It is Homecoming week at Indianola Academy and the 4-0 Colonels are hoping to add to the celebration by beginning this season’s District 1AAA competition with a victory over Kirk Academy of Grenada.
With kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. against the 1-3 Raiders, the IA squad is fresh off last week’s 37-7 road victory over Winston Academy in Louisville.
In that game the AAA top-ranked Colonels used a staunch defense and a balanced offensive attack to build their lead and earn their 18th consecutive victory.
“We played well as a team last week and the offensive line played very well against Winston’s big defensive line”, said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester.
As for the Raiders of Kirk Academy, this Friday marks the 31st meeting between these two schools, and IA owns a 21-9 series edge as well as an eight-game win streak over the team from Grenada.
Last season, the Colonels extended that streak with a 36-14 victory while the Raiders completed their 2016 campaign with a 3-7 record.
Thus far this season, Kirk Academy’s lone victory occurred in week two and came by way of a 44-0 decision over District 1A Desoto Academy of West Helena, Arkansas.
Losses have come at the hands of Heritage Academy of Columbus (46-20), Carroll Academy (14-6) and Marshall Academy of Holly Springs (35-6).
In last Friday’s victory over Winston Academy in Louisville, the Colonels struck on their opening possession as a nine-play, 67-yard drive ended with Sebastian Harris running in from one yard out.
William Barrier’s first of five PAT kicks then put IA up 7-0 barely four minutes into the contest.
It would take only five offensive plays for IA to strike again as defensive end Wesley Lester turned in an end zone tackle which resulted in a safety to give the Colonels a quick 9-0 lead.
Showing competitiveness, the Patriots promptly answered with a 20-yard touchdown pass to close that margin to a pair of points. However, this would be the final time the Winston Academy offense would find the end zone.
Answering the Winston score less than two minutes later, the Colonels used a 38- yard touchdwon pass from quarterback Will Davis to senior wide receiver T.K. Bolden to take a 16-7 lead.
Only two Winston Academy plays would then pass before linebacker Stefon Smith’s pass interception set up an IA three play, 30-yard scoring drive. Harris completed this short drive with an 18-yard sprint to the end zone.
Returning to the field to open the second half owning a 23-7 lead, the Colonels used a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Jack Dodd to set up another scoring drive.
This nine-play effort covered 46 yards and ended when Harris’ four-yard run registered his third touchdown of the evening.
The Colonels took the score to its’ final 30-point margin one play after forcing a Winston Academy punt; on this occasion, Davis and Bolden collaborated to sting the Patriots’ defense with a 75 yard touchdown play.
Offensively, the Colonels amassed 394 yards of total offense with 217 of those earned with 33 rushes into the line.
Harris was responsible for 17 of those carries which netted 142 yards and three touchdowns.
Under center, Davis completed eight of his 11 passes for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Bolden was the primary receiver and completed his night’s play with six catches for 159 yards and both TD catches.
Defensively, the Colonels limited the Patriots to 186 total yards with a near split between Winston Academy’s ground and air attacks.
While allowing only 94 yards rushing on 32 carries, the IA defense held the Patriots’ passing game to 92 yards among their 10 completions on 20 attempts.
Pacing the IA resistance was Lester, who tallied four solo tackles, eight assists, and a sack to go along with his safety.
Also active this night was DeDe Willis, who registered four solos and a pair of assists. While Dodd added a solo tackle and five assists to his fumble recovery, Josh Hill (2 solos, 4 assists) and Smith (7 assists, pass interception, fumble recovery) also played havoc with the Patriots’ offense.
