By Brad Greer

Two teams on major winning streaks collide in second round play of the MAIS North AA playoffs as the North Delta School Green Wave host defending state champion River Oaks (La.) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The victor of tonight’s contest will take on the Marshall/Carrroll winner next Friday in the North AA championship game.

Both squads are coming off big wins at home last week as North Delta eased past Manchester 41-14 while River Oaks deposed of Winston Academy 50-21.

North Delta, (10-1) who is currently riding an eight-game winning streak, broke open a 21-14 early third-quarter lead against the Mavericks as Taylor Morris and quarterback Tyler Pirtle ran for two touchdowns each. Pirtle also threw for 192 yards and two scores including a 70-yard strike to his brother Colby on the first play of the game and later a 37-yard pass to Bailey Guckert.

Sy Pritchard led the Green Wave defense with seven tackles and an interception that set up a fourth quarter North Delta touchdown. Kyle Devazier chipped in with four tackles to go along with a quarterback sack and a fumble recovery.

North Delta will be without the services of junior defensive back Brett Harrington who sustained a broken right foot.

River Oaks, who will be making the long five and a half hour trip from Monroe, is 8-3 on the season and has won six games in a row which includes an undefeated record in District 3-AA play.

The Mustangs started off the season 2-3 with losses to AAA powerhouses Washington (19-7) and to Jackson Academy (29-22) on a last-second ‘Hail Mary’ play. Both of those teams will play in state championship games tonight in their respective divisions.

River Oaks’ last loss was a 35-7 setback to Natchez Trinity.

The ‘Stangs are led on offense by junior running back Alex Biedenharn who has  1,366 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns to his credit this season. Biedenharn ran for 206 yards and returned a 60-yard kickoff for a touchdown in last week’s win over Winston.

James Rockett (5’8”- 200) and junior Luke Soignier (5’10”-  225) anchor the offensive line. Junior linebacker Davis Harris (5’10”- 205) leads the team in tackles. North Delta head coach Dan Werner expects a tough hard-nose battle out of the Mustangs.

“These guys are a smash-mouth football team that will line up and come right at you. They really do not throw the ball that much. Biedenharn is alot like the kid from Simpson (Kade Eiland) he is not very big but is fast and can stop and change directions on a dime. We are just going to line up with eight and nine guys in the box and try and stop them,” said Werner.