ND to host scrimmage Friday

By Myra Bean

The North Delta football team will end spring practice with a jamboree Saturday at 3 p.m.

North Delta and Marvell Academy of Marvell, Ark. will brave the predicted May heat to see what each team will field the upcoming season. Lee Academy of Clarksdale and Marshall Academy will play at 1 p.m.

North Delta head coach Richard Russo reported 26 students signed up to play Green Wave football this spring.

The team held a scrimmage on Friday and Russo reported he was pleased with the effort.

The team will be led by upcoming senior quarter Jim Tyler Dalrymple. The senior class is a small one with six players.

Russo is in his second year of coaching. Along with Russo are assistant coaches Brad Wilson and Lance Thomas, who coached once before.

Assistant coach David Hardy will be working with the school’s Pee Wee baseball teams.

“The second year is always easier because the team has been in the system,” Russo said. “We are ahead of the team last year in terms of progress.”

Russo said the senior class which just graduated Friday set a solid foundation.

“Our junior class is small in numbers so I need some to step up and be vocal leaders as well as action,” Russo said.

At the end of the spring practice season, a Brandon Presley Award winner will be recognized. Russo said many did not qualify last year, but a “bunch” can win it this year.

“We have a double digits of players who can win it,” he said. “That’s a good problem to have.”

Green Wave parents will meet  with Russo tonight at 7 p.m.

Jr. High Green Wave

The junior high team played a scrimmage with  Magnolia Heights last Thursday.

“Our kids were thrown in the fire last year,” Russo said. “The seventh graders had to start out of necessity. We are light years ahead of last year’s team.”

A competition between public/private school football teams will break ground Friday when North Delta travels to Pope for a spring scrimmage.

Summer Workouts

Summer conditioning workouts began yesterday and will continue through July 31. Players have to make a minimum of 10 workouts. Reward levels are 15, 20, 25 and 30, according to Russo.

The team will attend summer camp at Mississippi State on June 1 and 2 and Millsaps July 27.

North Delta will play a summer jamboree on August 17 against a team to be announced later. The Green Wave will open the season on the road August 24 at Strider Academy in Charleston.

North Delta’s first home game will be August 31 against district foe Desoto, Ark.