When Chardon was driving in an attempt to score a third-quarter touchdown that would have put it in the lead, Madison coach Tim Willis feared that history might repeat.

You see, the Blue Streaks had twice seen double-digit advantages turn into losses. In their opener at Normandy, they led 10-0 late in the third quarter but came up short 14-10.

Probably more painful, and certainly more present on Willis’ mind on Friday, was the 28-17 loss Madison suffered at South just one week earlier. The Streaks had been up 17-0 at halftime before the Rebels came back.

“You’re always worried about that, because we’ve got a lot of guys going both ways; they get tired,” Willis said. “But tonight, a couple things went our way; the kids made a couple plays.”

This time, Madison had grabbed a 14-3 lead in the second quarter, but the host Hilltoppers had cut it to 14-10 by halftime and got as close as the three before Anthony Purpura was stopped two and a half yards short of the goal line on fourth down.

The stop foiled a possession that lasted half the period.

The Blue Streaks then drove 97 yards, with Jordan Sandidge taking it in from the two to restore the double-digit lead at 21-10. By then the game was already into the fourth quarter despite one possession per side following the break.

Moments later, Sandidge picked up a Purpura fumble and returned it 42 yards for his fourth TD of the evening. Many home fans booed, believing that the play should have been ruled an incomplete pass rather than a fumble. However, the call appeared to be correct.

“I’m very proud of these kids, after what happened last week for them to bounce back like this,” Willis said.

Just like home

Sandidge ran for 107 yards in 20 carries. After transferring from Lakeside for his senior year, he relished the opportunity to once again run on artificial turf.

“It’s great beating (Chardon) here,” Sandidge, who came up on the low end of a 55-28 score against the Hilltoppers as a member of the Dragons last year, said. “Especially on this turf.

“I’m not so used to turf this year as I was last year. At Lakeside, we had turf; we practiced on it all day. Going from grass to turf — that’s lovely.”