ND Jr. High hands Delta big loss

By Angie Ledbetter

The junior high football team at North Delta added another win to its record on Thursday after downing  district rival Delta Raiders 40-8.

The first score of the night came on a 69 yard punt return by Tres Brasell with 5:33 on the clock. The Green Wave led 6-0 after the PAT failed.

With 2:57 on the clock, Bryan Nickle scored on a 42 yard quarterback keeper and the PAT by Michael Magee was good.  The Green Wave had a 13-0 lead over the Raiders at the end of the first quarter.

Chris Rodgers scored on a 45 yard run but the two point attempt failed with 5:54 in the second quarter. With 45 seconds left in the first half of the game, Jim Tom Copeland scored on a 15 yard pass from Nickle. The two point conversion was good by John Cody Dalrymple the Green Wave led 28-0 at halftime.

With less than one minute off the clock in the third quarter, Nickle scored on a 43-yard run. After the two point conversion failed the Green Wave led 34-0 at the end of the quarter.

With one minute off the clock in the fourth quarter, Rodgers scored on a 39-yard run. With seven minutes left the Green Wave was up 40-0 after the two point conversion failed again.

 The Raiders got on the scoreboard with 17 seconds left in the game when Shelby Clements scored on a 68-yard run. The Green Wave lead was cut 40-8 with the two-point conversion.

The Green Wave had 204 total yards and lost one of three fumbles.

The Raiders had 139 total yards, losing two of three fumbles.

Chase Bruce led the team with seven tackles.  Michael Magee, Jim Tom Copeland and Carson Bailey had five each. Matthew Barefoot and Kyle Devazier had four each. Will Dunlap, Nickle, and Chris Rodgers had three each.

Nickle had four carries for 81 yards with one touchdown and Rodgers had two carries for 58 yards with one touchdown.

Nickle completed two pf three passes for 41 yards with one touchdown.  Copeland had one reception for 15 yards and one touchdown. John Cody Dalrymple had one reception for 26 yards.

“Our kids are in the second year of our offensive system and they truly believe in it,” said head coach Richard Russo.  “They just went out there and executed. It’s just fun to see this team develop the way it has over the past two years.”

Rodgers said he liked being a Green Wave player better than his opponent. He had played for the Raiders last year.  

“We played hard tonight.  We started off hard in the first quarter and played hard all four quarters.  I’m proud of the team.  We stayed together tonight and we beat the Raiders,” Rodgers said.

The Green Wave Jr High will be back in action on Thursday night when they host West Memphis for the district championship. AGreen Wave win means they will clinch their district title.

Thursday night will be freshman night and eleven players will be honored before the game. They are Tres Brasell, John Cody Dalrymple, Michael Magee, Bryan Nickle, Corbin Baker, Anthony Pike, Will Dunlap, Ming Bullard, Matthew Barefoot, Catlin McArthur and Jim Tom Copeland.