An important three weeks of football begins tonight for the Indianola Academy Colonels.
For Region 2-2A competition officially begins today at 7 p.m. with a road trip to Greenville St. Joseph High School.
The matchup features the 2-4 Colonels taking on a 1-4 Fighting Irish squad.
However, today’s contest is against a St. Joseph High team holding a very misleading won-loss record.
“They have played a very tough schedule to date,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester. “They are much more talented than their record indicates.”
Like the Colonels, the Fighting Irish are hungry to get back into the win column after both teams fell in last Friday’s action.
While the Colonels were suffering a 42-0 defeat on Legion Field at the hands of now 4-2 Lee Academy of Clarksdale, the Fighting Irish dropped a 40-26 decision to 2-3 Kirk Academy of Grenada.
Despite a season-opening win over Riverfield (La.) Academy, hard times have since fallen on the Fighting Irish.
The net result has been four consecutive losses, with the other three of those coming at the hands of Bayou Academy of Cleveland, Saint Joseph Madison High, and Jackson Academy – all of whom are 4A member schools.
Tonight’s district clash between IA and St. Joe is the first time these two schools have met since the 2022 season and this series is deadlocked at four wins apiece.
However, the Fighting Irish have won the last four meetings between these two football programs.
In last Friday’s loss to Lee Academy, the Colonels found offense hard to come by against the Colts’ defense.
The Colts would go to halftime ahead by a 21-0 score and then continue to use their clock-chewing rushing attack to build on their lead in the second half of the game.
Offensively, the Colonels’ ground attack was led by Ty Killebrew’s 30 yards gained on nine carries.
Through the air, quarterback Patrick Davis completed eight of 16 passes for 45 yards.
Graham Howard and Levi Williamson recorded two receptions apiece against the Colts for 19 and 18 yards gained respectively.
Killebrew also gathered in three passes for another 11 yards of offense.
Defensively, Graham Howard paced the IA resistance with nine tackles while Guy Robinson tallied seven tackles in the game.
Rounding out the IA defensive leaders were Matthew Gary (six tackles) and Strain Howard (five tackles).
