CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULE

[BarclayAlmanac]

CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock
Saturday, December 10, noon
[size=0pt]MOUNT IDA vs HAMPTON[/size]

[size=0pt]HAMPTON BULLDOGS (13-0)[/size]
[size=0pt]Head coach: Wesley Ables[/size]
[size=0pt](16-14 in 4 years at Mount Ida)[/size]
[size=0pt]Playoff appearances: 11[/size]
[size=0pt]Playoff record: 9-10[/size]
[size=0pt]State championships: (0)[/size]
[size=0pt]State championship games: (1st)[/size]
[size=0pt]FEARLESS FACTS: Ables is in his fourth season as head coach at Hampton, including last year when Hampton did not field a team due to low numbers. ... Ables is a Hampton graduate and was All-State in 2002 before playing collegiately at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where he was Academic All-Gulf Coast Conference in 2007. ... A win in the championship game on Saturday would give Hampton its fifth playoff win this season, which would double their playoff win total prior to this season. ... Hampton's 13 wins this season is a single-season record, eclipsing the previous mark of 11 wins in 2001. ... The Bulldogs have played this season in memory of assistant coach, and junior high head coach, Jorre McMahan, 26, who passed away after collapsing on the practice field in September. ... Talented Monta Thomas has rushed for 1,980 yards on just 141 carries, averaging 14.0 yards per run, with 36 touchdowns. ... Thomas is one of five move-ins along with Alex Davis, Jacob Thomas, and Kevin Childs from Hermitage, and Emanuel Hegler from Watson Chapel.[/size]

[size=0pt]MOUNT IDA LIONS (13-1)[/size]
[size=0pt]Head coach: Mike White[/size]
[size=0pt](99-41 overall and in 12 years at Mount Ida)[/size]
[size=0pt]Playoff appearances: 24[/size]
[size=0pt]Playoff record: 22-22[/size]
[size=0pt]State championships: (1) 2007[/size]
[size=0pt]State championship games (2^nd)[/size]
[size=0pt]2007 defeated Bearden, 17-16[/size]
[size=0pt]FEARLESS FACTS: White is a Mount Ida graduate. ... Mount Ida is playing in just its second state championship game. ... Mount Ida won the championship in 2007, beating Bearden, 17-16, in one of the biggest upsets in state championship game history with a late field goal. ... With successive seasons of at least 10 wins for the first time in school history, this is the winningest senior class in Mount Ida history with 33 wins. ... Mount Ida's lone loss this season was to Dierks, 42-21.[/size]