Colonels secure playoff spot
By Watson Cook
Needing a win to secure a spot in the playoffs,
the Colonels hosted Carroll Academy on Senior Night. At the end of the night,
the six seniors were celebrating a 44-8 win by dog piling on one another in the
end zone. Evan Griffin, Nathan Harris, Trey Roberson, Samuel Rose, Brandon
Spealman, and Hunt Steele all suited up in Colonel blue at Legion Field for the
final time. IA used a 22-point 4th quarter to put away the visiting
Rebels and advance to the playoffs for the fifth time in seven years under head
coach Tommy Nester.
The Colonels got on the board early, taking the
opening kickoff and driving 60 yards on 7 plays. Aided by two Carroll penalties
on the drive, IA took the lead on Ashton Knight’s 13-yard touchdown run.
Jonathan Holland connected with Hunter Vance for the 2-point conversion to give
IA an 8-0 lead just three minutes into the game. After exchanging punts, Carroll
drove inside the Colonel 10 before Wheeler Timbs intercepted a pass to end the
Rebels’ threat. IA then marched 91 yards, using only 8 plays. Dalton Sykes
stamped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and following Holland’s 2-point
pass to Timbs, the Colonels led 16-0. It appeared the rout was on after the
Rebels fumbled the kickoff. The Colonels recovered at the Carroll 41 yard line
but could not take advantage of the turnover. The Rebel defense forced a three
and out and after the punt the Rebels took over at their own 26. They would cut
the Colonel lead in half with an impressive 7-play, 74-yard drive that ended
with a 36-yard touchdown pass and catch and successful 2-point conversion. IA
led 16-8 with only 0:25 to play in the first half. Knight however, would put an
end to the Rebels’ momentum with an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown. The
2-point try failed and the Colonels took a 22-8 lead into halftime.
The third quarter passed with neither team
being able to put points on the board. That would change in the fourth quarter
as the Colonels used a 22-point outburst to blow the game open. Sykes added his
second and third touchdown of the night in a two-minute span. Following a 1-yard
touchdown run that put IA up 28-8 after a failed 2-point conversion, the
Colonels recovered another loose ball on the kickoff. Five plays later, Sykes
scampered 23 yards to the endzone. Trey Roberson added the 2-point run to give
the Colonels a 36-8 lead with 8:55 to play in the game. IA would receive another
gift from the Rebels on their next possession. Two plays into the drive, Hunt
Steele recovered a fumble at the Carroll 47. Charles Downs would put the final
points on the board for the Colonels with an 8-yard touchdown run. Downs also
added the 2-point run to give IA the 44-8 win.
With the victory, the Colonels improved to 5-5
(2-2) on the season and wrapped up the #1 wild card spot in the North half of
the AA playoffs. IA will travel to Raymond Friday, November 2 for a rematch with
the Central Hinds Cougars who earned the #1 seed from District 3. The two teams
met earlier in the season and the Cougars came out on top 13-8. The winner will
advance to the second round to play the winner of Canton-Marshall. Kickoff from
Raymond is set for 7:00.
