By Brad Greer
The unofficial start of the high school football season in Panola County got underway Thursday night as North Delta School hosted the MAIS District 1-AAA Jamboree.
The Green Wave opened the first of six regularly scheduled games that each featured a 20-minute running clock with a 14-0 win over Lee Academy before downing Kirk 14-6 to close out the session.
North Delta-14 Lee-0
Senior quarterback Will Kidder tossed a pair of scoring passes to John Haga Lewis and Tyler Holland as the Green Wave found the endzone on their first two possessions.
The Green Wave defense set up the first score as Luke Noah recovered a Lee fumble at the Colt 18 on the game’s initial play from scrimmage. North Delta quickly capitalized off the turnover as Kidder zipped a 18-yard slant pattern to Lewis  for a quick 7-0 lead following Hudson Parnell’s successful point after attempt.
After holding Lee’s offense to a quick three-and-out on their second series, North Delta’s offense went to work again, marching 55 yards on seven plays capped off by a 13- yard hookup from Kidder to Holland on fourth down. Parnell then drilled the PAT for a 14-0 Green Wave lead at the 10:50 mark.
Both teams then exchanged punts to end the contest.
Kidder connected on 5-of-7 passing for 70 yards and one carry for three yards. Holland led the receiving corps with two catches for 32 yards while Kaleb Joyner and Luke Daniels added one reception for 13 and 7 yards.
Drew McCool garnered three solo stops and two assists to lead the North Delta defense. J.T.Stennett collected two stops while Dalton Cook, C.J. Bickerstaff and Christopher Williamson added one tackle each.
North Delta-14 Kirk-6
The Wave ended the jamboree just as they started by finding the endzone on its first two series.
North Delta took the opening drive and marched 80 yards on five plays to grab a 7-0 lead as Kidder connected with Holland on a 15-yard screen pass. Joyner set up the scoring drive with runs of 40 and 12 yards.
The Green Wave defense once again set up a score as L.J.Mills pounced on a Kirk fumble on the Raider 24-yard line. Three plays later, Joyner scampered 12 yards to paydirt at the 10:30 mark. Parnell added the PAT to increase North Delta’s margin to 14-0.
Kirk avoided the shutout on Holland Bailey’s six-yard run in the final minute only to miss the point after.
Joyner led the Green Wave ground game with three carries for 64 yards while Kidder completed three passes for 35 yards. Lewis grabbed two receptions for 20 yards. Senior linebacker Jones Montgomery came up with the big defensive play of the night with a 25-yard interception return.
Afterwards, North Delta head coach Brandon Ciaramitaro talked about his team’s performance.
“Our objective tonight was to fill in some blanks we were looking to fill and pretty much succeeded on that part. I think we addressed some issues we had and I thought our guys played with tremendous focus and executed what we ask them to do and did that with very few minor mistakes,” said Ciaramitaro.
One question mark leading into this season was at offensive line where the Wave returned only two starters, but Ciaramitaro was pleased on the outcome
“We are starting three sophomores, a junior and senior up front and those were some concerns there but those guys stepped up to their potential  tonight. I thought they played better in last week’s scrimmage and that is the whole agenda is to get better every time they step on the field. There is going to be a lot of learning and teaching they have got to do but their coming along and hopefully jell as the season goes on,” said Ciaramitaro.
North Delta opens the 2016 season Friday night on the road at West Memphis Christian.