By Brad Greer

The North Delta School must enjoy having a flare for the dramatic.

For the second consecutive week, the Green Wave found themselves trailing going into the the fourth quarter, but again managed to snatch  victory from the hands of defeat.

Last week, the Wave pulled out a 25-21 win over Tunica in the final minute of the game. Friday night, North Delta trailed district rival Delta 24-21 going into the final stanza, but a pair of touchdowns in the last five minutes lifted the Green Wave to a 34-24 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Bryan Nickle’s 32-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Bateman Greenlee gave North Delta the lead for good at 28-24 with 5:14 remaining in the game. Following a Geri Lamm interception, Greenlee iced the game with a 18-yard scamper with 1:06 left to play. Greenlee also scored on a two-yard run midway through the third period to give the visitors a 24-21 lead.

“I am certainly glad we won, but these games do not help my blood pressure,” said a relieved Green Wave head coach Lance Thomas afterwords. “We made some adjustments at halftime. We just played power football in the second. We noticed they Delta were putting the best cornerback on Jim Tom (Copeland) and putting their weakest on ‘B’ (Nickle) and we threw the ball at Nickle and got some things going in the second half.”

Delta, (1-6; 0-4) took an 18-14 lead into the locker room when quarterback Trent Sinqufield scored on a one-yard run with 47 seconds left in the half. The Raiders got the ball back  after a 64-yard interception return by Sinqufield gave Delta the ball on the North Delta seven-yard line with 24 seconds remaining, but could not convert on the opportunity as a Sinqufield’s pass fell incomplete on the last play of the half.

The Raiders failed to put up more points on the board in the second quarter by missing a 42-yard field goal attempt, then fumbling on the Green Wave 25 early in the period.

North Delta, (4-3; 2-1) took a 7-0 lead on a 19-yard run by Tres Brasell as Bill Gurley added the first of four PAT’s with 8:11 left in the first quarter. The drive was aided by  Corbin Baker’s fumble recovery at the Raider 25. Brasell led all rushers with 188 yards on 23 carries.

Delta quickly retaliated  as Sinquefield hit Jordan Campbell on a 71-yard pass touchdown pass on the following series. Campbell’s PAT was no good leaving the score 7-6 at the 6:42 mark.

The Green Wave answered back on a five-play 46-yard drive as Greenlee connected with Chris Reeves on a 21-yard scoring pass with Gurley hitting the point after. Greenlee finished the night with 95 yards passing and 56 yards rushing on 11 carries and a pair of touchdowns.

Delta then closed the gap to 14-12 on the next possession. Sinquefield called his own number on an option play and raced 56 yards for a touchdown to finish off a wild first quarter which saw the Raiders roll up 165 of their 349 total yards on the night. Campbell’s point after was blocked by Conor Ferguson. Sinquefield added his third touchdown run of the night on a 42-yard scamper with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter to give the Raiders their last lead at 24-21.

North Delta’s defense caused four turnovers in the game with Nickle coming up with a key interception in the third period while Ferguson pounced on a Sinquefield fumble to snuff out a Raider drive on the Green Wave 25.

The Green Wave registered 259 yards on 44 carries while holding a 354-349 advantage in total yards.

Hunter West added six carries for 46 yards and collected a pair of quarterback sacks from his linebacker position. Nickle hauled in three catches for 70 yards while Copeland caught one pass for four yards. Sinquefield did it all for the Raiders as the senior had 335 all-purpose yards on the night including 201 yards passing and 134 yards on the ground.

North Delta will be on the road yet again this week as they travel to Marvell, Ark. for a district showdown.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.