DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
MOUNT IDA – Mount Ida was able to overcome a dismal first half to defeat the Mineral Springs Hornets 28-0 in front of a Homecoming Crowd at Stidman Field.
Both sides were unable to cross the endzone in the first half. Statistically Mineral Springs had the upper hand as far as yardage goes, rushing for 81 yards compared to the Lions’ 37 yards on the ground. However, Mount Ida’s defense was able to grab two interceptions out of the air to end Hornet drives.
Mount Ida turned things around in the second half, scoring 28 unanswered points while rushing for 219 yards. They also recorded two more turnovers, a fumble recovery and another interception.
Penalties played a major role in the game with Mineral Springs amassing 142 yards of penalty yardage which included three personal fouls and two unsportsmanlike penalties. It was reported Monday that Terrell Fricks was ejected from the game. Mount Ida was penalized six times for 45 yards with one personal foul.
The Hornets started the game with the ball on their own 38 yard line. Their drive only lasted one play thanks to an interception by Blake Collum at the Mount Ida 44. Mount Ida was unable to move the ball and was forced to punth on fourth and nine at their own 45 yard line.
Mineral Springs was the first to record a first down, doing so at the 2:31 mark in the first quarter. Terrell Fricks raced 25 yards to the Lion 46 to move the chains for the first time. The Hornets were able to move the ball to the Lion 10 before moving back 15 yards thanks to a personal foul call.
Two plays later Caleb White snatched a pass out of the air while racing across the Lion 10 yard line. He fought his way to the Mount Ida 44 yard line before being brought down. Mount Ida was able to record their only first down of the half on a seven yard run by Jack Hoeksema.
Mount Ida ended the first half with the ball inside the Hornet 10 yard line. The Hornets held them scoreless to take the game into the half tied 0-0.
The second half opened with a Hornet kick fielded by Mount Ida on their own 42 yard line. The Lions halftime adjustments produced dividends immediately with Mount Ida marching 48 yards to score on a 25 yard run by Baylor Bates. Jack Hoeksema slipped under the defense and into the end zone to give the Lions an 8-0 lead with 8:35 left in the third quarter.
Mineral Springs was able to move the ball just inside Lion territory on the ensuing drive, but a sack by Silas Love forced a Hornet punt.
Mount Ida’s second drive started on their own 30 yard line. The Hornets helped the Lions advance across midfield with a personal foul followed by an unsportsmanlike call. Caleb White carried the ball 20 yards to the Hornet 20, but a series of illegal movement penalties moved them back to the Hornet 31 yard line. Hoeksema reclaimed four of them on second and 21 before Interim Coach Mike White took a timeout. With the play in place Mount Ida stepped to the line of scrimmage. The ball was snapped and Hoeksema took the handoff 27 yards for the score. The two point conversion fell just short and the Lions held a 14-0 lead with 1:24 left in the third.
Ramsey Gilbert helped the Lion cause defensively on the next Hornet drive when he tackled Marlon Graves for a five yard loss to set up a fourth and 18 on the Mineral Springs 36 yard line. An illegal movement penalty pushed them back to the 31 before punting the ball away.
Mount Ida drove the ball 55 yards in nine plays. Bates scored on a 24 yard run to lift the Lion lead to 20 with 7:53 left in the game.
Mineral Springs recovered the ensuing kick on the Lion 48 yard line, but a personal foul against the Lions moved the ball up to the Mount Ida 35. The Hornets’ drive only lasted one play thanks to a fumble recovery by Mount Ida’s Silas Love.
AJ Perez scampered to the Lion 44 yard line to set up a second and three. Baylor Bates took the hand off on the following play and raced 51 yards to the Hornet five yard line before being dragged down. He took it in on the next play with 6:49 left in the game. Caleb White dived across the goal line for the two point conversion to boost the Lions lead to 28-0.
Jack Hoeksema ended the Hornet’s next drive with an interception on the Lions nine yard line.
Mineral Springs was able to get the ball into the end zone during their final drive on a 38 yard pass to Vonderek Stewart. Unfortunately, Keijuan Hicks had crossed the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball and the touchdown was called back.
Mount Ida was able to hold on for the 28-0 shut out over the Hornets.
Baylor Bates had a breakout game, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Over 130 of those yards came in the second half.
Jack Hoeksema had 21 carries for 72 yards with a touchdown and a two point conversion. Jack also contributed on defense with an interception late in the game.
Caleb White rushed for 27 yards on eight carries and was one for three in the air for 11 yards. He also recorded an interception.
Blake Collum came up big the the Lions defensively with an interception and a fumble recovery. Silas Love also claimed a fumble recovery for the Lions.
Terrell Fricks and Vonderek Stewart ran for 52 yards to lead the Hornet running game. Fricks had seven carries and Stewart had 10 touches.
Keijuan Hicks had three carries for 14 yards, Cameron Williams had a one yard carry and Marlon Graves had a carry for a five yard loss.
Fricks and Hicks combined to complete six of 22 passes for 59 yards and three interceptions.
Mount Ida will travel to Des Arc this Friday as they prepare to wrap up their non-conference schedule. They will face the Des Arc Eagles with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.
