By Brad Greer

In a town known for high rollers and bright lights, North Delta hit the jackpot as the Green Wave survived a 41-27 slugfest victory over Tunica Academy Friday night.

Tyler Pirtle ran for three touchdowns and passed for another as North Delta (5-1) broke open a 25-20 halftime lead, outscoring the Blue Devils 19-7 in the second half.

Taylor Morris torched the Tunica defense for 144 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Pirtle meanwhile rushed for 121 yards and had 162 yards in the air on 8-of-13 passing on the night.

Even after the win, Green Wave head coach Dan Werner said there are some concerns that needed to be approached.

“We have issues defensively that we have to get cleaned up. I feel really good about our offense, but our defense and our kicking game is not very good right now. And everything I have learned in my coaching career is that defense and a kicking game win championships so we have got to figure out something fast,” said Werner.

North Delta gave up 294 yards of offense to the Blue Devils which included 170 yards through the air and 124 on the ground. The Wave converted on two of seven extra points in the game.

The game started with controversy on the opening kickoff as Tunica recovered an onside kick, but officials ruled the ball did not travel 10 yards thus giving the ball to North Delta on the Blue Devil 49 yard-line.

Three plays into the drive, Pirtle scrambled 38 yards into the end zone to put the Green Wave on the board 6-0 after Sam Copeland’s point after attempt was blocked.

After forcing Tunica to punt on their opening possession, the Green Wave offense went to work again by starting  on their own 12 yard line.

On the first play from scrimmage, Pirtle connected with his brother Colby on a 45-yard pass play to the Blue Devil 43. Later in the drive, Pirtle hit a wide-open Bailey Guckert for 33 yards on a 4th-and 19 from the Tunica 35. Morris scored from two yards out on the next play for a 12-0 North Delta lead with 6:28 remaining in the first quarter.

Tunica (3-2) got on the board on their series as Austin Hagstrom scored on a one-yard run to cap off a nine-play, 64-yard drive to make the score 12-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Luke Latham took the pooch kick 60 yards for a touchdown to extend the Wave lead to 18-7.

The Blue Devils answered, however as quarterback Brandon Holmes ran 49 yards up the middle on the second play from scrimmage for the score to cut North Delta’s lead, 18-13.

Pirtle scored his second touchdown of the game on a 37-yard run on the second play of the second quarter  to extend the Wave lead to 25-13 with 11:13 left in the half.

Tunica cut the margin to 25-20 as Hagstrom returned the following kickoff 77 yards to close out a wild first half of scoring.

The Blue Devils took their only lead of the game on their first series of the second half as Tyler Harris hauled in a 58-yard reception from Holmes to give the home team a 27-25 lead.

From there on out it was all North Delta as the Wave tacked on three unanswered touchdowns. Morris’ three-yard run made the score 31-27 with 6:43 left in the third. The scoring drive was set up by Sy Pritchard’s 20-yard interception return to the Tunica three-yard line.

The Pirtle-to-Pirtle connection struck again later in the quarter as the quarter back hit his older brother on a 52-yard bomb to push the lead to 37-27 at the 2:28 mark.

North Delta put the finishing touches on the game as Tyler Pirtle scored on a 19- yard run with 2:00 left in the game to complete a 18-play; 87-yard drive that chewed up 10:17 off the clock with Copeland adding the PAT.

“We played somewhat better defensively in the second half minus the touchdown pass,” said Werner.

The Green Wave rolled up 458 yards of total offense on the night including 296 on the ground. Parker Jones added three carries for 20 yards while Hunter Durham chipped in with 11 yards on four totes.

North Delta hosts No. 5 Marshall Friday night in a huge District 1-AA battle. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.