By Brad Greer

Two of the top teams in Academy North AA football clash tonight as the No. 3 ranked North Delta Green Wave  host the River Oaks Mustangs of Monroe, La. in round two of the MAIS State playoffs beginning at 7 p.m. Tonight’s winner will advance to next week’s North State championship game against the Indianola/Marshall matchup

Neither team is a stranger to the other as tonight’s contest is a rematch of last year’s second round game in which River Oaks edged North Delta 29-27 on their way to the State AA championship game where they lost to Simpson Academy.

While revenge is not on their minds, North Delta head coach Brandon Ciaramitaro said his squad is excited about getting another chance at the Mustangs.

“I would not call it a payback game but they took something from us  last year that we worked so hard for. The one thing that those guys have is experience playing in the big game. They have been there before and they know what it takes to get to that championship level. To us they are just another opponent we have to get through to reach our ultimate goal,” said Ciaramitaro.

River Oaks comes into tonight’s  game as the District 3-runner-up while sporting a 6-5 record. The Mustangs defeated Leake in a 46-39 shootout last week. North Delta meanwhile eased past Oak Hill 42-14 in their opening-round contest.

The Mustangs are led by quarterback Brendon MacGregor (5’9”- 145) and  speedy senior running back Alex Biedenharn (5’9”- 175). MacGregor has rushed for 394 yards and four touchdowns on the year while passing for 656 yards and 12 touchdowns.

MacGregor’s highlight reel came earlier in the year as the sophomore tossed six touchdowns and ran for three more in a 82-69 loss to Glenbrook, La.

 Biedanharn meanwhile was been  widely considered one of the  top running backs in Class AA by rushing for 1,206 yards on 95 carries and 10 touchdowns in only six games.

“They had some injuries early in the year but are getting healthy as of right now and probably playing their best football. Biedanharn reminds me of (Marshall’s) Dakota Dailey but faster if that tells you something,” said Ciaramitaro.

Senior defensive back Jordan Sutton (5’8”- 150) leads the team with 69 tackles and two interceptions while sophomore free safety Taylor Tindall (5’10”- 135) is second on the team with 47 stops.

The Mustang defense will have its hands full trying to slow down the potent offensive backfield of North Delta’s Taylor Morris, Austin Hagstrom and Tyler Pirtle. The senior trio has combined for  2,777 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns on the year.

Morris leads the group with 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns while Hagstrom has 878 yards and 12 scores to go along with 19 catches for 538 yards and four touchdowns.

Pirtle is 35-of-63 passing on the season for 686 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 854 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games.

The Green Wave defensive unit includes down linemen Sam Copeland, Bradley Booth, Parker Jones and Tyler Hardin with Morris, Will Magee, Hunter Pitcher and Bailey Sullivant at linebackers.

Tyler Beard and William Dean hold down the corner slots while Brett Harrington mans the safety position.