Though winners, coach not very pleased with ND performance

By Angie Ledbetter

The North Delta Varsity football team hosted a scrimmage game on Saturday, May 19 against Marvell, Ark. The Green Wave dressed out 26 players, including seven seniors.

The Green Wave performed behind the leadership of second-year quarterback upcoming senior J.T. Dalrymple.

Other returning seniors include Josh Garrott, Seth Barnett, Don Phelps and Andy Barns. Added to the senior list this year are Devin Maples and Miguel Reyes.

In the scrimmage, Dalrymple scored on a quarterback keeper and kicked the PAT for the 7-0 lead in overtime.

In an extra goalline session, the Green Wave won the battle 13-6. The Marvell Eagles scored a touchdown and missed the two-point conversion for the 8-6 Green Wave lead.

Scoring the last touchdown was senior Josh Garrott on a long run. The PAT was no good.

The “B” team also played a scrimmage against Marvell, winning 14-0. Scoring a touchdown for the Green Wave were Devin Maples and John Paul Keel. Scoring for a two point conversion was Geri Lamm.

Green Wave head coach Richard Russo said the highlight of the scrimmage was the defense.

“I felt like we completely shut down their offense, minus a few pass plays,” Russo said. “I was very proud of them. They played hard. They racked up good form tackling, minus one tackle in overtime.

“Defensively, we are where we need to be,” Russo added. “Offensively, we have got to shape up and we have got to execute better. That goes for the backfield, the lineman, the receivers, and everybody.”

Russo complimented Dalrymple on a “great job.”

“He impressed me with something that he did that most people wouldn’t understand,” Russo said. “We called a play and he called a time out because the play was not there. I was bragging on him and praising him because that is a second year quarterback, somebody who has only played the position for two years. He knew that play wasn’t going to work because Marvell had made a defensive adjustment.”

After the timeout, the Green Wave regrouped and   ran a better play to get to the one yard line.

“That was a good move by him,” Russo said.

“Britt Lawrence was in his spot every time on defense,” Russo said. “He did a great job. Britt has been working hard and he is going to turn out to be the soul of our defensive unit.”

The offensive execution is an improvement area Russo touched on.

“We were in shape and we were hustling.” he said. “Offensive execution is what we have got to get better at. At halftime, we made some good adjustments. We were asking them, ‘Why isn’t this play working?’

“Well, because you had one or two players missing assignments on each play,” Russo told the team. “In football, if you don’t have all 11 on the same page, it isn’t going to work. It doesn’t matter if you are Vince Lombardi or Bill Belichik. No matter what play you are on, if all 11 aren’t executing, it isn’t going to work.”

Russo said the team realizes it could have had a better performance.

“We have had practices better than what we showed today,” he said. “You just can’t do that. Yes, we won the game. That is the mark of a good team. We won the game but we aren’t satisfied. I like that about this group.”

The team has begun its summer workouts.

“John Michael Ware set the bar high last year with 58 workouts,” Russo said. “We have some guys who already have five this past week, so we are doing good.”