Lions try to move on from standout seniors
ZACH PARKER
MOUNT IDA — After graduating eight seniors, including two-time all state quarterback T.J. Wilson, Mount Ida coach Mike White knows that repeating last year’s dominance will be difficult.
Wilson and fellow seniors cruised to a conference title in a 10-0 regular season and won two playoff games before a quarterfinal road loss to eventual Class 2A champion McCrory.
“We graduated some big players from last year’s team and we’re replacing them with a lot of sophomores,” White said. “They’re good football players but you can’t teach them the experience that a senior has. We’ll have a slight drop-off, because you just can’t replace guys like T.J. Wilson and Jesse Lowry in one year. These kids will get there, but not all of a sudden.”
Mount Ida will turn to sophomore Cade Jackson as the starting quarterback. Jackson threw 10 touchdowns and no interceptions for the 9-1 junior Lions last year and White believes the youngster’s knowledge of the system will ease the transition for his offense.
“He’s been running my system since he was in the third grade,” said White. “He’s got a desire to win and I feel comfortable with his knowledge of the game and what we want to do on offense. I feel like we’ll be able to move forward this year and be successful on offense once again.”
With sophomore running backs Jonathan Lagrange and Cade Helms each weighing more than 200 pounds, the Lions boast a backfield with the potential to wear down defenses.
“We should have a real good rotation of running backs this season,” White said. “Jonathan Lagrange will be our right halfback starting off. He’s a sophomore, but he’s been in the system and he’s good back there. Cade Helms will be our other halfback and Bridger Farmer is our smaller, quicker back and he’s really impressed me at that spot since we came back. I’m looking forward to what those guys can do for us this year.”
The blockers up front are the key to a high-scoring offense and Mount Ida has one of the best offensive lines in Class 2A-7. Senior Logan Abernathy (6-3, 255) anchors the line at left tackle, flanked by junior Brody Davis (63, 275) on the right side.
Juniors Gunner Gilbert (5-10, 230) and Caleb Woodfield (5-10, 266) return at the guard spots while senior Shawn Spurling (510, 190) is expected to start at center after missing all of last season. Brooks Mayberry (6-1, 225), Oscar Pinedo (5-10, 220), Kirklyn Sorrell (6-3, 240), Trynt Gaston (6-0, 165), Garrett Beggs (5-9, 185) and Ethan Winkley (5-9, 185) provide depth unmatched by most teams.
“Our offensive and defensive line is where we’re going to be very strong,” White said. “Overall our lines are intact and they’re big, strong and very agile for their size. That’s where we’re going to win our ballgames this season.”
Without Lowry, a two-time all state selection, the receiving corps still has the talent to produce. Senior Austin McAdoo headlines a group that also features senior Jonathan Wheeler and sophomore Jaythan Dillon. Anthony Spurling returns at tight end after hauling in three touchdowns last season.
The Lions return six defensive starters after allowing less than six points per game in the regular season last year, recording six shutouts. Gilbert and Woodfield provide the push in the middle as starting defensive tackles while Spurling and Abernathy return at defensive end after combining for seven sacks last season.Helms starts at middle linebacker, looking to build on last year’s all-conference performance. The junior racked up 62 tackles after forcing his way into the starting lineup and White sees him as a leader for his defense.
“We think he could be even better this year,” said White. “We weren’t expecting much out of him last year at the linebacker position, but the way he came on we had no choice but to start him. Now he’s one of our best players on that side of the ball and he should make the other guys around him even better, too.”
Lagrange has the potential to make a similar jump at linebacker after leading the junior Lions in tackles last year. Beggs, Drew Allen and Luke Fiorello will also see time at linebacker this season.
Starting corners Farmer and McAdoo have ball-hawking ability, combining for five interceptions last year. Wheeler, Jackson and Hayden Bishop will all see time at safety while Dallas Weston and Tyler Hamilton provide depth in the secondary.
Mount Ida opens the season against Class 3A Centerpoint on Monday at Cliff Harris Stadium in the Arkansas Blue Cross Kickoff Classic, a matchup of neighboring rivals that has both communities bursting with excitement.
“That game is huge for our community and the support we get from everybody around here is one of the main reasons why I’ve enjoyed my time as head coach at Mount Ida,” said White. “Centerpoint is a great team and it’s a good test for us to start the season. They probably have the advantage at the skill positions and we probably have the advantage on the lines so it should be a good matchup on the field.”