2A High School Football
2A Finals game summaries and briefs
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Mount Ida 17, Bearden 16
Josh Baker did just about everything for the Mount Ida Lions in the Class 2A championship game Saturday.
After rushing for 159 yards on 37 attempts, the senior kicked a 22-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to give the Lions (15-0) a 17-16 victory over Bearden for the school’s first state championship.
Named the most valuable player in the game, Baker scored a touchdown, kicked two extra points and a field goal, made 13 tackles and recovered a fumble.
After trailing 14-8 at halftime, Bearden (13-1) took the lead when Michael Belin scored on a 10-yard pass from Dewayne Watts with 5:31 left in the third quarter. Watts scored the two-point conversion.
Mount Ida started its winning drive from its 19 with 2:35 left. Baker rushed for 40 yards on the drive and the big play was a 36-yard pass from Taylor Elder to Josh DePriest to the Bearden 18.
“I was a little nervous,” said Baker of the game-winning kick. “But it is something we do all the time in practice.”
The Lions dominated the first half, running 46 plays compared with the Bears’ 15. But they only managed a 14-8 lead after Bearden’s late scoring drive and two-point conversion.
Mount Ida took its first possession and drove 64 yards in 17 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Baker scored from the 1 with 4:28 left in the quarter, and kicked the extra point.
After a fumble recovery by Randall Dickerson at the Bearden 29, Elder scored from the 1 with 7:19 left in the half and Baker kicked it 14-0.
Bearden drove 81 yards in 10 plays to get back in the game. Carlos Chambers scored from the 4 with 1:58 left in the half. Watts ran in the two-point play for a 14-8 halftime game.
Mount Ida had 167 yards offense in the first half while Bearden had 100, most of that coming on its one scoring drive.
— The Associated Press
I could not be there, but I hope the boys heard my cheers - all the way from south Alabama! I have fond memories of teaching these young people in 5th and 6th grade and am SO PROUD of them! We still keep up with the "happenings" around Mt. Ida and I know this was a thrill for everyone in the town. Congratulations to a talented and hard working group of football players. You worked hard for this! -- Mrs. Lisa Goodwin, Robertsdale, AL
Non-subscriber comment posted by staff on December 10 at 12:58 p.m.
i love me some mount ida lions, i am so proud of the boys that have been hurt and recovered through thsi season, blood, sweat and tears went into this whole ordeal, let me tell ya it was so worth it....we can now officially say WE ARE THE BEST WUT MIHS WUT WE'LL BEAT YOUR TEAM WUT AND ALL OF THE REST.... -- Jimi Ann Minton,
Non-subscriber comment posted by staff on December 10 at 6:25 a.m.
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