The wait for victory is now over.
After picking up their first win of the football season on their home field last Friday night, the Indianola Academy Colonels are hoping a road trip today will bring yet another victory.
In last Friday’s win on Legion Field, the 1-3 Colonels sent the Thunderbirds of West Memphis Christian School (1-3) back to Arkansas nursing a 35-14 loss.
In that game, the Colonels took control early, amassing a 21-0 first period lead and then moving on to their victory.
As for today’s road trip, the IA squad will travel to Yazoo City to take on the Mavericks of Manchester Academy.
With kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., the Colonels will take on an 0-3 Mavericks squad which last week enjoyed an open date.
It has thus far been a tough season for the Manchester Academy squad on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
In addition to not having scored a single point in their three games played, the Mavericks’ defense is giving up an average of 43 points per outing.
As for common opponents played, in their opening game of the season the Mavericks dropped a 43-0 decision to Oak Hill Academy of West Point.
The Colonels also fell to those same undefeated Raiders two weeks ago, by a 36-16 margin.
The Mavericks, members of District 4-2A, last season suffered through a 1-9 record.
Manchester Academy and IA did not play last year, but in 2023 the Colonels extended their win streak over the Mavericks to 11 games.
Historically, IA owns a 22-9 series advantage over the school from Yazoo City.
Meanwhile, in last Friday’s victory over West Memphis Christian School, the Colonels scored on their opening drive of the game when Graham Howard crossed the goal line from eight yards away.
Patrick Davis then kicked the first of five PAT kicks to give the Colonels an early 7-0 lead.
The Colonels quickly struck again following a blocked punt by sophomore B.J. Thomas.
On this occasion, the IA offense took advantage of the opportunity and sent senior fullback Fitz Manning on his way to a 30-yard run to the end zone.
Moments later, the score moved to a 21-0 margin after Graham Howard gathered in a Black Knights punt and followed blockers en route to a 49-yard touchdown run.
The Colonels continued to keep the offensive pressure on the West Memphis defense in the second quarter. It would be a 59-yard touchdown pass from Davis to wide receiver Levi Williamson, a throw and catch which ultimately gave the Colonels a 28-0 halftime lead.
While IA tallied one more touchdown in the second half of the game by way of a Ty Killebrew nine-yard run, the Black Knights posted their points on the board late in the game.
Offensively, Killebrew paced the IA ground game as his 18 rushes accumulated 124 yards and a touchdown.
Manning’s five rushes also added 40 yards and a touchdown from his fullback position.
Under center, Davis completed two of his six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore also rushed four times for another 40 yards of offense.
Williamson’s 59-yard touchdown catch accounted for almost all the receiving yards earned in this game.
Defensively, senior Matthew Gary was a force in his first game back from injury as the linebacker posted seven tackles, two of which were quarterback sacks.
Also registering seven tackles was Graham Howard, a number which included two tackles for loss.
