By Myra Bean
It may have been a blowout administered by North Delta, but the 54-7 win over West Memphis was a welcomed relief for head coach Brandon Ciaramitaro and the Green Wave team.
Coming off a 3-8 season, the Green Wave held nothing back as they racked up 494 total yards and held the Knights to 67 total yards.

“I tell you what, we needed this win,” fourth year coach Ciaramitaro said. “Last year was a rough year. There were a lot of growing pains with a lot of young players. We really needed this tonight. Hats off to our guys for how hard they played and how well they executed.”

The Green Wave struck from the opening possession. North Delta got the opening kickoff on the Knights’ 49. Junior starting quarterback Will Kidder pitched the ball out to sophomore running back Kaleb Joyner who took the ball the distance on the right side for the touchdown with 11:41 on the clock. Hudson Parnell’s PAT gave the Green Wave a 7-0 lead.

The Green Wave took a 28-0 lead into the second quarter on an 18-yard touchdown reception by Bailey Ross, a 10-yard run by Kidder and a 55-yard run by Joyner. Parnell kicked all three PATs.

West Memphis tried to get something going, but the Green Wave defense of Jones Montgomery, Hunter Baker, Michael Prine, Austin Pointer, Matt Burchfield and Baker West was in the backfield all night and held the Knights to zero rushing yards on the night.

In the second quarter, Dennis King was on the receiving end of a 50-yard pass touchdown with 11:35 left in the quarter for the 34-0 lead as the PAT fell.

The Green Wave scored two more runs in the quarter, a one-yard run by Kidder and a 21-yard run by West for the 47-0 lead after the PAT.

With 2:19 left in the half, play was halted due to lightning strikes in the area. When the game resumed 30 minutes later, that delay was counted as the halftime. Because of the big lead, a running block was initiated in the second half.

West Memphis finally got on the board on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 7:35 left on the third quarter clock. The PAT cut the lead to 47-7.

North Delta employed its second team to take over the game in the second half and there were some miscommunication problems on the field which caused Ciaramitaro to call a timeout. That second group was to give the young players the opportunity to get some game experience, according to Ciaramitaro.

“You want to get the young guys in when you have the opportunity because it’s about growing your team,” he said. “If you constantly play your starters and your “A” team guys the future will be rough on you. Anytime you get the opportunity play your “B” team guys, get those guys in there, who work just as hard, you do the best you can do.”

The last touchdown of the night came from the second group on a 17-yard run by West with 9:15 left in the game. After missing two PATs, Parnell nailed the last one for the final 54-7 score.
Kidder completed seven of nine pass attempts for 165 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 80 yards on six carries and scored two touchdowns as the leading rusher.

King was the leading receiver with 72 yards on three catches and one touchdown.

Other rushers include West, 75 yards, eight carries, two touchdowns; Joyner, 74 yards, three carries, one touchdown; Joseph Wright, 58 yards, three carries; Hunter Baker, 23 yards, one carry; and Cole DeVazier, seven yards, one carry.

Other receivers are Joyner, 49 yards, one reception, one touchdown; Ross, one catch, 18 yards, one touchdown; and John Haga Lewis, six yards, one reception.

With this great start to the season, North Delta is in for a challenge Friday when they travel to Senatobia to take on rival Magnolia Heights who lost to Lee Academy Friday night. Ciaramitaro said the Green Wave will be in for more of a physical game with the Chiefs than they had with West Memphis.

“We didn’t face a physical football team tonight so we’re really going to be tested in that regard,” he said. “They are big up front. They block well. They play with the football in front of them.

Coach Young and Coach Bouchillon do such a good job with the Chiefs. It’s always a big time game with them since they are right up the road. Our kids like the matchup. We are just excited about the challenge. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Kickoff Friday night is 7 p.m.