14 eye-catchers from Madison Prep vs. U-High

Madison Prep navigated a stormy Halloween night, injuries and a top-ranked University Lab on Thursday and came away with its biggest statement win of its six-week surge.   The Chargers (6-3, 4-0) scored a pair of second-quarter touchdowns and shut down the Cubs (7-2, 3-1) for the final three quarters of a 14-6 victory to position themselves for a probable second District 6-3A championship in three years.   Here are a few notes on some of the players who stood out in the contest.     Jonathan Gayton Jr. — 5-7, 170 LB — Madison Prep (2025)   The small, but speedy senior linebacker was a disruptive force for the Chargers' defense with at least two sacks, another tackle for loss and at least three other hurries, a menace to U-High quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='734867' first='Emile' last='Picarella'] from start to finish to highlight Madison Prep's performance.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603222' first='Javen' last='Holmes'] — 6-2, 185 DB — Madison Prep (2026)   The Chargers' long, rangy safety covered lots of ground in a hurry on the back end of the defense, including a couple near-intercepted pass breakups, and didn't shy away from crashing down into the box or even getting into the backfield, including a quick pounce on a red zone fumble in the third quarter.   [player_tooltip player_id='913910' first='Alfred' last='McKnight'] — 5-11, 185 RB — Madison Prep (2025)   The senior running back accounted for the bulk of Madison Prep's offensive punch with his 135 yards and both the team's touchdowns in the go-ahead second quarter in which the big O-line was able to get him into the open field where he gashed his way to big gains of 20-plus and 40-plus yards. Fellow senior Jeremiah Anderson provided a notable spark with 73 yards bounced primarily to the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='291086' first='Tylan' last='Johnson'] — 5-11, 190 QB — Madison Prep (2025)   The senior quarterback provided notable punch with his legs as well with 50 rushing yards, particularly on a couple big runs in the third quarter — one of which converted a fourth-down play. And while the contest on a rainy Halloween night wasn't Johnson's biggest passing performance, he hit on four timely passes for 50 yards and had another couple well-placed throws that got away from receivers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1612657' first='Darius' last='Mack'] — 6-0, 215 DE — Madison Prep (2027)   and [player_tooltip player_id='1603228' first='Victor' last='Hollins'] — 6-1, 280 DL — Madison Prep (2026)   The Chargers' defense was effective up front in eating blocks to help free up some of Gayton's big plays, and the group generated plenty of their own splash plays throughout the contest as well. Hollins, the big defensive tackle, had at least one sack and another tackle near the line of scrimmage on which he nearly snatched away a fumble. Mack, the edge rusher, finished with at least 2.5 tackles for loss and another pressure in the face of the quarterback to force an incompletion.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603236' first='Cannon' last='Walker'] — 6-1, 210 LB — Madison Prep (2026)   The versatile defensive athlete provided some of the best tackling in space on the perimeter of the Madison Prep defense, including a couple sure wrap-ups on third-down plays.   Joshua Hebert — 5-11, 170 DB — Madison Prep (2025)   The senior defensive back helped punctuate the Chargers' second-half shutout and statement victory as he swiftly closed a window toward the end zone and snatched a diving interception to end the Cubs' threat.   [player_tooltip player_id='144902' first='Alec' last='Haynes'] — 6-2, 210 LB — University Lab (2025)   The Nicholls State commit racked up tackles throughout the contest — up around five or six in the first half and 10 for the game — and also provided some of the Cubs' biggest offensive highlights as a wildcat quarterback, including a long gain on an early fourth down and then touchdown run the next play from inside the 5-yard line.   [player_tooltip player_id='148530' first='Zay' last='Martin'] — 5-9, 150 WR — University Lab (2025)   The Southeastern Louisiana commit showed a couple flashes of his quickness and — occasionally acrobatic — pass-catching down field, including a reception on which he maintained possession while being upended by a tackler and another on which he went up and out-battled a defender for a key conversion to keep comeback hopes alive late.   [player_tooltip player_id='212343' first='Lamar' last='Brown'] — 6-4, 260 OL/DL — University Lab (2026)   The state's top-ranked junior prospect was solid in his performance on the offensive line throughout the night and flashed with a couple of explosive bursts into the backfield in the third quarter for a sack and another pressure.   Mark Acosta — DL — University Lab (2025)   The senior was among the most active playmakers up front defensively for the Cubs with a few plays at or behind the line, a deflected pass on another rush and a quick recovery of a red-zone fumble forced by hard-hitting sophomore defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1356140' first='Patrick' last='Wiley Patton'].   [player_tooltip player_id='1603238' first='Lane' last='Mixon'] — 6-0, 185 DE — University Lab (2026)   The junior edge rusher, a top tackler for the Cubs throughout the season, was active from the outset with a play in the backfield on the opening plays and found his way behind the line for a few stops, including at least one sack, particularly during a busy first half.   [player_tooltip player_id='1610147' first='Ethan' last='Kimmie'] — 6-4, 190 WR/ATH — University Lab (2027)   We'd seen more of the talented young multisport standout on the basketball court prior to this season, but he made plays on both sides of the ball Thursday with a nice close and deflection toward the sideline in the first half and a long catch downfield for 40-plus yards late to help give the Cubs their final chances at potentially forcing overtime.

Madison Prep navigated a stormy Halloween night, injuries and a top-ranked University Lab on Thursday and came away with its biggest statement win of its six-week surge.