DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY|dewayne@mcnews.online
MURFREESBORO – The Mount Ida Lions wrapped up their regular season schedule with a 51-9 victory over the Murfreesboro Rattlers.
The Lions were fairly efficient offensively, scoring on six of eight possessions. They had 31 carries for 260 yards on the ground and Karter Rowton was 2-2 in the air for 51 yards for a total of 311 yards of offense for Mount Ida.
Baylor Bates led the offense with 86 yards and three touchdowns, followed by Jacob Woodfield with 56 yards and two touchdowns.
AJ Perez had three carries for 48 yards, Ian McDowell had two carries for 24 yards, Dean Johnson had three carries for 21 yards and a score, Payton Dorrell had three carries for 13 yards and Connor Sigman had a six yard gain.
Quinton Lowry had two catches for 51 yards.
The Lions were stingy on defense, holding Murfreesboro to 142 yards, 106 of which came through their passing game. Mount Ida did score one touchdown on a pick six by AJ Perez.
Mount Ida’s defense forced the Rattlers to punt the ball away on their first possession, but quickly found themselves facing a first and goal from the one after the Lions fumbled the ball away on their first snap.
Brayden Oakley got the nod for Murfreesboro and he ran the ball in for a touchdown with 8:21 left in the opening quarter. The PAT failed and the Rattlers held their only lead of the evening.
The Lions only needed five plays to get on the board with Jacob Woodfield scoring on a 12 yard run. Baylor Bates toted the ball in for the two point conversion and the Lions held an 8-6 lead with 6:22 left in the first quarter.
The Lion defense made short work of the Rattlers in their next drive, forcing a punt from the 20 after a sack by Blake Collum and Caleb White.
Mount Ida started their next drive from their own 45 yard line. AJ Perez moved the chains with a 33 yard gain and Bates finished the drive in quick order with a 22 yard touchdown run. Chandler Perkins hit the PAT to give the Lions a 15-6 lead with 3:59 in the first quarter.
The two teams exchanged fumbles with Gavin Summitt recovering a fumble for Mount Ida on the 13 yard line and two plays later Tyler Nichols recovers a Lion fumble on the Murfreesboro 11 yard line.
Murfreesboro launched a lengthy 10 play drive that ended with an incomplete pass on the Lion 35 yard line.
Mount Ida only needed six plays to find the end zone again with Bates scoring from one yard out. Perkins hit the PAT and the Lions lead stood at 22-6.
The Rattlers ended the second quarter with a 21 yard field goal to cut the Lion lead to 22-9.
The second half was all Mount Ida with the Lions outscoring the Rattlers 29-0 in the final two quarters.
Mount Ida opened the second half with a six play 64 yard drive that ended in a two yard touchdown run by Bates. Jacob Woodfield ran the ball in for the two point conversion to give the Lions a 30-9 lead with 9:51 left in the third quarter.
Mount Ida forced a turnover on downs on a fourth and one from the Rattler 37. Three plays later Woodfield trotted 12 yards for a touchdown with 6:42 left in the quarter. Perkins hit the PAT and the Lions lead stood at 37-9.
Murfreesboro turned to the air, but found no success with the first two passes falling incomplete. The third fell into the hands of Mount Ida AJ Perez who ran 29 yards for a Pick 6. Perkins hit the PAT and the score was 44-9 in favor of the Lions.
The final Lion score came on a seven yard touchdown by Dean Johnson. Perkins’ PAT was good and the Lions carried a 51-9 lead through the end of the game.
A Magnet Cove 30-6 victory over Poyen Friday means the Lions enter the 2A playoffs this week as a Two Seed. They will host the Cross County Thunderbirds Friday night in the first round. Cross County is the Five Seed from the 3-2A Conference. The Thunderbirds will enter the game with a 1-8 record.
If the Lions advance to the second round they will more than likely face McCrory, the One Seed from the 3-2A Conference.
Kick off Friday night will be at 7 p.m.