DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY|dewayne@mcnews.online
POYEN – The Mount Ida Lions kept their hopes for a 5-2A Conference championship alive with a 20-14 victory over the Poyen Indians Friday night.
The Lions need to defeat Gurdon in two weeks for any chance at a conference title. They will need some help from Poyen when they face Magnet Cove November 5.
Superintendent Mike White picked up his coaching folder and returned to the sidelines Friday night as the Lions traveled to Poyen to face the Indians.
Mount Ida’s offense was led by Baylor Bates who carried the ball 24 times for 108 yards and their first two touchdowns.
Jacob Woodfield returned to action with 18 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown.
A.J. Perez had four carries for 28 yards and a pass for eight yards.
Karter Rowton completed two of three passes for 46 yards. Quinton Lowry had a 38 yard reception.
The Lions amassed 260 yards of total offense on the night.
Poyen had 52 carries for 230 yards and completed four of nine passes for 33 yards and an interception.
The Lion defense struggled to find their footing in the opening drive with Poyen driving the ball to the Mount Ida seven yard line. Chandler Perkins came up big for the Lions with an interception which he returned to the Mount Ida 10 yard line.
Mount Ida capitalized on the turnover with a lengthy 90 yard drive that spanned 15 plays and five and a half minutes of game time. Baylor Bates got the call on a second and goal from the one to score the first points of the night. Jacob Woodfield carried the ball in for the two-point conversion with 1:47 left in the fist quarter to give the Lions an eight point lead.
Poyen once again moved the ball into Mount Ida territory. However, the Lions were able to force a turnover on downs at the Lion 35 yard line. Mount Ida only needed seven plays to score again, this time on a four yard run by Bates. The PAT failed and the Lions held a 14-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first half.
The Lion defense found themselves facing another Poyen offensive drive that found its way into the Mount Ida red zone. Mount Ida’s defense stood tall, stopping the Indians on a fourth and four from the Mount Ida six yard line.
Mount Ida was forced to punt from deep within their own territory, but quickly reclaimed possession when Connor Sigman recovered a fumble for the Lions. They would be forced to punt the ball away again.
Poyen rallied, winning the second half of the game, but the Lions were able to hold on for the victory.
The Indians ended their first drive in the third quarter with a six yard run by Blake Rhodes. Quarterback Nate Simmons took it in for the two-point conversion to cut the Lion lead to six with 5:54 left in the third quarter.
Mount Ida answered with a one yard run by Woodfield with 2:34 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was short and the Lions held a 20-8 lead.
Poyen responded with a 17 play drive that dragged into the fourth quarter to end with a four yard run by Rhodes. The Indians fumbled the ball on the two-point conversion.
Mount Ida would stop Poyen one final time, forcing a turn over on downs at the Poyen 41 yard line.
Mount Ida moves to four and three on the season and one and one in conference play.
The Lions are off this week and will host Gurdon October 29 with hopes of earning a conference title with a win. Kick off will be at 7 p.m.
Mount Ida tops Poyen 20-14
