DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY | dewayne@mcnews.online
MURFREESBORO – The Mount Ida Lions are one win away from a trip to War Memorial Stadium and a shot at a fourth state championship after a 48-22 victory over the Murfreesboro Rattlers in quarterfinal action in the 2A State playoffs.
The Lions dominated both sides of the ball amassing 402 yards on 51 carries, most of which came in the first three quarters of play.
Senior running back Ben Woodfield led the charge with 25 carries for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He also converted three of four Point After Attempts.
Freshman Jackson White had 11 carries for 77 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion after stepping in as quarterback following an injury to Dakota Beechy.
Dakota Beechy got the start at quarterback and carried the ball six times for 26 yards before being forced to leave the game due to injury.
Dean Johnson had seven carries for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Lions recorded 49.5 tackles, four for a loss. They had an interception and three tipped passes, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Ben Woodfield led the defense with seven solo tackles and two assists, with two for a loss and two tipped passes.
Jackson White had six solo tackles and one assist, with one for a loss. He also recovered a fumble.
Chris Dorrell had four solo tackles and five assists with a fumble recovery. Cain McCullough had four solo tackles and an assist with one tackle for a loss.
Eli McCullough recorded three solo tackles and three assists. Ty Spier had two solo tackles and five assists. Dakota Beechy had two solo tackles and three assists. Dean Johnson had two solo tackles and two assists with a tipped pass. Tyler Mosher had a solo tackle and three assists with an interception. Brady Rowland had four assists. Duncan Standridge had two assists. Andy Black and Hayden Mosher each has an assist.
Mount Ida established the tone for the game on the first drive with a 12 play drive that traversed 55 yards. Ben Woodfield punched the ball in from a yard out for the first score with 6:40 left in the first quarter. He connected on the PAT to give the Lions a seven point lead.
Murfreesboro moved the ball into Lion territory on their first drive but was forced to punt from the 40 yard line. They downed the ball just short of the goal line to pin the Lions deep on the next drive.
Dakota Beechy forced his way to the five yard line to give the Lions some room to work. Two plays later he would have to leave the game with an injury. Jackson White moved to the quarterback spot and led the team the distance with Woodfield and Dean Johnson contributing on the drive. The Lions capped the 14 play drive with a five yard run by Woodfield with 9:07 left in the second quarter. He hit the PAT to give the Lions a 14-0 lead.
Murfreesboro responded with a 10 play drive that went 65 yards. Brody Maroon punched it in from a yard out for the Rattlers first touchdown of the night. Quarterback Laytan Wilcher carried it in for the two-point conversion to cut the Mount Ida lead to 14-8 with 4:46 left in the first half.
The Rattlers attempted an onside kick but Andy Black covered the ball to preserve possession for the Lions on their 44 yard line. Woodfield took the ball to the one yard line on the first play from scrimmage and Jackson White finished the job for the third Lion score of the night. White scored on the two-point conversion to give Mount Ida a 22-8 lead with 4:25 left in the half.
Eli McCullough forced a fumble on the Rattlers second play from scrimmage and it was recovered by White. Six plays later Woodfield scored from five yards out with 1:45 left in the half. He put the ball through the uprights for the PAT to give the Lions a 29-8 lead.
Five plays into the ensuing Rattler drive Cain McCullough forced another fumble, this one was recovered by Chris Dorrell. Mount Ida ended the first half with a 29-8 lead.
Murfreesboro opened the second half with the ball but went four and out on the Lion 42 yard line. Mount Ida went 58 yards in eight plays, scoring on a 15 yard run by White. Woodfield’s PAT went awry and the Lion lead was 35-8 with 5:53 left in the third quarter.
Tyler Mosher ended the following Rattler drive with an interception on the Lion 45 yard line. Two plays later Dean Johnson scored from five yards out to give the Lions a 41-8 lead with 3:16 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed.
Mount Ida’s final score of the night came at the 10:31 mark in the final quarter. Woodfield raced nine yards for the score. He split the uprights on the PAT and the Lions triggered the sportsmanship rule with a 48-8 lead.
Coach Mike White turned the game over to the second team at this point. The Rattler first team was able to score two more times with a running clock, but the Lions held on for the 48-22 victory.
The win moves the Lions to 9-3 on the season. They will travel to Lepanto to face East Poinsett County Friday night in semifinal action in the 2A State Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Lions one game away from War Memorial Stadium
