By Brad Greer

North Delta took on West Memphis Ark. without two of its main cogs on offense as quarterback Tyler Pirtle and two-way starter Carter Gant sat out the game with minor injuries.

As it turned out, the Green Wave did not need either of the team captains as North Delta hammered thehomestanding Black Knights 46-7 Friday night.

Taylor Morris ran for 133 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns to lead a punishing ground attack as the Green Wave rolled up 349 yards rushing. Austin Hagstrom registered 112 yards on just three carries which included a 62-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

North Delta (2-0) led 20-7 after the first period while increasing its margin to 33-7 at halftime with the second half being played under a 12-minute running play clock.

Junior back-up quarterback Skyler Lawson filled in for Pirtle quite nicely by completing four-of-15 passes for 64 yards while adding eight rushes for 60 yards  including a 22-yard scoring run in the third quarter.

“I am very proud of Skyler with the way he handled himself. He stepped up and managed the game well.  Despite a fumbled handoff late in the second quarter, he did a solid job,“ said North Delta head coach Brandon Ciaramitaro.

“He threw some good balls and with the exception of some wide receivers running incorrect routes, I thought he would have had several more yards passing. There was a touchdown pass that was dropped, but all in all Skyler had a good night as well as the rest of the team,” said Ciaramitaro.

Hunter Baker set the tone early in the contest as the freshman linebacker picked off a pass and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown with less than a minute gone in the first quarter to give North Delta a 7-0 lead after William Dean booted the point after attempt.

After West Memphis quickly tied the game on a 54-yard run on its next possession, the Green Wave quickly regained control of the game by adding two quick scores on Hagstrom’s run followed by a three-yard run by Morris with 1:08 remaining in the quarter.

North Delta added to its advantage in the second period as Morris recorded  his second touchdown run of the night on an eight-yard run to make the score 27-7 following Dean’s successful PAT.

Baker closed out the first half scoring with 2:42 showing on a 15-yard run.

Sophomore Bailey Sullivant put the finishing touches on the game with a six-yard touchdown run with 9:52 remaining in the contest.

Baker followed Morris and Hagstrom with six rushes for 34 yards while Sullivant chipped in with 10 yards on two carries.

Sam Copeland hauled in two passes for 51 yards while Hagstrom and Will Magee added one catch for seven and six yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dean recorded his third interception of the season while Parker Neth scooped up a fumble and returned it 33 yards on the game’s final play.

North Delta will now  face its toughest test of the season as they travel to Greenville Friday night to take on defending Class AAA Division II State champion Washington in a 7 p.m kickoff.

Washington improved to 2-0 on the year with a 46-6 win over Carroll Academy Friday night.

NDJH

In North Delta Jr. High action, North Delta lost to Kirk 16-6 Thursday night.

Joseph Wright returned an interception for a touchdown.

North Delta is scheduled to play Lee Academy in Clarksdale Thursday, weather permitting.