Round one of the State AAA Playoffs is now complete for the Indianola Academy football team.
However, a serious challenge presents itself in round two this Friday when the Bayou Academy Colts of Cleveland come to Legion Field.
Kickoff for this contest against the familiar and very formidable opponent is scheduled for 7 p.m.
According to IA Head Coach Tommy Nester, “Bayou is a very good football team. They have good skill people, and a big line which is physical on both sides of the football. It is going to be a tough game.”
Following last Friday’s 42-12 dismantling of Park Place Christian School of Pearl, the now 10-1 Colonels will take on a 7-4 Bayou Academy team - much better than their record indicates - a team on a mission to derail the IA squad’s chances of reaching their fourth consecutive state championship game appearance.
In their most recent action last week, Bayou Academy reached this Friday’s second round action with a 35-26 playoff victory over Columbia Academy.
This is the second meeting between IA and Bayou this season and the Colts will bring their impressive potent offensive attack back to Legion Field where they hope to avenge their 42-24 loss to the Colonels suffered only three weeks ago.
In that game, the Colonels parlayed six Bayou Academy turnovers into five touchdowns to help fuel that victory.
That ability to convert another team’s mistakes paid off again for the Colonels last Friday night as they turned two blocked punts, one pass interception, and one fumble recovery into four of the six touchdowns recorded against the Park Place Christian School squad.
Seeing their season end with a 4-7 record, the Crusaders’ defense would also fall prey to a pair of IA offensive drives which covered 67 and 59 yards.
Opening the game’s scoring with that 67-yard drive, the Colonels used a dozen rushes to cover the distance to the end zone. Led by the IA offensive line, the drive ended with the first of Wesley Lester’s four touchdowns scored in this game. Lester would not only score on the ground and through the air, but also on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage.
This initial IA scoring run covered two yards, and with the first of six PAT kicks by Spencer Roberson, the Colonels owned a 7-0 lead which stood the remainder of the first quarter.
However, the Colonels would post 28 points on the scoreboard in the second quarter and the scoring eruption began with a pair of blocked punts by the IA special teams.
Remarkably, the first blocked punt was recorded by Josh Hill and would come only one play after the linebacker turned in back-to-back sacks of the Park Place quarterback.
It would then take the IA offense only five plays to find the end zone as quarterback Will Davis connected with Lester on a 30-yard pass play.
Following the ensuing kickoff, the Colonels used only four plays to score again. On this occasion it was senior Stefon Smith blocking the Crusaders’ punt which sophomore Ashton Powell picked up and rambled nine yards into the end zone.
Although the Colonels would surrender a 43 yard fumble recovery return for a touchdown to the Park Place defense, their 35-6 halftime lead would be reached over the remainder of the second period.
Beginning with a seven play, 59-yard drive to the end zone, Lester burst seven yards through a large hole provided by his offensive line to cap the possession.
On the very next Park Place offensive possession, a DeDe Willis pass interception led one play later to a Davis to Randy Kimble 16 yard scoring pass.
IA’s final score of the game occurred when a jarring tackle by Smith separated the ball from the Park Place runner. Picking up the loose ball, it was Lester who once again found the end zone in the third quarter with his 75 yard return of this Crusader fumble.
Offensively in this game, the Colonels rushed 25 times for 189 yards and Lester paced this ground attack with his 119 yards earned on 14 rushes.
Through the air, Davis completed six of his dozen passes for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Kimble’s two catches netted 26 yards and a TD while Lester’s lone reception was his 30 yard score.
Also pulling in one catch for 13 yards was Thomas Putnam.
Defensively the Colonels allowed the Crusaders to muster only 86 yards on 36 carries. Meanwhile, their passing attack saw them complete five of 14 pass attempts for another 56 yards.
Leading the defensive effort this night was Smith who completed the game with six solo tackles, three assists, a blocked punt, and a forced fumble.
Also turning in a strong game was Woods Toler (5 solos, 1 assist, knocked down pass).
Contributing four solo tackles apiece to the IA effort were Brandon Brown, Lester, Eli Lipsey, and Ashton Powell.
