Dewayne Holloway/dewayne@mcnews.online
GURDON – The Mount Ida Lions were unable to slow the Gurdon Go Devil running game in a 35-7 loss in their last game on the 2020 schedule.
Mount Ida’s defense opened the game on fire, forcing the Go-Devils to punt in their first drive of the game. The Lion offense was the first to move the chains on back to back carries by Baylor Bates to the Lion 39 yard line. Mount Ida got some help on a fourth and three at their own 43 when Gurdon jumped offsides. It would be as far as the Lions would get on the drive and they were forced to punt the ball away.
Gurdon wasted no time in their second drive, scoring on a 79 yard run by Jamison Threadgill. Daniel Garcia hit the PAT to give the Go-Devils a seven point lead with 5:19 to go in the first quarter.
Mount Ida fumbled the ball away on their own 25 to set up Gurdon’s second score of the night. QB DJ Anna connected with Threadgill for an 18 yard pass to the Lion seven and two plays later raced in for the second touchdown of the night. Garcia hit the PAT and Gurdon held a 14 point lead with 4:32 left in the opening quarter.
Gurdon was poised to score as the second quarter got underway, but Jack Hoeksema spoiled their chance with an interception inside the Lion 10 yard line. Mount Ida would punt the ball out of their own end zone to the 47 yard line.
Threadgill would race 47 yards on the first play of the drive to give the Go-Devils a 20 point lead. Garcia connected on the PAT to increase the lead to 21.
Threadgill scored again on a 41 yard run. Garcia hit the PAT to bump the Go-Devil lead to 28.
Mount Ida was able to muster some offense on their next drive, but stalled out at midfield. Bates fought for a yard on the first play of the drive and was followed by an eight yard run by Jacob Woodfield. Bates raced to the Lion 48 to move the chains on a third and one. Woodfield battled his way to the Gurdon 49 , but a delay of game penalty moved the Lions back across the midfield stripe. They would end up punting from their own 47.
Gurdon’s final score of the game came at the 1:13 mark in the second quarter on a 40 yard run by Anna. The PAT was good to give Gurdon a 35-0 lead at the half.
Mount Ida opened the second half with a 69 yard drive that ended in their only score of the night. Caleb White shifted to running back and promptly moved the ball 14 yards in three plays for a first down at the Lion 45. Two plays later he would move the ball into Gurdon territory.
White would earn another first down on a 10 yard run to the 28, followed by a 17 yard run by A.J. Perez. White carried the ball to the six and then inside the one yard line on back to back carries. He finished the job on first and goal at the 3:50 mark of the third quarter to avoid the shut out for Mount Ida. John Hoeksema kicked the PAT to cut the Gurdon lead to 28.
Gurdon ran out the clock on an extended drive that ended on the Mount Ida 15 yard line.
The Lions finish the 2020 regular season with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-2 record in conference play. They will have to wait until next week to find out what their seeding will be in the playoffs. The Poyen vs Magnet Cove game next week will determine whether Mount Ida enters the playoffs as a three seed, or a four seed. Mount Ida will get the three seed with a Poyen win, but a victory by Magnet Cove would force a three way tie with Mount Ida more than likely earning the four seed as a result if that happens.
Mount Ida will have a bye next week due to Mountain Pine’s exit at the start of the season for eight man football. The possibility of play in games due to COVID-19 could give the Lions an additional bye week in the playoffs.
