Following two consecutive weeks on the road, a welcome return to Legion Field will occur tonight.
Along with that return, the Indianola Academy Colonels are hoping their play on familiar turf will help garner their initial victory of the football season.
With West Memphis Christian School arriving for today’s non-district 7 p.m. kickoff, the contest will pit the 1-2 Black Knights against an 0-3 IA squad.
The Colonels saw their record fall to the current condition following last Friday’s 36-16 road loss to now 3-0 Oak Hill Academy in West Point.
“As expected, Oak Hill has a good team,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester of last week’s game. “They are big up front and physical and used those tools well.”
Meanwhile, that same night, the Arkansas-based Black Knights suffered a near-identical fate as they dropped a 37-16 decision to 2-1 Lee Academy of Clarksdale.
“West Memphis is a lot like us,” said Coach Nester. “They do have some good athletes and like to spread it out and throw the ball around. We must do a good job of tackling in open spaces to be successful tonight.”
The West Memphis squad had opened their season three weeks ago with a 22-13 win over now 1-1 Strayhorn High School.
Prior to their recent loss to Lee Academy, the Black Knights then dropped their week two game to North Delta School (1-2) of Batesville by a 32-20 margin.
Last season in West Memphis, the Colonels earned a 42-24 win over the Black Knights, who were en route to a 1-9 season.
That 2024 game was the first time the two football programs had met since 2010, and IA thus far owns a 3-0 series advantage.
In last Friday’s loss to Oak Hill Academy, the Raiders used their ground game and tenacious defense to methodically build a 20-0 halftime lead over the Colonels.
However the Colonels did record the first points scored on the Oak Hill Academy defense this year, and it was Ty Killebrew doing the initial scoring honors.
The junior running back crashed over from one yard out in the fourth quarter and then followed with a successful 2-point conversion run.
IA’s final score of the night came by way of a 7-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Patrick Davis to junior wide receiver Levi Williamson.
The pair then connected again on the 2-point conversion attempt to close out the Colonels’ scoring in the game.
Offensively, Killebrew paced IA’s ground game as he rushed 21 times for 73 yards.
Fitz Manning also found some success crashing the line as the senior fullback’s nine carries accumulated 33 yards.
Under center, Davis completed seven of his 19 pass attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Williamson paced all IA receivers in this game as his four catches picked up 51 yards of offense and a touchdown.
However, senior Graham Howard was close behind with three receptions totaling 33 yards.
Defensively, junior linebacker Nichols McCrory led the IA resistance this night with seven tackles.
Also contributing six tackles apiece were junior linebacker Blayne Fleming and sophomore defensive end Guy Robinson.
