It was a football game that for three quarters was closer than the score indicated.
However, when all was said and done, the Indianola Academy Colonels opened its 2025 season with a 38-20 loss last Friday to visiting Canton Academy.
“We struggled early but battled back,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester. “The kids played hard, and we were in it till late in the game.”
Indeed, the Colonels entered the fourth period of the game facing a narrow 24-20 deficit.
However, the Panthers would post two touchdowns in that final quarter to take the game to its final score.
With that game in the books, today the Colonels will now take the first of two consecutive road trips which are next up on their schedule.
Tonight’s competition will be the Winona Christian School Stars, a squad which opened their 2025 campaign last Friday with a 45-18 decision over Regents School of Oxford.
Today’s kickoff against the Division 3-2A Stars is set for 7 p.m.
Per Coach Nester, “Winona is big up front, and they like to pound you with their ground game. They can also throw the ball well; they are just a good team.”
Winona Christian School is coming into this season following a successful 2024 campaign which saw them accumulate a 9-2 record.
Two of those victories were over IA; the first a 40-7 victory over the Colonels in the regular season.
The Stars then defeated IA in the 2024 playoffs by a 42-21 margin.
However, that season would come to an end for the Stars in the second round of the 3A playoffs.
Historically, although IA owns a 9-4 series advantage against Winona Christian School, the Stars are enjoying a three-game win streak over the Colonels.
In last week’s loss to Canton Academy, the first half ended with the Panthers owning a 21-14 lead at halftime.
As previously noted, however, fourth quarter scoring by the Panthers would take the game to its final 18-point margin of victory.
The touchdown scoring for IA in this game was achieved by a trio of players representing three different grades.
While senior fullback Fitz Manning recorded a 28-yard touchdown run against the Panthers’ defense, junior running back Ty Killebrew followed by crashing over the goal line from one yard away.
Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Patrick Davis scampered his way into the end zone from 10-yards out.
