Watson Cook

10/3/2011

Indianola Academy ended a three game skid with authority last Friday in Yazoo City. The Colonels took out weeks of frustration by running all over the Manchester Academy Mavericks and getting back in the win column with a 37-26 victory.

IA got off to a fast start, taking the opening kick and going 73 yards on 7 plays. Two seniors hooked up for the score as QB Taylor Marlow hit WR Luke Hargett in the endzone from 19 yards out to give the Colonels a 6-0 lead (PAT unsuccessful). The remainder of the first quarter saw the two teams exchange punts as neither was able to put points on the board.

The Mavericks struck first in the second quarter, scoring with 9:36 on the clock and took their first and only lead of the night at 7-6. IA responded less than a minute later, needing only 3 plays to go 60 yards. Senior RB Dustin Roncali punched it in from the 3 giving the Colonels a lead they would never relinquish. IA led 12-6 (PAT unsuccessful) at the 8:40 mark. The Colonel defense forced a punt on the following Maverick possession. The snap sailed over the punter’s head and IA was able to take over at the M 16. Marlow would find Hargett open in the endzone again on the first play of the drive and the Colonels quickly extended their lead to 18-7 (PAT unsuccessful). Sophomore LB Michael Sykes came up with a huge play on Manchester’s next drive, stripping the ball carrier and returning it to the C 44. Four plays later the Colonels found themselves on the board again following sophomore RB Ashton Knight’s 5 yard TD run. After another unsuccessful PAT, IA led 24-7 with 3:56 to play in the half, and took a 24-14 lead into the locker room.

IA couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second half. The Mavericks fumbled on their second play, giving the Colonels a short field at the M 32. Promptly taking advantage, Roncali scored three plays later, taking it in from the 1 yard line. Ty Smith added the PAT to put the Colonels up 31-14. Neither team would score again until the 6:17 mark in the fourth quarter when Knight scored his second TD with a 3 yard run, capping a 2 play, 76 yard drive. The Colonels, leading 37-14 at that point, would give up 2 late touchdowns but held on for the 37-26 win.

IA improved to 3-4 while Manchester fell to 5-2. An open date is up next for the Colonels. They will return to action October 14, hosting Kirk Academy for Homecoming. Kickoff from Legion Field is set for 7:30.