It is time for the traditions to continue and the competition to begin.
At Indianola Academy, and for the 54th consecutive year, an IA Colonel football team is ready to begin its new season.
And for the 2023 version of an IA Colonel football team, its season will begin tonight at 7 p.m. on Legion Field against a familiar opponent.
It will be the North Delta School Green Wave of Batesville coming to town to open the season in this non-district clash.
While IA is a member of District 2-3A, the Green Wave will reside in District 1-3A this season.
According to IA Head Coach Tommy Nester, North Delta “Will spread us out and throw the ball around a lot. We are going to have to be ready for that.”
Continuing a storied series, tonight’s game with North Delta School will be the 23rd occasion these two teams have met on a football field. To date, IA owns a 13-9 advantage in this often-intense rivalry.
Last year, the Colonels extended their current win streak over the Green Wave to three games with a 28-6 victory.
That same 2022 season saw the Green Wave struggle through its worst record in eight years.
Expected to come out motivated tonight to begin an improvement on their recent history, the team from Panola County completed last season with a 3-7 record.
That won-loss mark left the Green Wave uncharacteristically missing a post-season playoff spot for the second consecutive year.
The Colonels did receive some live action last Friday night and were successful in their efforts.
Playing in a jamboree hosted by Lee Academy in Clarksdale, the Colonels defeated Marshall Academy of Holly Springs by a 12-6 score in their opening scrimmage.
Taking the field again shortly thereafter, the Colonels earned a 14-0 victory over Delta Streets Academy of Greenwood.
“Other than our first offensive and defensive series of the day, we played well on both sides of the ball”, said Coach Nester.
