The Mount Ida Lions overcame a shaky start to defeat the Jessieville Lions 24-7 in their home opener.
Mount Ida tallied almost 250 yards of offense after overcoming a flurry of fumbles. The home team dropped the ball nine times in the game, seven in the first two series, but managed to recover them all. They didn’t produce a 100 yard rusher in the game, but Jonathan Lagrange mustered 79 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. Gage Dyer had eight carries for 51 yards and caught a 67 yard pass for a touchdown.
Cade Helms had eight carries for 12 yards and Bridger Farmer had three carries for 15 yards.
Jackson was three for seven for 108 yards and a score. Ethan Winkley had a catch for 26 yards and Luke Fiorello had a catch for 15 yards.
Defensively Mount Ida recorded three sacks and one fumble. They also recorded three interceptions.
Both teams got off to a slow start with drives that ended in punts.
Jessieville was the first to get on the scoreboard. They started the drive on their own 36 and moved the ball to their own 48 yard line, setting up a 52 yard reception to Kaleb Moody for a touchdown. Lathen Brian hit the PAT to give the visitors a 7-0 lead with 3:49 to go in the first quarter.
Dawson Huff returned the ensuing kickoff to the 45 yard line, but a holding penalty brought it back to the 27. Mount Ida continued to struggle with the snap. On third and 18 from their own 33 yard line Jackson scooped up a dropped ball and hit Dyer in the open field for a 67 yard touchdown. Tyler Allenbrand’s PAT was good, tieing the score at seven with 54 seconds to go in the first.
Caleb Woodfield recorded a sack to force a third and long on Jessieville’s next drive. Two plays later they were forced to punt.
Mount Ida took over at midfield. The Lions seemed to have the fumbled snaps under control as they marched 51 yards in seven plays to score on a five yard run by Lagrange. Allenbrand’s PAT was good, giving Mount Ida a 14-7 lead with 8:49 to go in the half.
The home team launched another scoring drive, this one lasting 12 plays. Mount Ida moved the ball to the Jessieville eight, but faced a fourth and 10 from the 15 after a seven yard loss. Allenbrand trotted on the field for the field goal attempt and nailed the 30 yard attempt to extend the Lions’ lead to 17-7 with 1:43 to go in the half.
The Mount Ida defense had hit their stride, forcing a turnover on a Cade Jackson interception.
Defense ruled the field in the third quarter. Mount Ida punted the ball over after being forced into a fourth and 17 on their own 24. Allenbrand flipped the field with a 47 yard punt.
Jessieville’s drive was short lived thanks to an interception by Cade Helms on a first and 10 from the Jessieville 47.
Possession changed hands a couple of times with Mount Ida recording a fumble recovery by Drew Allen to end one of Jessieville’s drives. Mount Ida followed up the fumble recovery with a three play 12 yard drive that ended with a three yard TD run by Lagrange. Allenbrand’s PAT was good to give the home Lions a 17 point lead.
Jessieville’s final drive of the night ended with another interception by Cade Helms. Helms raced the length of the field, but a penalty for an illegal block robbed him of the pick six.
Mount Ida ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Mount Ida takes to the highway next week as they travel to Lamar to end their nonconference schedulenent. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
