Junior tandem propels North Delta to title
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
If the names Tyler Pirtle and Taylor Morris aren’t familiar get used to hearing their names. The junior duo led third ranked North Delta to an impressive 40-19 win at Indianola last night to wrap up the Green Wave’s second consecutive District 1AA championship. Pirtle led the offensive onslaught with 156 yards through the air and 2 touchdowns and rolled up 101 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on the night. When the junior signal-caller wasn’t picking apart the Indianola defense fellow junior Taylor Morris was bursting through holes as he picked up 93 yards and a touchdown. Morris went over the 1,500 yard rushing mark in last night’s win.

Indianola got off to a shaky start as a Colonel fumble on the second play from scrimmage was recovered by North Delta’s Kyle Devazier just inside the Indianola 29 yard line.

North Delta made good on the turnover four plays later as Tyler Pirtle went in from 10 yards out to give the Green Waves a quick 6-0 start.

(Above) North Delta quarterback Tyler Pirtle hits paydirt

Indianola answered the call on their next possession. On a second and 7 from their own 46 yard line quarterback Taylor Marlow connected with Trey Roberson for a 36 yard gain to the Green Wave 18. Six plays later Marlow hit Dustin Roncali on a crossing route to cap an eight play, 57 yard drive to knot the contest at 6-6 with 6:56 left in the opening quarter.

North Delta broke the tie thirty seconds into the second quarter. Tyler Pirtle hit pay dirt from one yard out to finish off a 43 yard drive that would put the Green Waves on top for good. William Dean’s PAT gave North Delta a 13-6 lead at the 11:34 mark of the second quarter.

Indianola picked up some steam as they started a drive from their own 18 yard line with 6:39 remaining in the half. Following an eight yard pickup from tailback Dustin Roncali on the seventh play of the drive that advanced the ball to the North Delta 19 yard line the Colonels went backwards as a penalty and a big eleven yard loss due to a quarterback sacked pushed the line of scrimmage back to the Green Wave 33 yard line. Two plays later and facing a fourth and 16 Indianola decided to gamble but an incomplete pass gave North Delta possession with 1:56 left in the half.

The failed fourth down attempt proved crucial as North Delta took just three plays to cash in. Tyler Pirtle connected with Taylor Morris for a quick 18 yard pick up to the Indianola 49 yard line. Pirtle then scampered for nine yards to the Colonel 40. On the next play Pirtle hooked up with wide-out Bailey Guckert with a perfectly thrown 40 yard pass to give North Delta a 19-6 advantage with 1:09 left in the first half. William Dean’s PAT gave North Delta a 20-6 lead.

The third ranked Green Waves took a three touchdown lead to open the third quarter. Tyler Pirtle hit older brother Colby Pirtle with a 36 yard touchdown strike at the 9:44 mark to cap a six play, 75 yard drive and Dean’s PAT increased the lead to 27-6.

Indianola made things interesting as the Colonels recovered a North Delta fumble at the Green Wave 35 yard line and capitalized four plays later on a Taylor Marlow six yard touchdown strike to sophomore Ashton Knight with 6:03 left in the third quarter. Ty Smith’s PAT pulled the Colonels back to within fourteen points at 27-13.

(Above) North Delta tailback Taylor Morris

Indianola appeared to have gained some much needed momentum as the Colonel defense forced North Delta into a three and out. Indianola set up shop at their own 19 yard line and promptly advanced to midfield but on a second and 4 that momentum dried up as Taylor Morris picked off a Marlow pass at the Green Wave 42 yard line with 1:33 remaining in the third quarter.

North Delta converted on the turnover as they pushed their way to a 58 yard, ten play drive that was finished off on Tyler Pirtle’s third rushing touchdown of the night as the junior went in from two yards out on a fourth and goal to give the Green Waves a 33-13 cushion.

Indianola’s next possession would end as the prior one did. This time North Delta linebacker Will Magee intercepted a Colonel pass at the Green Wave 42 yard line and North Delta again cashed in.

This time tailback Taylor Morris would receive the honors as the junior punched it in from three yards out to cap an eight play, 58 yard effort. William Dean added the PAT to give North Delta a commanding 40-13 lead with 2:15 remaining in regulation.

Indianola finished the night on a four yard touchdown run from senior tailback Dustin Roncali at the horn.

North Delta improves to 9-1 and a perfect 4-0 in district play. The Green Waves have reeled off seven straight wins since a week three loss to Washington. After replacing 19 starters from a 2010 squad that went 10-2 and came a touchdown shy of advancing to the Class AA state championship game North Delta has established themselves as a perennial contender under the direction of head coach Dan Werner.

North Delta will enjoy an idle week before hosting Manchester in round one of the playoffs.

Indianola slips to 4-5 and 1-2 and will close the regular season on the road against district foe Carroll. A Colonel victory would nail down a wildcard position.

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Post Game with North Delta head coach Dan Werner

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