It is now a fact, for the sixth consecutive season the Indianola Academy Colonels are district champions.
In clinching the District 1AAA crown with last Friday night’s 42-24 win over visiting Bayou Academy of Cleveland, the 8-1, 3-0 Colonels opportunistically converted five of the Colts’ six turnovers into touchdowns to fuel this latest victory.
“It was a good ballgame against a good ballclub,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester, who observed the key to the game was “We didn’t turn the ball over in the second half but took advantage of their mistakes.”
With that title now cemented into the record books, the IA squad is also only one victory away from going undefeated in district play for six consecutive seasons.
This recent accomplishment additionally grants the Colonels home field advantage in their upcoming Oct. 26 opening night of the AAA State Playoffs.
With one game remaining to play, serving as the Colonels’ opponent on Legion Field this Friday night will be Lee Academy of Clarksdale. This team of Colts seems to have found its stride as it is bringing a 4-4, 2-1 record along with their two game win streak.
“Lee Academy will bring a competitive football team to the field,” said Coach Nester, “and we will have to take care of business to win this game.”
Kickoff for this final regular season game is slated for 7 p.m.
In both teams’ recent action, while IA was earning their 44th consecutive Legion Field victory last Friday night over the now 5-4, 2-1 Bayou Academy squad, the Clarksdale team was handing Kirk Academy of Grenada a 34-0 loss.
In last Friday’s victory over Bayou Academy, the Colonels and the Colts initially battled to a 14-14 halftime deadlock.
Beginning strongly, the Colts opened the game with a 15-yard touchdown pass on their first possession of the game.
However, the Colts’ early 7-0 lead was their last of the night as their four interceptions and two fumbles would haunt them throughout the game.
With IA linebacker Wesley Lester picking off the first of those wayward passes, the senior sprinted 27 yards to take the score to a 7-7 mark after one quarter of play.
Following Spencer Roberson’s first of six PAT kicks, the Colonels struck again almost midway through the second period.
On this occasion, it was linebacker Stefon Smith leaping to catch a Bayou Academy pass which was batted high into the air by hard-charging defensive end Ashton Powell.
Setting up at the Bayou Academy 15 yard line, the IA offense only needed three plays to score as quarterback Will Davis followed his line 10 yards up the middle to give IA a 14-7 lead.
However, a lost fumble at their own 33 yard line would minutes later cost the Colonels as the Colts used a 28-yard scoring pass to deadlock the game at 14 points apiece.
In the third period, it was a clutch pass interception by Woods Toler which began to open IA’s scoring door.
Additionally, at this same point in the game, the IA offensive line began to assert itself over the Bayou Academy defense. Moments later this effort allowed Davis to score the second of three TDs with a one yard plunge.
Although the Colts answered on their next possession with their field goal to take the game to a 21-17 margin after three periods of play, the momentum swung dramatically in IA’s favor in the fourth quarter.
That change began on the first offensive play of that final period when a fumble recovery by Smith gave IA the ball at the Colts’ 30 yard line.
Following his offensive line, Lester then breached the Colts’ defense on six consecutive carries which led to Davis’ 3-yard TD to earn IA a 28-17 lead.
After IA then forced an over on downs out of the Bayou Academy offense, it would require only five plays to find the end zone again. Lester’s 2-yard scoring run completed this 28-yard drive.
The Colonels increased their lead further just over two minutes later when cornerback Randy Kimble jumped high for a pass interception roughly 2 yards deep in his own end zone.
However, following a wrestling match for the ball, the senior raced goal line to goal line to record IA’s final touchdown of the game.
Offensively, the Colonels’ ground game amassed 191 yards on 44 carries with Lester leading the way as his 26 rushes generated 128 yards.
Through the air, Davis completed four of his seven passes for 78 yards.
With four different receivers catching a pass, Kimble’s 32-yarder led the way while Thomas Putnam moved the chains with a 26-yard grab. Lester and James Hill added 14 and 6 yards respectively with their one catch apiece.
Defensively, DeDe Willis paced IA’s efforts with eight solo tackles and one assist.
However, Lester turned in 7 solo tackles and 1 assist to go along with his pass interception returned for a touchdown.
Smith also had 6 solos, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 interception while Ashton Powell turned in a 6 solo, 3 assist night of play.
