Benton coming to Legion Field for first round tomorrow
Postseason football play for the Indianola Academy Colonels is now set to begin.
And within that scenario, the odds are strong that this Friday night’s football game could be this season’s final Legion Field appearance by the IA football team.
However, this does not mean it would also be the Colonels’ final game of the 2020 campaign - as long as they win.
To get their 3A state playoff competition started, the 6-4 Colonels will play host to the 5-5 Benton Academy Raiders. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
According to IA Head Coach Tommy Nester, “Benton Academy is a good football team. They still have a good quarterback, running back, and a couple of good wide receivers. It is hard to beat a team twice in one year. We’ll have to come ready to play.”
Four weeks ago, the Colonels claimed a 31-12 Homecoming decision over the Raiders.
This Friday night’s game marks the ninth consecutive season an IA football team has reached postseason play. Additionally, the Colonels are chasing their sixth consecutive appearance in a state championship game.
Should the IA squad claim the victory over Benton Academy this week, the Colonels will move on to their second round of postseason play.
That November 6 contest will take place at Greenville Christian School. The number two seeded and District 4-3A champion Saints are idle this week after drawing a bye in this opening round of playoff competition.
Meanwhile, this Friday night will pit the seventh seeded Colonels against the tenth seeded Benton Academy squad.
In both teams’ most recent play last week, the Colonels earned a COVID generated forfeit win over Canton Academy. Meanwhile, the Raiders dropped a narrow 28-20 decision to 5A member Park Place Christian Academy of Pearl.
The Colonels and the Raiders are both members of District 2-3A and historically, Benton Academy is winless against Indianola Academy. The Colonels own a 4-0 record in the two teams’ brief history.
