By Brad Greer

It has been 11 years since The North Delta School won its second football state championship as the Green Wave defeated Manchester 10-0 in 2000 at a muddy Robinson-Hale Stadium on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton.

North Delta hopes history repeats itself as the Wave opens up the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Academy State AA playoffs against the Mavericks of Yazoo City tonight at 7 p.m.

Manchester heads into tonight’s opening round matchup sporting a 3-7 record following a District 2-AA runner-up finish behind Winston Academy. North Delta meanwhile enters the contest riding an eight-game winning streak after losing its opening game of the season to Magnolia Heights. The winner of tonight’s game will face off against the Simpson/Lamar winner next week at a site yet to be determined.

The Mavericks got off to a slow 2010 gridiron season by losing  their first six games before rebounding to win two of the last three district games to make the playoffs. Two of Manchester’s defeats have come against North Delta’s district counterparts Kirk (26-6) and Indianola (26-12). Manchester ended its regular season last week with a 35-14 loss to Adams County Christian.

The Maverick victories have come against Oak Hill, (32-20) Hillcrest (35-14) and Carroll Academy (29-20).

Michael Peastler is Manchester’s main threat on offense as the senior has accounted for 12 touchdowns this season including a 95-yard kickoff return in a 51-21 loss to Winston Academy.

North  Delta will counter with the senior offensive trio of  Bryan Nickle (813 yards rushing, nine TDs), Tres Brasell (655 yards, 18 TDs) and John Cody Dalrymple (19 catches, 406 yards and four TDs), while senior defensive linemen Will Reynolds, Will Dunlap  along with sophomore linebacker/running back Taylor Morris spearhead the Green Wave defense.

Tickets for tonight’s game are$7 for everyone.