Will the Indianola Academy Colonels football team make it three wins in a row?
The answer to that question will play out this Friday night at Winston Academy in Louisville.
With kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., this Friday’s District 2-4A match-up will pit two teams owning identical 4-4 overall records.
Also, both of these teams are looking to record their first district victory of the year. While the Colonels sport a 0-2 district mark, the Patriots will bring a 0-1 record into the game.
Last Friday, the Colonels picked up their second consecutive win with a 28-6 Legion Field decision over the North Delta School Green Wave from Batesville.
“I thought we played pretty well last Friday night,” said IA Head Coach Tommy Nester. “Our defense in particular played well after North Delta scored their touchdown.”
Meanwhile that same night, Winston Academy rebounded back into the win column by way of a 45-13 thrashing of Wayne Academy of Waynesboro.
“Winston Academy has a very talented ball team. They had a rough start to the year but are playing well right now,” said Coach Nester. “They have a large roster of players (50) and are pretty physical. This will be a good challenge for our kids.”
Winston Academy began this season with three straight losses, but has since won four of their last five games played.
Last season, the Patriots defeated the Colonels by a 27-14 score which helped Winston Academy accumulate a final 6-5 record.
Historically, the Patriots own a 5-3 series advantage over the Colonels.
In last Friday’s win over North Delta School, the Colonels spotted the Green Wave a 61-yard touchdown run on the second play of their first possession. However, the Colonels then closed the door on the North Delta School offense the remainder of the game.
The Colonels would take a permanent lead with 8:57 left in the first half of the game, and the defense supplied what proved to be all of the points necessary to claim the game.
For it was defensive back Abel Williamson who picked off the first of his two pass interceptions of the night and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown.
Jaeho Seo then booted the first of his four PAT kicks of the night and IA owned a 7-6 lead.
It would then take the Colonels less than four minutes to score again.
Following a North Delta punt, two plays later running back Conner Roncali skirted the right side on a toss sweep and raced 48 yards for a touchdown.
This 14-6 score would stand throughout the first half of play.
The Colonels would add a Hayes Fleming 16-yard touchdown run on the Colonels’ second possession of the third quarter to improve IA’s lead to a 21-6 margin.
Roncali would provide the final TD of the night when he ran untouched through a large hole in the line.
When all was said and done, the senior sped 51 yards to pay dirt as the score moved to its final 28-6 mark.
Offensively, the Colonels rushed 40 times for 210 yards against the North Delta School defense.
Roncali led this portion of IA’s attack as his 15 carries netted 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In the passing game, quarterback Lawson Zepponi completed two of eight attempts for 38 yards.
Ramiel Bolden would pull in both of those passes.
Defensively, Walker Perkins turned in a stellar performance as he accumulated two solo tackles while also registering 12 assists and a quarterback sack.
Parker Lovett also notched a pair of solo tackles while adding a sack to his six assists.
Meanwhile, Roncali (1 solo, 6 assists, 2 sacks) and Williamson (7 assists, 2 interceptions) emerged as defensive leaders in this game.
