Their streak remains alive and for the 10th consecutive year, the Indianola Academy Colonels are in the playoffs.
However, there is a very formidable task awaiting this IA football team.
For at 7 p.m. this Friday, the Colonels will be at Carroll Academy in Carrollton for their opening game of the 4A State Playoffs.
In this second meeting of the year between these teams with identical 6-4 records, the Rebels are the No. 8 seed in 4A competition while the Colonels come in as the No. 9 seed.
It was just five weeks ago on the Carroll Academy field when this pair of District 2-4A teams last met. On that night it was IA escaping with an exciting and physical 18-16 victory.
“We know Carroll Academy has a good football team. They come right at you and are physical,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester.
“We have a big challenge to open postseason but we have a good ballclub too. I am expecting the kids to rise to the challenge. It should be a great football game,” he continued.
The Carroll Academy Rebels won their final game of the regular season last Friday night with an impressive 30-14 decision over Winston Academy of Louisville.
The winner of this Friday’s opening playoff game will then move on to November 5 second round action.
Waiting to see who will come to their field following this IA-Carroll game is No. 1 seed and District 2-4A champion Greenville St. Joseph High School.
The Irish are enjoying a first round bye this week.
Meanwhile, last Friday the Colonels suffered an unexpected 20-14 loss to 3A member Central Holmes Christian School (4-5) in Lexington.
The game began on a positive note for the Colonels as they raced to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Unfortunately the seemingly ever-present turnover bug would strike the Colonels again, as a pair of second period IA fumbles aided in turning the game around for the opportunistic Trojans.
With momentum swung to their bench, the CHCS offense took advantage of both opportunities with subsequent touchdowns.
The turnaround resulted in IA owning a narrow 14-12 when the first half of play came to an end.
However, those points would be all the Colonels could muster against the Trojan defense the balance of the night.
Hauntingly, IA would come up scoreless following a pair of second half possessions inside the Central Holmes 10 yard line.
Meanwhile, the Trojans used a 75 yard third period run and two point conversion to take the score to its final margin.
The Colonels scored their first touchdown of the night in the first period when Conner Roncali completed a four play, 55 yard drive with a five yard run to paydirt.
Striking again early in the second quarter, it was running back Leland Selby racing 56 yards for a touchdown. Wade Lang’s second PAT kick of the night gave IA its early 14-0 lead.
Offensively in this game, the Colonels rushed 25 times for 226 yards against the Trojans.
Selby’s 14 carries netted 134 yards while Roncali’s 11 efforts added another 92 yards of offense to the cause.
Through the air, the Colonels were unable to mount an attack as six pass attempts fell incomplete.
Defensively, the Trojans rushed 50 times for 239 yards against the Colonels.
Another 88 yards of offense was earned with three completions among their eight pass attempts.
Defensive end Brayden Kimble led IA on defense as the senior recorded two solo tackles, 13 assists, and a quarterback sack.
Close behind was Hayes Fleming with five solos and 11 assists.
Also turning in noteworthy performances were Walker Perkins (1 solo, 11 assists, sack) and Hamp Judson (6 solos, 8 assists).
