A huge district football victory is in the books and Homecoming is on the horizon for the Indianola Academy Colonels.
By any description, last Friday there was an old-fashioned smashmouth football game on display at Carroll Academy.
And by the end of the of the very physical 48 minutes of play, the 4-2, 1-1 Indianola Academy Colonels claimed an exciting 18-16 District 2-4A victory over the now 3-3, 0-2 Rebels.
“We played well,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester. “Our offense scored when it had to and our defense stopped them when it had to. Our kickoff coverage was the best it has been all year. It was just a good team effort against a good football team.”
En route to picking up this important district win, the Colonels participated in a game heavily prone to the bruising running attack offered by both teams. By game end, the two teams collectively ran the football 86 times into the line of scrimmage.
However, it was the bend-but-don’t-break effort by the IA defense and a pair of clutch pass receptions by Remeil Bolden which proved pivotal in the late stages of the contest.
The sophomore’s final catch, a seven yarder, saw the wide receiver get his hands under the ball during his diving effort in the end zone.
Cradling the ball to his chest, Bolden’s late fourth quarter scoring catch, along with one final defensive stand, enabled the Colonels to claim the game.
With that big district win behind them, the Colonels now turn their sights on the Kirk Academy Raiders of Grenada while Homecoming will also be celebrated on Legion Field.
However, the 4-2 Raiders will bring a strong District 1-4A team filled with hopes of spoiling the night’s festivities.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“Kirk Academy has a good team that will challenge us,” said Coach Nester. “They have two good runningbacks and a good quarterback we will have to contain.”
The Raiders’ most recent action last Friday night resulted in a 24-13 loss to Oak Hill Academy of West Point.
That loss snapped a four game win streak the Raiders had been enjoying. The Raiders’ only other loss this season was a 32-28 season-opening decision to Pillow Academy of Greenwood.
This Friday’s game marks the first time since 2018 that Kirk Academy and IA have met on a football field.
To date, IA owns a 10 game win streak over the Raiders, as well as a 24-9 series advantage over the school from Grenada.
In last Friday’s win over Carroll Academy, it was the Rebels who scored the game’s initial points.
Although a four yard run and two point conversion capped a 65 yard drive, the Carroll Academy offense would not find the end zone again until early in the fourth quarter.
In between those Carroll Academy touchdowns, the Colonels overcame an 8-0 halftime deficit to take a 12-8 lead by the end of the third period.
Scoring on the first possession of the second half, a one yard TD plunge by quarterback Cole Ferrell began IA’s third period scoring. The 24 yard scoring drive was set up after a Leland Selby 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown was called back following a penalty.
While the IA defense continued to shut down the Rebels’ offense in the third quarter, a 29 yard pass completion from Ferrell to Bolden set up the Colonels next score.
It was Selby who would race seven yards for the score to give the Colonels a narrow 12-8 lead as the game headed into the final quarter of play.
That fourth period began ominously for the Colonels as a pass interception gave the Rebels possession at IA’s 28 yard line.
Five plays later a 10 yard scoring run and a two point conversion gave Carroll Academy a 16-12 lead with 9:52 remaining to play.
However, it would be their final lead of the night.
For the Colonels would respond to the challenge on both sides of the ball to claim the game.
Using 10 plays to cover the 59 yards to the end zone, inevitably it was Bolden’s scoring catch which took the game to its final point margin.
But not before the Rebels steadily marched back down the field to IA’s 13 yard line. At this point the Colonels’ defense once again stiffened.
Ultimately, on a fourth-down-and-six situation with 1:49 remaining to play, it would be defensive back C. J. Brown’s knockdown of a Carroll Academy pass which sealed the game for the Colonels.
Offensively in this game, the Colonels rushed 26 times for 139 yards against the Rebels.
Selby picked up 88 yards with his dozen carries while Conner Roncali’s eight rushes netted another 38 yards.
Through the air, Ferrell completed eight of his 15 pass attempts for 101 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Defensively, the IA unit battled the Rebels during their 60 rushes into the line, an effort which garnered 268 yards.
Carroll Academy’s passing game was limited to one completion for a negative four yards.
Leading the resistance for IA this night were a bevy of players.
While Brayden Kimble led the way with his four solo, 13 assist night of play, Jeff Rainey was close behind with his 15 assists.
Meanwhile, Jack Jenkins (2 solos, 10 assists), Hamp Judson (1 solo, 12 assists) and Marshall Reed (1 solo, 11 assists) also made their presence known against the Rebels.
Adding 10 assists apiece were Hayes Fleming and Walker Perkins.
