Mount Ida fends off Conway Christian
Mount Ida returns to the Class 2A semifinals this week at Hazen after thwarting a late 2-point conversion attempt by Conway Christian in a 50-48 victory at the Eagles’ Mission Field Friday night.
The Lions (11-2) and the Eagles (10-3) traded scores in the first half until Mount Ida took a two-score lead in the third quarter. The game was tied again in the fourth quarter until senior quarterback Cade Jackson put the Lions back ahead with a 31-yard touchdown run with seven minutes remaining in the game. Jackson ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Lions an eight-point cushion.
Conway Christian had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter after senior quarterback Jacob Wood threw a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles converted on the 2-point try, but a receiver was flagged for pushing off on a Mount Ida defensive back. Conway Christian was pushed back 10 yards on the 2-point try and the Lions held on the second conversion attempt.
The Eagles held the Lions on their next offensive possession and Conway Christian was able to get the ball back in the final minute with a chance to win the game. Mount Ida’s defense held the Eagles offense in check for the win.
“It went about as we expected,” said Mount Ida head coach Mike White. “We knew they would score and we pretty much knew we had to outscore them to win.”
Jackson answered a Conway Christian touchdown in the first quarter with a 43-yard score. Senior running back Jonathan LaGrange converted the 2-point attempt for an 8-7 lead.
A touchdown pass by Wood was answered by a four-
yard score by LaGrange. The game was tied, 14-14, after a failed 2-point try early in the second quarter.
The teams continued to trade scores through the first half. Mount Ida trailed, 21-20, after a 12-yard touchdown run by LaGrange and another failed 2-point attempt, but the Lions answered a 50-yard touchdown pass by Wood with another short score by LaGrange. He tied the game at 28-all going into halftime.
“To me, this group just kind of expects to do it,” White said. “(Conway Christian) scored in two plays on us and we respond with a big drive. They don’t get rattled. They expect to be there in the end and give themselves a chance to win.”
Mount Ida found some breathing room in the third quarter as Jackson scored on a 50-yard run and LaGrange scored again from four yards out. The Lions had a 42-28 advantage for the largest lead of the game. Conway Christian tied the game at 42-42 early in the final quarter with consecutive scoring drives.
Jackson averaged 8.7 yards per carry for 234 yards and four scores on 27 rushing attempts. He completed his only pass attempt for 20 yards to sophomore John Hoeksema.
LaGrange carried the ball
35 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Senior Tyler Hamilton added 45 yards on 14 carries.
The Lions finished with
498 yards of offense. LaGrange also completed a 16-yard pass to Jackson.
“They play with a lot of heart and determination, and they expect to win,” White said. “That is the way this group has always been.”
Mount Ida will now play a conference champion on the road for the third consecutive week. Conway Christian won the 2A-5 conference and Hector (7-4), which Mount Ida defeated by a score of 3831 on Nov. 16, won the 2A-4 conference.
The 2A-6 conference champion Hazen (12-0) advanced through the quarterfinals on Friday with a 30-7 home victory against Hampton (8-3).
“I know they are big and good, but I have not watched them on film yet much,” White said. “They are very good defensively from what I have heard.”
Mount Ida’s only two losses this season were to 2A-7 champion Foreman (10-1) and runner-up Gurdon (9-3). Hazen eliminated Gurdon on Nov. 16, 46-0.
Foreman needed overtime on Friday to defeat Earle (94), 28-26. The defending state champion Gators will host Junction City (10-2) in the other semifinal. The Dragons eliminated Des Arc (9-4) Friday, 55-13.