By Shane Paschal, For the Tribune
IRONDALE- Shades Valley entered its second straight home game to open the season facing an old county rival the Mounties had not met in 77 years. The Mounties led the all-time series with Mortimer Jordan 20-1-3, with the Blue Devils’ only victory coming in 1939. The teams last met in 1949.
The Mounties got the ball to start the game but turned it over on downs at their own 31-yard line. Jordan wasted no time capitalizing, scoring on an 18-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Blue Devils a 7-0 lead with 8:18 left in the first quarter.
The teams traded punts for the remainder of the quarter, with Jordan possessing the ball at the Mounties’ 40-yard line as the quarter ended.
Jordan chewed up half of the second-quarter clock on the ground, highlighted by runs of 10 and 20 yards that gave the Blue Devils a first-and-goal at the Valley 1-yard line. Jordan scored from a yard out, and the extra point gave the Blue Devils a 14-0 lead with 6:50 left in the half.
Valley took the ball on its next possession and marched down the field, scoring on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Antwan Kelser to Mekhi Thomas. The successful extra point narrowed the margin to 14-7 with 3:04 left in the half.
Jordan got the ball at its own 20, and a quick quarterback keeper advanced the ball to the Mounties’ 35. The Blue Devils continued to push the ball down the field while draining the clock, and on the final play of the half, Jordan scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass. The extra point sent the Blue Devils to the locker room with a 21-7 lead.
The only sustained drive of the third quarter belonged to the Mounties, who took possession at their own 35 and marched down the field while chewing up the clock. Sophomore Kourtney Moore scored his third touchdown of the year on a 12-yard run, and with 4:22 left in the third quarter, the Mounties trimmed the Blue Devils’ lead to 21-14.
Jordan held the ball for the remainder of the quarter while driving down the field. The fourth quarter began with Valley recovering a Jordan fumble around its own 10-yard line and returning it to the 40. The Mounties’ drive ended on a turnover on downs at the Jordan 41.
The Blue Devils punted the ball back to the Mounties, who subsequently fumbled, with Jordan recovering at the Valley 28. The Blue Devils turned the turnover into a 25-yard field goal, increasing their lead to 24-14 with 2:54 left in the game.
The Mounties turned the ball over on downs on their final possession, and the Blue Devils ran out the clock to secure a 24-14 victory.
After the game, Shades Valley head coach George Bates pointed to situational football as a key difference.
“Situational football was won by Jordan,” Bates said. “They scored on the last play of the first half and also blocked a punt. We played with more intention in the second half, which is encouraging to build on. We feel we aren’t far off, and it all will click very soon.”
Shades Valley dropped to 1-1 on the season, while Mortimer Jordan improved to 2-0. The Mounties open region play next week in the last of three straight home games to start the season when the Center Point Eagles come calling.
