By Brad Greer

If North Delta plans to record their first victory of the 2009 football season tonight  in Tunica, they  better have their track shoes on.

After facing Magnolia Heights and their powerful running game last week, the Green Waves will take on a team full of speedsters   and an offense that will air it out.

“Tunica has a lot of speed on offense. They run out of the shotgun formation with four wideouts and one running back in the backfield. At times they will have two backs but will still stay in the shotgun most of the time. They were very successful last week against Greenville Christian and looked very good on offense. We feel like we matchup well with them size-wise, but they are a lot faster than Magnolia Heights,” said Green Wave head coach Dan Werner.

North Delta will be looking to get the same offensive production   out of running back Tres Brasell and wide receiver Bryan Nickle as they did last week in a 42-26 shootout loss to Magnolia Heights. Brasell rushed for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Nickle registered 187 total yards while scoring on a 19-yard run. Junior quarterback Derick Shawn will direct the Green Wave offense.

North Delta will be looking for cornerback Corbin Baker and senior linebacker John Paul Keel to carry the load on defense. Baker scored the Green Wave’s first touchdown last week on a 30-yard fumble return and later added an interception in the fourth quarter. Keel also came up big on the defensive side of the ball by recovering  a fumble on the Magnolia Heights 35- yard line.

Tunica meanwhile comes into tonight’s contest at 1-0 on the year after pounding Greenville Christian 54-14 last week. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Holmes will be under center for the Blue Devils, who is rated No. 4  in the latest Clarion-Ledger  poll.

Junior running back/strong safety  Freeman Grey rushed for 88 yards on four carries and scored four touchdowns including a 70-yard kickoff return in the romp over the Saints. Grey, who  is also a track standout, will be joined in the backfield by fullback/linebacker Jared Foirito. Free safety Perry Turner and defensive end Cody Simson will lead the Blue Devil’s ‘50’ defense.

First-year Blue Devil head coach Jimmy Hicks said his team will have their hands full against the Green Wave.

“North Delta has always been a very sound football team and looking at film nothing much has changed. Coach Werner and his staff have done an outstanding job. They are very good on the offensive line and have some speed  in the backfield. We are going to be hard-pressed to stay on the field with them,” said Hicks.

Kickoff for tonight’s  game will be at 7:30.