Series record: Gaston 6, Ider 2
Last meeting: 2005 Gaston 49, Ider 19
Last week: Fyffe 40, Gaston 20; North Sand Mountain 29, Ider 20
By Gene Stanley/Messenger Sports Correspondent
They say there’s nothing more fearful than a woman scorned.
But what about a high school football team expected to be one of the best in the state that has seen its fortunes slip to the point it could well not make the postseason?
That’s the situation at Ider. During the offseason, the Hornets were highly touted and thought to possibly be on the same level with Fyffe.
Now comes Week 8 of the season, and Ider has lost three region games and almost has to win out to be sure that there will be a Week 11.
“They’ve definitely got their backs against the wall,” Gaston coach Josh Averett said. “I don’t know if the situation will make them play better or anything, but it could make the coaches more willing to try some things they don’t normally do, if it’s a close game.”
Averett knows that despite the record, Ider is still a very good team and can’t be taken lightly.
Other than the three-touchdown loss to Fyffe, the Hornets have been right in every game. The loss to Section was by one point, then North Sand Mountain beat Ider by nine.
“Even with those three losses, whoever they catch in the playoffs will have to play hard to win,” Averett said. “They won’t be your typical three or four seed.”
That’s if the Hornets don’t finish out of the running, which is still possible with four teams vying for two slots.
Last week, Anthony Burns led Gaston on the ground with 150 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.