Home Breaking News Kicking off the season with The Kickoff Classic Cup

Kicking off the season with The Kickoff Classic Cup

3095
0

Mount Ida ground out a grueling 22-19 victory over their neighbors to the South at Centerpoint in the nightcap of the Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kickoff Classic held at Cliff Harris Stadium in Arkadelphia.
Both teams managed to score three times in a game that didn’t start until 9:30 p.m. due to a marathon match up between Little Rock McClellan and Parish Episcopal from Dallas. McClellan set a Kickoff Classic record for most points scored by a team in their 76-50 victory which lasted over four hours.
In the Mount Ida/Centerpoint match up special teams were the deciding factor Monday night. The Mount Ida Lions went 2-2 on PATs and punched in a two point conversion while Centerpoint only hit one of three point after attempts.
Centerpoint opened up the game with a solid 10 play drive that ended just inside the Lion 20 yard line. Mount Ida took over on downs on their own 19 yard line.
The Lions went to work, driving 81 yards in 12 plays, and were the first to reach the scoreboard with a three yard run by Jonathan Legrange with 3:34 to go in the first quarter.
The trio of Lagrange, Gage Dyer and Cade Helms bulled and danced their way down field. Dyer carried the ball to midfield on a second and seven. Mount Ida averaged just under six yards a carry over the course of the next six carries before Helms fought his way 12 yards to the one. A fumbled snap placed the ball on the two and Lagrange scored on the next play. Tyler Allenbrand hit the point after and the Lions led 7-0.
The two teams swapped possessions before the Knights were able to answer with a six play drive that ended with a three yard quarterback keeper by Keenan Owens for a touchdown. The point after attempt went wide left and the Knights were within one point with 9:47 to go in the second quarter.
Mount Ida punted the ball away on their next series giving Centerpoint possession on the Lion 40 with 7:23 to go in the half.
The Knights moved to the two yard line on a 28 yard reception by Cameron Clower. Jarrod Graves finished things off with a two yard touchdown run with 5:58 to go in the half. The Lions were able to get a paw on the point after kick, but the Knights had claimed a 12-7 lead.
Mount Ida opened the second half with a grueling 13 play drive that went 72 yards and ate up six minutes on the clock. Legrange got the brunt of the calls, carrying the ball seven times, and ended the drive with a two yard dive to give the Lions the lead. Coach Mike White called for a two point conversion and quarterback Cade Jackson slipped in to give the Lions a 15-12 lead with 6:02 left in the third.
Centerpoint needed one play to reclaim the lead with Owens and Logan Taylor connecting on a 54 yard reception for a score. Cesar Roman hit the point after attempt and with 12 ticks gone on the clock the Knights held a tenuous 19-12 lead with 5:50 to go in the third.
Mount Ida was able to move the ball to their 43 yard line on their next drive, but a penalty and a sack forced them back to their 28 yard line. Allenbrand punted the ball to the Knight 31 yard line where they would take over.
A pass to Taylor moved the chains to the Centerpoint 48 for the Knights. A pass to Eric Valdez pushed them into Lion territory. The next play Graves barreled up the middle to the 34 yard line before losing control of the ball. Dallas Weston fell on the ball for the Lions and they took over as the third quarter came to a close.
Mount Ida stuck to what brought them to the dance, running the ball 13 consecutive plays for 66 yards and another touchdown by Legrange to give the Lions the lead once again. Helms, Legrange and Jackson took turns carrying the ball as they marched down field. Legrange had a 14 yard carry on fourth and one to push the Lions inside the 10 yard line on the seven. Helms carried the ball to the three and Legrange finished things up for the go ahead score. Allenbrand hit the point after to give the Lions the three point lead with 6:04 to go in the game.
Centerpoint launched a valiant effort in their final drive, marching 49 yards in 11 plays, but a well placed hand by Cade Jackson batted away a pass in the end zone on a fourth and 12 from the Lion 19 to end the drive.
Mount Ida ground out the clock to end the game with the 22-19 victory and the Arkansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kickoff Classic Cup.
Coach Mike White stated after the game that Centerpoint was a great team and he figured the Lions would see more of the same with Lamar and Jessieville coming up in the next two weeks.
“We have to get in better shape. We weren’t ready for this heat.” he said after the victory.
Lagrange led the Lions with 18 carries for 97 yards and three touchdowns. Gage Dyer had 11 carries and 94 yards, followed by Cade Helms with 11 carries and 55 yards.
Cade Jackson was 0-4 passing and had six carries for 27 yards and a two point conversion. Bridger Farmer had three carries for 18 yards.
Centerpoint was 12-28 for 219 yards in the air and rushed for 74 yards as a unit.

Previous articleRattlers look to open up passing game
Next articleBallot positions drawn for general election