There will be much activity occurring on Legion Field tonight.
In addition to Indianola Academy celebrating Homecoming by presenting the 2023 Queen and her maids, there will be a challenging football game to be played.
Arriving at Legion Field to serve as the football competition for the IA Colonels will be an undefeated Kirk Academy Raiders squad from Grenada.
With kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., the 0-6, 0-2 Colonels will attempt to spoil the Raiders’ 6-0 record in front of an expected large crowd of supporters.
In both teams’ recent action last Friday night, the Colonels were still left wanting their first win of the season after dropping a 26-0 decision to Marshall Academy in Holly Springs.
Meanwhile, the Raiders kept their record spotless by escaping Carrollton with a 36-33 victory over Carroll Academy.
“Kirk Academy has some really good skilled players”, said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester.
“They are having a good year but hopefully we’ll step up to the challenge,” he continued.
While the Raiders can be expected to come to town wanting to extend their six-game win streak, their season-opening run of six victories currently in hand is the first by a Kirk Academy team since the 1996 season.
The IA-Kirk series has been a long-running match-up and IA owns a 12-game win streak as well as a commanding 26-9 won-loss record over the Raiders.
That IA win streak was extended last season when the Colonels claimed a 41-10 victory. The Raiders completed that 2022 season with a 1-9 record.
In last Friday’s road loss to now 3-3 Marshall Academy, the Colonels’ inability to find the endzone against the Patriots’ defense hampered the night’s play.
Meanwhile, the Patriots would eventually take a 20-0 lead to the dressing room at halftime.
One final touchdown by the Marshall Academy offense in the fourth quarter then took the score to its final margin leaving the Colonels to suffer the loss.
Offensively, the Colonels rushed 32 times for 102 yards and Abel Williamson led this effort with his 63 yards earned on 18 carries.
Through the air, quarterback Lawson Zepponi completed three of his 15 pass attempts for 49 yards.
EJ Hall’s one reception for 30 yards paced the IA passing attack.
Defensively, the IA resistance was led by Walker Perkins’ eight solo and two assists night of play.
While Williamson registered five solos and four assists, Carson Miller was close behind with his five solos and two assists performance.
Also adding four solo tackles and two assists was Matthew Gary while Graham Howard completed the game with two solos, four assists, and a pass breakup.
