By Brad Greer
Let the fun and games begin.

After two weeks of intense practices, a scrimmage and a jamboree, the start of the 2008 football season is finally here for North Delta as the Green Wave plays host to Strider Academy tonight at 7:30.

Both teams participated in jamboree action last week with almost the same results as the Green Wave defeated Marvell, (Ark.) 6-0 then fell to Delta by the same margin. Strider meanwhile defeated Central Holmes 14-0 only to lose at the hands of Winona Christian 14-0.

The Rams, who return eight  offensive starters off of last year’s 3-8 squad, will be led by senior quarterback Kelvin Newton (5’6”, 155 pounds) and offensive lineman Will Murphey. Strider will run out of multiple sets on offense including the ‘I’ formation and the wishbone, according to head coach Cliff Pitts.

“We are basically a power-running football team,” said Pitts. “We would like to establish our running game first before we set up the pass. It is going to be tough to run on North Delta. They are a big, strong football team so we are going to have to control the line of scrimmage to be successful. We watched them last week in the jamboree and were very impressed by the way they threw the football. They connected on some long pass plays.”

Strong safety Clyde Davis and defensive end Colby Cole are the top returning starters on the Ram defense.

North Delta meanwhile will be looking for a strong defensive effort to neutralize the Ram offense.

“I am hoping we can play some solid defense for one thing and play like we are capable of playing and on offense find the chemistry and stick with the game plan,” said head coach Lance Thomas. “Strider is a scrappy football team. They’re tough and will hit you in the mouth. They do not have a lot of players out but the ones they do have play with a lot of heart so we’re expecting a very good contest out of them.”

Senior quarterback Bateman Greenlee will call the signals  for the Green Wave. Joining him in the backfield will be sophomore Tres Brasell along with senior fullback Hunter West and halfback Geri Lamm. Greenlee targets are reciever sophomore Jim Tom Copeland and senior tight end Cameron Goodwin.

Junior center Travis Overall will lead a offensive line that averages 260 pounds. Joining him in the trenches are seniors Brent Davis at left tackle and Clayton Cole at right tackle while juniors Conor Ferguson and Robbie Bell are at the guard positions.

Leading the Wave 4-4 defense at the ends are Bell and senior Jay McClora with Ferguson and Cole inside at the tackles. Outside linebackers are the sophomore duo of Brasell and Michael Magee. Holding down the ‘Mike’ or middle linebacker  postion will be West and junior John Paul Keel. The defensive backfield will include Lamm and sophomore Corbin Baker at cornerbacks and sophomore Bryan Nickle patrols the safety spot.

Thomas said junior Blane Joyner will be out of action for the next few weeks with a broken hand.