Class 2A battle
Foreman avenged its only loss last season with a 24-21 victory over Mount Ida in the Class 2A state championship game, but Foreman Coach Mark King said the loss remains with the Gators. On Friday night, Class 2A No. 1 Foreman hosts No. 2 Mount Ida in a 7-2A Conference showdown.
A loss to Mount Ida nearly a year ago changed Foreman’s football program.
Mount Ida routed Foreman 36-7 on Oct. 13, which was the Gators’ only loss of the season.
The Gators avenged the loss in the Class 2A state championship game with a 24-21 victory over the Lions at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Foreman Coach Mark King said last year’s loss to Mount Ida remains with the Gators to this day.
“Everything had come so easy to us. We rolled through everybody,” King said. “We didn’t have much adversity before we faced them the first time. You try to tell your kids that it’s going to be different, to fight for every yard you get. But you can’t simulate that.
“We didn’t play very well. From that point on, our kids realized you have to prepare every week to play.”
On Friday night, Class 2A No. 1 Foreman (6-0, 3-0) hosts No. 2 Mount Ida (6-0, 3-0) in a 7-2A Conference showdown at The Swamp in Foreman.
The No. 1 Gators haven’t allowed a point in their past five games. They allowed 45 points to Smackover on Aug. 27, but what was a 45-24 loss to the Buckaroos was later deemed a forfeit because of the use of an ineligible player by Smackover.
“Our defense has gotten better every week,” King said. “We’re causing turnovers. We’re flying to the ball.”
Sophomore defensive lineman Chris Haywood has 26 tackles, including 12 for a loss, and 3 sacks.
“He’s a difficult matchup for everyone,” King said. “He could step in at a 6A or a 7A school because of his motor.”
Senior quarterback Kyren Batey leads the Gators offensively, accounting for 792 yards (691 rushing, 50 passing, 51 receiving) and 20 touchdowns (18 rushing, 1 passing and 1 receiving).
“He’s being Kyren,” King said. “He’s running our offense.”
Mount Ida is averaging 37.7 points per game with what King calls a three-headed monster of seniors Jonathan Lagrange, Gage Dyer and Cade Jackson.
Lagrange (623 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns), Gage Dyer (327 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns) and quarterback Cade Jackson (634 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns; 134 passing yards, 2 touchdowns) have big numbers.
“They’re typical Mount Ida,” King said. “They’re smash mouth. They’re fundamentally sound. They’re every bit as good as they were last year.”
King said the Gators and Lions have a lot of respect for each other, and he’s tried to emulate Mount Ida’s program.
“They were on the top of the mountain,” King said. “That was the measuring stick for 2A football. Do things the right way. Respect your teammates, your coaches and your opponent.
“It has helped our kids watching that program.”