Having now won four straight 6D North Region tournament championships, the Madison Warhawks have gotten to the point that falling short of the accomplishment is not an option for the current upper- class players on the high-school football team.
Second-seed Madison (12-1) won the 2023 title by routing the sixth-seed Westfield Bulldogs, 31-7, in the Nov. 25 title game on the Warhawks’ home field in Vienna, finishing 3-0 in the eight-team tourney.
“We don’t want to be that senior class that doesn’t win this,” Madison senior linebacker Luke Jarvis said. “When we were on this team as sophomores and juniors . . . we saw what it took to win. So then as seniors, it’s our turn to lead the way we want to continue winning.”
Jarvis is one of 30 seniors on the team and has been one of the Warhawks’ top tacklers this season. The 2023 Concorde District Defensive Player of the Year had nine tackles, five assists and three tackles for losses (two sacks) in the region final.
Jarvis said it doesn’t matter how many seniors and starters graduated from the past season. Other players have gained the experience to fill those spots and accept their roles the following season.
“For a lot of players, it’s their time to step up, and that’s what happens here,” Jarvis said.
Madison head coach Justin Counts agreed.
“Our seniors take it on themselves to keep winning,” he said.
A senior who did not get to play much this fall was linebacker Nick Murphy. The returning starter suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second half of Madison’s opening game against Stone Bridge. That was more tough luck for Murphy, who also missed much of last season with another leg injury.
“Nick Murphy still brought a lot of leadership to this team all season,” Counts said. “I can’t say enough about him and what he did.”
Madison’s four straight region titles have come with three different starting quarterbacks under center. Junior Cael Yates is this year’s starter. Mac Lewis started the past two seasons and Connor Berry the year before.
With the four straight region titles, and six in program history, the Warhawks are yet to win a state championship. That latest quest begins Saturday, Dec. 2 with a 7 p.m. road game against the host and defending champion Freedom Eagles (12-0) of Woodbridge in a 7 p.m. Virginia High School League 
Class 6 state tournament semifinals.
They lost in the state finals the past two seasons and in the semifinals the season before.
