DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
MOUNT IDA – Special teams proved to be the difference in Mount Ida’s first first Junior High victory of the season with the Junior Lions sealing a 24-20 victory over the Cutter Morning Star Junior Eagles.
With both teams scoring three touchdowns it came down to who could control the line of scrimmage on the two point conversions. Cutter Morning Star was able to score on their first extra point try, but failed to repeat in two additional tries. Mount Ida on the other hand was able to convert on each of their three attempts to win the game by four.
Cutter Morning Star was the first to score thanks to a four yard run by Freshman quarterback Caleb Scoles with 2:30 left in the first quarter. Santiago Juarez Del Rio carried the ball in for the two point conversion.
Mount Ida responded with a seven play 65 yard drive that ended in a 14 yard run by Payton Dorell. Dakota Beechy called his own number on the two point conversion to tie things up with 18 seconds left on the clock.
Cutter Morning Star came firing back, scoring on a six yard run by Juarez Del Rio. An incomplete pass left the Junior Eagle lead at 14-8 with 5:16 left in the first half.
Cutter Morning Star was able to recover the ball on the ensuing kick off, but the Junior Lion defense forced a turn over on downs.
Mount Ida was able to drive the ball inside the Junior Eagle 15 but the clock ran out before they capped the drive with a touchdown.
Mount Ida opened the second half with the ball on their own 35 yard line. They methodically marched the ball downfield with an 11 play drive that ended with Ben Woodfield scoring from four yards out. He got the call on the two point conversion to give the Junior Lions their first lead of the night with a score of 16-14.
The Junior Lions recovered a fumble on the following Junior Eagle drive only to turn the ball over after a questionable fumble at the goal line that rolled out of the back of the end zone.
Cutter Morning Star quickly regained the lead with an 80 yard run by Edwin Mancinas. Once again the Junior Lion defense was able to prevent the two point conversion.
Mount Ida opened the fourth quarter down 20-16. They started their first drive of the quarter on their own 27 yard line. Dorrell moved the ball to the 36 with back to back carries. Woodfield got the first down on a short gain and then carried the ball into Junior Eagle territory with a 16 yard run. Beechy followed with a 12 yard scamper to the Junior Eagle 36 to move the chains once more.
The six play drive ended with a 36 yard run by Dorrell who didn’t stop until he reached the end zone. Woodfield scored another two point conversion to give the Junior Lions a 24-20 lead with 5:21 left in the game.
Mount Ida forced a turnover on downs at the Cutter Morning Star’s 42 yard line before running the clock out to claim the win.
The night began with a 16-6 victory by the seventh grade. This is their second victory of the year. Their first came last week at Poyen.
Beau Weston scored the first Mount Ida touchdown followed by a two point conversion by Gus Gray. Isaiah Huff scored the second with Weston scoring on the two point conversion.
The Junior Lions wrap up the 2020 season at home next Thursday against Gurdon.
