoring touchdowns. Several schools are showing interest in Madison, including Georgia Southern University, Norwich University, Georgia State University, and West Texas A&M.

His first big play came last season against Metter, when he broke a 56-yard touchdown run.

“I felt like Ezekiel Elliot,” Madison said, referring to the Dallas Cowboys running back.

In middle school he played full back. Now, he is the focal point of Bacon’s running game. As he progressed as a player, Madison also grew as a team leader and someone Langford said he can depend upon.

“Anthony is a very consistent person,” Langford said. “We know that he is going to show up to work every day, and his presence is a security blanket to the rest of the team.”

He plays tailback in football and center in basketball, where he is effectively clearing the lane in the low post for coach J.B. Bergeron’s team.

 


SE-MI-1017-Madison

MI – Anthony Madison (Bacon)

By Rob Asbell

Photography by Debra Tanner

The Workhorse

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