Spring Hill, coming off a 34-6 victory August 30th against the Genoa Dragons, gave up frequent runs up the middle by a Mount Ida Lions team running the option. Meanwhile penalties on defense and offense dogged the Bears throughout the two quarters.
Finally, there was a sighting of lightning to the southeast of Spring Hill Stadium just after halftime expired. Officials called for a 30-minute delay, which went by. Then another 30-minute delay was called due to the persistence of the lightning. After that one went by, the game was finally called by the officials and word at press time is the game will not be rescheduled. It counts as a non-conference loss for Spring Hill in their second game and a non-conference win for Mount Ida in their 2024 season debut.
The game began with Spring Hill, who won the coin toss, deferring and kicking off to Mount Ida. The Lions’ drive began at their own 49 due to a good return. The first-down play was a run up the middle by the tailback to the Spring Hill 34 yard line. The next play was another big run up the middle again to the Spring Hill 19. On second down, the Bears held the Lions to four yards and then for no gain on third and six.
But on fourth and six, the whistles blew after the snap. The Bears were called for defensive offsides and what looked like a stalled drive became a fourth-and-one gimmie for the Lions when another run up the middle, this one by Beau Weston, got them to the Bears’ three yard-line. The Lions would punch it in with another run for the first of what would be only two touchdowns scored all evening. The point after kick was good, making the score 7-0 Mount Ida.
The Mount Ida kickoff to Spring Hill went out of bounds and the Bears’ first drive began at their own 35. Tucker Vickers got a 5 yard up the middle. On second down, Alex Arriaga in a run attempt lost three yards of that. The third and eight play was a pitch that fumbled, leading to a fourth and 14 on the Spring Hill 31. The punt at 6:53 left in the first quarter was received by Mount Ida at their own 35.
The Lions’ next drive would take up the rest of the first quarter in a succession of runs from the option. Spring Hill would force a fourth and short at their own 43, but another run up the middle took it to the 39 and a new set of downs with 2:30 left in the quarter. From there, three short runs got the Lions another set of downs at the Bears’ 28. Three more runs got the Lions to a first and goal on the 8, but the Bears held for three downs, forcing a fourth and goal as the quarter ended.
The very next play for the Lions offense after switching sides of the field was a five-yard fun for a touchdown up the middle. The extra point kick was good and the score stood 14-0 ten seconds into quarter two.
Spring Hill would get a good kickoff return from Reese Tarver who ran the ball up to the Spring Hill 45. Three downs later, the Bears would be forced to punt. But Mount Ida’s returner muffed the catch and the ball grazed his left thigh as it went to the turf. The Bears’ Tucker Vickers, playing special teams, saw this and fell on the ball. The Bears not only had a new possession, they would start their new drive on the Mount Ida 26.
But after an initial first down for six by Arriaga, the Bears would false start on second and four, sending them back to the 26 with a second and nine. A Jaxon Smith quarterback keeper would gain four, leading to a third and five. On that down, the Bears would fumble the ball and recover it, but this was for naught as the referees called a false start.
Facing third and ten, Bears running back Gavin Smith began another run, but the referees called another false start penalty, sending Spring Hill back to the 30-yard line of Mount Ida on a third-and 15. For the next play, a quarterback keeper for Smith, the Bears ran the ball to the Lions’ 25. Down and distance was now fourth and nine.
The next play was a receiver end around by Karson Hamilton for a first down that brought out applause and sounds of relief from the Bears’ fans. But again the penalty flags would fly as Mason Moore’s run to wide to the right from the nine-yard line of Mount Ida was erased and the Bears were penalized after a holding call. On first down and 19, Jaxon Smith’s quarterback keeper attempt was thrown back two yards. On second and 21, a pitch to Arriaga and run attempt up the middle got the two yards back. Jaxon Smith would be sacked on the third and 19 play and a run on fourth and 24 was stopped for a turnover on downs. Five minutes remained in the half.
Mount Ida would be forced to three and out. This time their punt went out of bounds at the Spring Hill 38. The Bears would rely again on their running game, earning one first down with a run from Gavin Smith to the Mount Ida 49. The Bears would then toss to Mason Moore on the right for a three-yard gain, but Mount Ida’s 46-yard line would be as close as Spring Hill would get to scoring as a dropped pass on third and three and an interception caught by Mount Ida at their own ten would end the possession with 16 seconds left to play.
Mount Ida did snap the ball once for no gain as the first half and, though few realized it at the time, the game itself came to end.
Spring Hill gets a bye week and then travels to take on Centerpoint in another non-conference contest Friday, September 20th.
