By Brad Greer

Tunica Academy might have won the statistical battle, but the North Delta Junior High football team won where it counted the most.

Despite being outgained in total yardage 238-161, the Green Wave scored a pair first quarter touchdowns then held off a Tunica second-half comeback for a 14-8 victory Thursday night to open up the 2009 season.

Taylor Morris had touchdown runs  of 17 and 57 yards as North Delta jumped out to a 12-0 lead. The Green Wave’s first scoring drive was set up by Will Magee’s fumble recovery on the Blue Devil 22.

Tunica appeared to tie the game on their next series on  Austin Hackstrom’s 77-yard touchdown run, but the play was called back due to a penalty. Hackstrom had another 20-yard TD run called back in the fourth quarter on a holding call.

North Delta looked as if they would put the game away just before halftime as they drove to the Blue Devil 3-yard-line. But on the next play, Morris fumbled into the endzone allowing Tunica to recover for a touchback.

Tunica took the second half kickoff and kept the ball the entire third quarter only to be stopped  on downs by the Green Wave defense at the North Delta eight-yard line.

 Following a punt by the Green Wave, Tunica put together a 10- play 44-yard drive that resulted in a four-yard touchdown run by Hackstrom with 3:03 left the play in the game. Zack McCormick added the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8.

The Blue Devils had one last chance to score when North Delta fumbled the kickoff, but was stuffed again by the Green Wave defense as Hunt Howell dropped McCormick for a two-yard loss on 4th- and two from the North Delta 24.

 The Green Wave then ran out the remaining 1:03 on the clock to end the game.

Morris led the Green Wave in rushing with 102 yards on 12 carries while Jonathan Mackey added 17 yards on five carries.

Howell meanwhile was five-of-nine passing for 43 yards.

 Renic Greenlee led the receiving corps with two catches for 26 yards.

Dean added a pair of catches for 13 yards. Magee hauled in one catch for four yards.

Carter Gant led the Green Wave on defense with seven tackles. Wilson Morrow also added a fumble recovery.

North Delta will be back in action at home Thursday night at 7 p.m against Calhoun Academy.