DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY
The Mount Ida Lions opened the 2016 2A playoffs with a bang, defeating the Johnson County Westside Rebels 49-0.
The Lions wracked up 254 yards on the ground and another 120 in the air for 374 yards total offense, all while holding the Rebels to a mere 80 yards of total offense.
Cade Jackson was five of six in the air for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin McAdoo led the team with three receptions for 82 yards and two TDs. Gage Dyer had one catch for 23 yards and Luke Fiorello had one for 15 yards.
At least 14 Lions had a carry in the win with Cade Helms leading the charge with eight totes for 67 yards and one touchdown.
Johnathan Legrange had six carries for 65 yards and a score, while Bryson Huff had four carries for 27 yards and a score.
Gage Dyer had two carries for 24 yards, Colton Yates had three carries for 18 yards, Dallas Weston has three carries for 13 yards, Tyler Hamilton had two carries for 12 yards, Hunter Davis had two carries for 10 yards.
Dawson Huff had a carry for five yards, Johnathan Wheeler had a carry for five yards and a touchdown and Austin McAdoo had a carry for three yards and a TD. Jathan Dillon had a carry for three yards, Cade Jackson had a carry for a yard and Logan Abernathy had a carry for two yards and a two point conversion.
Tyler Allenbrand was five for six on PATs.
The Lions set the pace early, forcing a punt on fourth and 15 on the Rebels first possession.
Mount Ida took over on their own 23 after the punt. The Lions marched 67 yards in 12 plays to score on a 30 yard run by Jonathan Legrange. The PAT was good and the Lions led 7-0 with 5:13 left in the first quarter.
The Lion defense continued their dominance, forcing a fumble on third and 10 on the Rebel 35. Austin McAdoo recovered the ball for Mount Ida with 3:51 to go in the first quarter.
Mount Ida only needed one play to add to their lead thanks to a Cade Jackson pass to McAdoo for a 30 yard TD reception. Allenbrand’s PAT was good to give them a 14 point lead.
The Rebels got their inagural first down of the night, moving the ball across their own 42 yard line. They would reach the 45 before punting the ball away.
Cade Helms would get in on the scoring action, capping a four play drive with a 16 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good, giving the Lions a 21-0 lead with 11:47 to go in the half.
The Lions recovered the ensuing kickoff to Johnson County Westside and scored two plays later on a 13 yard run by Bryson Huff. Allenbrand’s PAT was good and the Lions increased their lead to 28.
McAdoo would score again, this time on the ground, on a three yard run with 5:43 to go in the second quarter.
An offside call against the Rebels prompted the Lions to go for two. Senior lineman Logan Abernathy got the call and upped the Lions lead to 36.
McAdoo and Jackson collaborated for a 24 yard pass with 20 seconds left in the half for the final touchdown of the half. the PAT was good and the Lions carried a 43 point lead into the lockerroom at the half.
Jonathan Wheeler accounted for the final points of the evening with a five yard touchdown run with 1:10 to go in the third quarter.
The Lions advance to the second round of the playoffs. They will face the Conway Christian Eagles at home Friday night with kick off scheduled for 7 p.m.