MINERAL SPRINGS – The Junior Hornets rolled to a 3-0 start after outpacing an improved Mount Ida Junior Lions team 32-8 last Thursday at Mineral Springs.
Mineral Springs were efficient offensively amassing 226 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on only 16 carries. They also returned a kick off back for another score.
Terrell Fricks led the Junior Hornets with four carries for 104 yards and two Tds.
Ladarrius Hicks had two carries for 92 yards and a score. He also had an 80 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
K’anthony Brown had six carries for 16 yards, Tyler Jones had three carries for 11 yards and Devin Swopes had one carry for three yards.
The Junior Hornets completed two of three passes with Cameron Lee catching one for 26 yards and Ladarrius Hicks catching one for 13 yards.
Mount Ida won the yardage battle with 256 yards on the ground. Hunter Davis had the lion’s share of the yards with 217 yards on 21 carries and a score.
Braden Thomas had five carries for 13 yards, Austin Cooper had one for 15 yards, Montana Curry had two for eight yards and Blake Stipe had one carry for three yards.
Mount Ida came out strong, moving the ball 55 yards for a touchdown and the early lead. Hunter Davis had all but one touch in the 10 play drive that ended with a Hunter Davis touchdown on a fourth and inches. Davis carried the ball in for the two point conversion to give the Junior Lions the lead with 3:45 to go in the first.
Mineral Springs wasted little time after starting their first drive from their own 48 yard line. The hand off went to Ladarrius Hicks who went 52 yards for the touchdown. Devin Swopes scampered in for the two point conversion to tie things up with 3:12 to go in the first quarter.
Mount Ida’s next drive ended with an interception by Terrell Fricks on the Mineral Springs 42 yard line.
The Junior Hornets needed two plays to score in this drive with Terrell Fricks getting the call from 32 yards out for the score. Ladarrius Hicks converted on the two point conversion to give Mineral Springs their first lead of the night.
Mount Ida returned to their ground game, launching a 12 play drive that ended with an incomplete pass on a fourth and 13 from the Mineral Springs 33 yard line.
Mineral took possession with 55 seconds left on the clock. They marched down field thanks to a five play drive that ended with a 50 yard touchdown run by Terrell Fricks with less than a second to go in the half. K’anthony Brown scored on the two point conversion to give the Junior Hornets a 24-8 lead.
The final score of the night came on the opening kickoff to start the second half. Ladarrius Hicks fielded the kick off and weaved his way through the defense on his way to the end zone. K’anthony Brown got the call on the two point conversion.
Mineral Springs moves to 3-0 on the season while Mount Ida falls to 0-4 on the season.