Watson Cook

10/26/2011

North Delta came to Legion Field last Friday night and showed why they are a top-ranked team in AA. The Green Wave pulled away in the second half for a 40-19 win.

The game started with disaster for the IA, who took the opening kick then fumbled on their second play. North Delta recovered at the IA 28 and made the Colonels pay four plays later with a 9-yard TD run. The PAT was unsuccessful but the Green Wave had the early 6-0 lead. The Colonels, however, were able to put the fumble out of their minds and answered on the following drive. Taylor Marlow hit Dustin Roncali in the endzone from 4 yards out to cap an 8-play, 57-yard drive and tie the game 6-6. Ty Smith’s PAT was unsuccessful.

That score would hold until the second play of the second quarter when North Delta scored on a 1-yard QB keeper and took a 13-6 lead. The next possession for each team resulted in punts. IA took over at its own 18 with 6:39 left in the half and was driving to tie the game again. However, a failed 4^th down conversion at the Green Wave 32 gave North Delta the ball with 1:56 remaining. That was plenty of time for the boys from Batesville as they needed only three plays to hit paydirt again and extend their lead to 20-6. The Colonels were unable to score with the remaining 1:02 on the clock.

North Delta opened the third quarter with possession and once again extended their lead with a 36-yard pass play. With 9:44 to play, North Delta led 27-6. The Colonels though, didn’t lay down. After forcing a fumble on the next Green Wave drive and recovering at the ND 35, IA got back on the board. Ashton Knight punched it in four plays later from the 6 and Ty Smith added the PAT to pull the Colonels within 14, 27-13. However, the Colonels’ good fortune would end there as costly interceptions on the next two possessions led to Green Wave touchdowns. All of a sudden, North Delta led 40-13 with only 2:15 remaining in the game. The Colonels showed some pride though and marched down the field, scoring on the final play of the game with a Roncali 4-yard run bringing the final score to 40-19.

The loss dropped the Colonels to 4-5 on the season and 1-2 in district play. The postseason is still within grasp however, and IA will have a chance to clinch a wild card spot as they travel to Carroll Academy this Friday to take on the Rebels in the final regular season game. Kickoff from Carrollton is set for 7:00.