Green Wave shoots for 3-0 record

By Angie Ledbetter

The North Delta Green Wave will be looking to improve its record to 3-0 tonight when they host the 2A Lee Academy Cougars from Marianna, Ark.  The Cougars will come into this game with a 0-2 starting 2007 season.

The Green Wave will bring to the field a fired up team that wants to keep the momentum going.

The Green Wave has outscored its first two opponents 54-28.  The defense has  only allowed six points.  Tonight, it will have to step it up again to stop the Cougar team.

The Cougars have gotten off to a slow and difficult season. First year head coach Jimmy McGregor, who came from Tunica Institute of Learning, is trying to get back on track and win  football games.

They have seen improvement since the first game where  Marshall Academy defeated them 34-0 August 24.  Last week, they lost to Delta Academy 20-14.  

At the half, Delta had a 13-7 lead over the Cougars, but in the third quarter the Cougars took the lead 14-7. Delta came back in the fourth quarter and won but the Cougars had a chance at winning the game.

When it comes to the Green Wave and the Cougars, the Green Wave holds a 3-0 record. Last year, the Green Wave won 33-6.  In 2005 they won 20-13 and in 2004 they won 46-14.

McGregor will bring with him a team of 29 players which include 11 seniors, 10 juniors and eight sophomores.  Leading the team is senior quarterback No. 7 Greg Gibson who is 5’7”and weighs 155 pounds. Other key players to watch will be running back No. 3 ,Ross Dunn; wide receiver, No. 1 Rhett Morphis; No. 11 Garrett Frost, and running back, No. 15 Brad Waldrip.

Head Green Wave coach Richard Russo said that it is always difficult when a team has a coaching change.

“We saw some of that last year,” said Russo. “Those kids, especially the seniors and the juniors, have been playing under Coach Holcombe their whole football career.  It’s always difficult for them to learn a new offense, a new defense, and a new special teams system.  It’s very difficult and they are going through some growing pains on offense and defense.”

Russo said these are the teams that you look out for, with a 0-2 record.

“They have nothing to lose.  They’re  looking for a spark.  They’re looking for a way to ignite their season at this point and they’re searching for that.”

Russo said he is looking forward to the challenge tonight and ready to play.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The pregame show is at 7 p.m. on FM 106.9.