By Brad Greer

For the time being, there is a changing of the guard in MAIS District 1-AA football as Indianola claimed its first district title since 2001 as the Colonels dethroned three-time champion North Delta 42-28 Friday night in Indianola.

Tailbacks Ashton Knight and Wheeler Timbs combined for 328 yards rushing and four touchdowns for No. 5 ranked Indianola (9-1; 5-0). North Delta, who missed out on the post season for the first time since 2009, ended its season with a 5-5 record.

The Colonels wasted little time getting on the board as on the third play from scrimmage, Timbs took a handoff and raced around the right side for a 67-yard scoring run. Tyler Hill booted the point after to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

North Delta responded with an impressive 12-play; 64-yard drive capped by Bailey Sullivant’s three-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal. Will Kidder added the successful PAT to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:47 left in the first quarter. Sullivant finished with 45 yards on eight carries while registering five tackles on defense.

Following Michael Sykes’ kickoff return to the North Delta 38, Indianola regained the lead at 14-7 as quarterback Jonathan Holland scored from one-yard out on the first play of the second quarter.

The Colonels lead was short-lived however as North Delta yet again knotted the contest at 14-14 with 4:43 left in the half as Hays Hudson scored from 11 yards out on third and goal with Kidder adding the PAT.

The drive was set up by Tyler Beard’s interception at the Indianola 43 yard-line.

Indianola added two crucial scores in the final 4:38 of the first half to take a 27-14 halftime lead as Timbs busted a 56-yard run followed by a Holland-to-Sykes 10- yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds remaining.

“That touchdown right before halftime I thought was the turning point of the ball game. It seemed to give them all the momentum going into the second half. If we could have held it to a seven-point game who knows what would have happened in the second half. But I have to tip my hat to Indianola they have got a fine ball team and they should do well in the playoffs,” said North Delta head coach Brandon Ciaramitaro.

The Colonels extended their lead to 34-14 midway though the third quarter on the first of two Knight’s one-yard scoring runs in the period. Knight finished the game with 30 carries for 146 yards while Timbs paved the way with 182 yards on 14 totes.

Indianola outgained North Delta 423-269 in total yardage on the night that included a 368 to 117 in rushing yards. Holland was a perfect three-for-three passing in the contest for 55 yards and one touchdown.

Sam Copeland added the most exciting touchdown of the game as the senior tight end hauled in a pass from Hudson before proceeding to break three tackles on his way to a 51-yard touchdown. Kidder converted the PAT to close the margin to 34-21.

Hudson and Copeland would later hook up again in the fourth quarter on a three-yard pass play to round out the scoring for North Delta.

Hudson ended the night 9-of-18 passing for 152 yards with one interception and two touchdowns to go along with 64 yards on 18 carries.

Hunter Baker added six carries for seven yards while Parker Jones one carry for one yard.

Chase Coker led North Delta with two receptions for 61 yards while Copeland and Beard added three catches for 56 and 23 yards. Baker chipped in with one catch for 12 yards and registered four tackles on defense.

After the game, Ciaramitaro reflected on the contributions of his team’s ten seniors to the North Delta football program.

“I just told those guys I was proud of them for leaving everything out on the field and giving 100 percent. They have learned a lot about the game of football that will help them in the future. They have all done an outstanding job these last three years and  I love each and every one of them and we will miss them. They have laid a solid foundation here that will hopefully be built on for years to come,” said Ciaramitaro.

Beard and Tyler Hardin led North Delta with eight tackles each while Austin Redwine garnered seven stops. Jones and Hunter Pitcher followed with six tackles followed by Bradley Booth with five tackles.

Parker Neth and Baker contributed with four tackles each.