Stormy skies loomed overhead as the Mount Ida Lions weathered a storm on the field in the season finale at Stamps. The Lions held on for a 48-40 victory over the Lafayette County Cougars to finish the regular season as undefeated 7-2A Conference Champions.
The difference in the game was in special teams with the Lions connecting on six of six PATs with their only shortcoming happening on a fake kick on a point after attempt. Lafayette County however, went for two each time and was held out of the end zone four of their six attempts.
T.J. Wilson had a great game despite the weather, completing eight of 13 passes for 159 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 20 carries for 98 yards.
Jesse Lowry had four receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns, and 11 carries for 39 yards and another score.
Cody Richardson led the Lions in rushing with 20 carries for 105 yards and two TDs. He also had a catch for nine yards.
Caleb Jones had 11 carries for 38 yards and two catches for 40 yards.
Cade Helms had one catch for 28 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions had 280 yards on the ground and 159 in the air for a total of 439 yards.
The Lion defense held Lafayette County’s powerhouse back to 124 yards. The Cougars had 179 yards on the ground and 168 in the air for a total of 347 yards.
The Lions opened the game with an onside kick. The ball bounced off a Cougar and Bridger Farmer was able to come up with the ball for Mount Ida.
Mount Ida drove the ball 47 yards in four plays to score on a 50 yard pass play. Wilson hit Robertson with a pass. Robertson then lateraled the ball to Lowry who went the distance for the score. Tyler Allenbrand hit the PAT to take a 7-0 lead with 9:40 to go in the opening quarter.
Lafayette County wasted no time, taking the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown. The two point conversion attempt came up short and the Lions held a 7-6 lead.
Mount Ida had a scare on the ensuing kickoff when Burks tackled Jesse Lowry on the return. Burkes wrapped up Lowry on the 46 yard line and body slammed him, drawing an unsportsmanlike call. Lowry hopped up and went to the huddle as line of scrimmage was moved to the Cougar 39 yard line due to the flag.
The Lions worked their way to the 28 yard line before Wilson connected with Cade Helms for a 28 yard touchdown reception. The PAT was good, giving the Lions a 14-6 lead.
Lafayette County tied things up after a five play drive that went 51 yards and ended with a three yard run by Burks. Derrick LaMay hit Cualan Williams for the two point conversion to tie the game at 14 with 5:44 to go in the opening quarter.
Mount Ida was forced to punt on fourth and 15, but Wilson intercepted a pass on the 45 yard line and returned it to the Cougar 32 yard line to give the Lions possession.
Eight plays later Lowry dove across the goal line for a touchdown. The Lions faked the PAT and came up short. The Lions lead sat at six.
The two defenses tightened up and both teams swapped possessions before the Cougars were able to tie things up at 20 with a 43 yard pass to Key Johnson for a touchdown.
Mount Ida answered with a seven yard drive that went 37 yards and ended with a 26 yard passing touchdown to Caleb Jones. The PAT was good and the Lions held a 27-26 lead with 43 seconds to go.
Undaunted, Lafayette County scored as time expired on a six yard pass to Wayne Cornish. The two point conversion attempt failed and the Lions held a tenuous 27-26 lead at the half.
Mount Ida opened the second half with the ball on their own 35 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Wilson raced down the visitor’s side line to the Lafayette County 29 yard line before running out of bounds. A Cougar player hit Wilson after the whistle blew drawing another unsportsmanlike penalty, which moved the ball to the Cougar 13 yard line.
Three plays later Wilson found Lowry open for an 18 yard touchdown reception. Allenbrand’s PAT was good and the Lion lead stood at 34-26.
Lafayette County answered with a 15 yard touchdown run by Burks with 8:41 to go in the third quarter to cut the lead to two.
Mount Ida would score one more time in the third on a three yard run by Robertson. The PAT was good to give the Lions a 41-32 lead.
The Cougars cut the lead to three with a 22 yard passing touchdown to Key Johnson with 1:45 to go in the quarter. Burks punched the two point conversion in to cut the Lion lead to one.
Defensive stances slowed the tempo of the game in the first half of the fourth quarter before a lightening strike forced a weather delay in the game.
When play resumed approximately 45 minutes later Lafayette County failed to gain a first down in the rain and the mud.
Mount Ida took over on the Cougar 44 yard line and marched downfield to score on a 12 yard run by Robertson. The PAT was good and the Lions held on to win the game by eight.
The win gave Mount Ida the one seed from the 7-2A and dropped Lafayette County to the three seed behind Gurdon.
Mount Ida will host Salem Friday with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. See page 2B for a copy of the 2A state playoff bracket.
