By Brad Greer

With a huge district showdown  looming next week against Marshall, the North Delta Green Wave must first set its sights on homecoming week as the Green Wave hosts Tunica Academy tonight at 7 p.m.

North Delta enters tonight’s contest with a 3-2 record on the season after snapping a brief two-game losing skid after defeating Kirk 35-21 to open up District 1-AA play last week.

Senior tailback Taylor Morris ran for a season-high 195 yards and two touchdowns as the Wave broke open a 14-13 lead late in the third quarter against the Raiders. Quarterback Skyler Lawson added scoring runs of 20 and one yards as North Delta amassed 322 yards on the ground.

Tunica meanwhile enters tonight’s contest sporting a 1-3 record on the year with its lone victory coming against Lee, Ark. 34-8 in week three of the season. The Blue Devils’ other losses have come at the hands of Greenville Christian (18-14), Marshall (54-21) and to Strayhorn (33-6) last Friday.

The youthful Blue Devils, who sports six freshman and two eighth-graders on their 24-man roster, is led by senior tight end/linebacker Jake Graves (6’2”, 195) and running backs Taylor Watson (5’9”, 179) and Donald Johnson (5’11”, 190).

Camillo Arellano and Sam McGee anchor an offensive line along with Garland Melton and Ali Obad. Freshman Quinn Ware and eighth grader Maddox Allen will split the quarterback duties. Tyrone Isom (6’0”, 175) and  Cooper Brown (5’8”, 160) will be the main receiving targets.

The North Delta offensive line will consist of Parker Jones, Carter Gant, Bradley Booth, Hunter Pitcher and Harley Ashby.

Two new additions to the North Delta roster should beef up the offensive and defensive lines as South Panola transfer Jason Lantrip (6’3”, 290) and Tyler Hardin (6’2”, 250) should earn playing time tonight. Hardin registered a fumble recovery in last week’s win over Kirk.

 Pitcher led the Green Wave defense with four tackles and a pair of quarterback sacks while linebackers Will Magee and Hunter Baker both intercepted passes.