DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY
montcnews2@windstream.net
MOUNT IDA – The Mount Ida Lions were unable to overcome a disastrous second quarter on their way to a season opening 39-14 loss at the hands of the Magazine Rattlers Friday night.
Mount Ida turned the ball over three times in the second stanza and gave up 27 points to the more experienced Rattler team. Magazine outpaced the Lions with 42 carries and 303 yards and six touchdowns to 29 carries for the Lions and 137 yards and one touchdown. Magazine completed two of three passes for 18 yards and Mount Ida completed one of three for 62 yards and a score.
Quarterback Tatum Scott was the leading rusher for Magazine with 101 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of 12 Rattlers to record at least one carry in the game.
Hunter Davis led the Lions with 12 carries and 75 yards, followed by Baylor Bates with eight carries and 29 yards. John Hoeksema had three carries for 20 yards and AJ Perez recorded the Lions only rushing touchdown, carrying the ball four times for nine yards. Gavin Summitt had a carry for six yards.
Hoeksema had the only Lion reception of the night on a 62 yard touchdown catch.
The Lions struggled to get their offense going in the first half recording only two first downs.
Magazine scored their only first quarter score at the 6:21 mark on a nine yard run by Scott. The PAT whiffed and the Rattlers held a 6-0 lead.
Mount Ida followed up with their best drive of the first half, but were unable to score. They started on their own 38 yard line and moved to midfield on runs by Hunter Davis, Baylor Bates and Davis again. Davis took them into Rattler territory on a seven yard run.
Bates recorded the second first down on a nine yard jaunt to the 35 yard line. Davis would push the line of scrimmage to the 29, but the Lions would end up turning the ball over on downs at the Rattler 32 yard line.
Magazine launched an 11 play drive that ended in a 21 yard touchdown run by Xeng Yang at the 8:44 mark in the second quarter. Scott completed a pass to Jacob Hall to give the Rattlers a 14-0 lead.
Things turned south for the Lions on the ensuing kick off with a fumble which was recovered by the Rattlers on the Mount Ida 18 yard line. Three plays later Magazine scored.
The next two series for Mount Ida would end quickly in turn overs and subsequent scores by Magazine. The Rattlers took a 33-0 lead into the locker room.
Magazine opened the second half on a short field after recovering an on side kick at the Lion 43. Three plays later Kobe Faughn took the ball in from two yards out for the score.
With the clock rolling Magazine looked to their bench and Mount Ida took advantage of a less experienced opponent, scoring twice in the second half.
The first Lion drive of the half started at their own 36. They quickly moved to midfield on a 10 yard run by Davis and a four yard run by Bates. Mount Ida methodically marched the ball down field to cap a 10 play drive with an 11 yard run by AJ Perez. The two point conversion failed and the Rattlers held a 39-6 lead.
Magazine was able to reach midfield in their next series, but the Lions defense stood tall, forcing a punt on fourth and nine.
Mount Ida took over on their own 12 yard line. Mount Ida struggled with holding onto the ball, putting it on the ground twice in the next series, but they were able to recover both. Quarterback Austin Cooper and John Hoeksema connected on a 72 yard pass down the home sideline to cap the night with a touchdown. Bates took the ball in on the two point conversion to cut the lead to 39-14.
The Lions had the Rattlers in a third and 22 situation on the Magazine 33 yard line when time expired to secure the Rattler victory.
Coach Zack Wuichet stated that while it wasn’t the outcome he wanted he saw some good things on the field. He felt the Lions defense controlled the middle of the field, but struggled to contain Magazine in space on the ends.
Offensively the Lions put the ball on the ground six times, losing three fumbles. Each turnover ended in a score for the Rattlers.
The Mount Ida Lions will host the Jessieville Lions Friday at 7 p.m.
The game will be preceded by a tailgate party sponsored by Diamond Bank. It will begin at 5 p.m.
Former coach Mike White will be honored at halftime with the field house being named in his honor.
