Almost a decade later, Anthony Spurling said he still recalls the rush that shook his body when, as an 8-year-old, he watched Josh Baker kick a 22-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give Mount Ida a 17-16 victory over previously unbeaten Bearden in the 2007 Class 2A state championship game.
Baker, a straight-on kicker, split the uprights at the north end of War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, the same end zone where Spurling, now a burly 6-3, 240-pound senior defensive end, made one of the biggest plays in Mount Ida's 27-26 victory over previously unbeaten Hampton in Saturday afternoon's Class 2A final.
"It just feels amazing bringing it back to the community," said Spurling, referring to the Montgomery County town of approximately 1,000. "I can't believe it. I couldn't believe it in '07, that we won. I can't believe it now."
Mount Ida (14-1) was clinging to a 21-20 lead Saturday when Hampton (13-1) was poised for the go-ahead score from point-blank range late in the third quarter.
But on third and goal from the 1, Spurling ripped the football out of the hands of senior quarterback Monta Thomas, who was being pushed toward the end zone by teammates on a sneak.
Spurling's strip and recovery at the 1 jumpstarted a 15-play, 51-yard drive that kept the dynamic Thomas (14 carries for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns) from touching the football again for almost eight minutes.
"They were about to go in, and I knew we needed a stop," Spurling said. "I thought if I could strip the ball, we would have a chance."
Spurling finished with 3 unassisted tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble.
The Lions also had 4 tackles for 18 yards in losses, including an 11-yard sack of Thomas in the second quarter.
Highlighted by Thomas' 51-yard touchdown run, the Bulldogs amassed 186 total yards in the first quarter to lead 20-7.
They finished with 355 total yards, their only points in the final three quarters coming on a 25-yard touchdown run by Thomas off a power sweep with 1:55 remaining.
Trailing 27-26, Hampton went for two points and the victory. But after rolling right, Thomas threw incomplete in the left corner of the end zone.
Spurling said he was able to get pressure off the edge, which forced Thomas to retreat and throw awkwardly from the 20.
"I was thinking they were going to run the power sweep," Spurling said.
Mount Ida Coach Michael White said a halftime adjustment was pivotal in slowing down Thomas, who, despite having four touchdowns erased because of penalties, surpassed 2,000 rushing yards this fall on his first carry of the game, a 21-yard run.
A third linebacker, senior Gunner Gilbert, moved inside over the center and acted as a spy on Thomas.
"That kid did a good job," said White, a 1993 Mount Ida graduate. "Whichever way Thomas went, he was going, too."
With Spurling watching from the stands in 2007, White led his alma mater to its first state championship in 2007. The feeling was the same for him nine years later.
"It's hard to grasp winning it again," Spurling said.
Sports on 12/11/2016