By Brad Greer

There are times when it just does not pay to get off the bus. That seemed to be the case for Delta Junior High as they made a visit to North Delta Thursday night.

Chris Rodgers scored on a 54-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage as the Green Wave scored on their first four possessions  to take a 38-8 halftime lead then cruised the rest of the way for a 44-16 thumping of the Mustangs to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the season. North Delta can clinch the district championship Thursday with a win at W. Memphis, Ark.

Following Rodgers’ touchdown run, quarterback Bailey Guckert tossed a pass to Chase Bruce to complete the two-point conversion attempt for a 8-0 Wave lead. On the next series, North Delta marched 56 yards on four plays in 1:04 minutes  when Guckert hit a wide-open William Dean for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 4:39 left in the period. Guckert ran in the two-point conversion for a 16-0 lead.

After a Delta fumble, the Green Wave closed out the first quarter scoring barrage when Bruce raced 26 yards for the touchdown. Guckert then connected with Ethan Waldrip for the two-point conversion to make the score 24-0.

The Green Wave defense got into the act in the second quarter as Renic Greenlee’s interception return for a touchdown was wiped out due to a clipping penalty. But North Delta would not be denied as Taylor Morris later scored on a 16-yard run with 3:22 left before halftime. Morris led the Green Wave in rushing with 101 yards on eight carries.

Delta got on the board as Hayden Crawford scored on a 65-yard kickoff return. But not to be outdone, North Delta returned the favor on the ensuing kickoff as Morris raced 66 yards for the touchdown. Rodgers then ran in the two-point attempt for a 38-8 halftime lead.

Morris ended the North Delta scoring with a 60-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter. The Green Wave finished the game with 261 yards total offense with 227 coming via the ground game. Rodgers followed Morris in rushing with 54 yards. Bruce added 43 yards on two carries while Guckert had one carry for 17 yards. Colton Robinson had one carry for 12 yards. Guckert was a perfect two-for-two passing on the night for 34 yards. Sean King hauled in one catch for 15 yards.

Jonathan Mackey recovered a fumble for the North Delta defense.

In Peewee action, North Delta took advantage of six Delta turnovers for a 20-0 win. Wilson Morrow recovered a fumble in the endzone for the Waves’ first score. Hunter Baker’s interception return and Bailey Sullivant’s two-point conversion gave North Delta a 14-0 halftime lead. Jacob Fennell set up his own touchdown run in the fourth quarter with an interception. Dennis King also picked off a pass in the fourth quarter while Joby Ellington and Samuel Davis also registered fumble recoveries.