Delta advances to next round of Sectionals, defeats Fort Wayne South Side 56-18

Delta High School (5-5) move on to the next round of the Indiana Class 4A Football Sectionals, as they defeated Fort Wayne South Side high school (1-9) 56-18.

“We played with a lot of energy, and with a sense of urgency that we haven’t had in the past three or four weeks,” Delta's head coach Christopher Overholt said. “I felt like we were able to get a lead in the first quarter, and they had a good little push but because we had a great first quarter, we were able to sustain some success, and hold off that push.”

Delta’s big first quarter started with a 34-yard rushing touchdown from freshman running back Nolan Carpenter with nine minutes remaining. Three minutes later, sophomore quarterback Kaiden Bond scored on a two-yard quarterback sneak. Then, four minutes later, Carpenter got his second rushing touchdown, this time from 48 yards, to give the Eagles a three-score lead. Carpenter finished the first quarter with 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns but didn’t play the final three quarters due to a concussion. 

The Eagles were able to overcome that injury with a great running back-by-committee-style offense. Junior Abram Stitt had 98 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman Nash Keesling had 37 yards, and Mond had a rushing touchdown. Mond also completed four of his eight passes for 56 yards and three touchdowns, two to junior receiver Caleb Elliot and one to junior receiver Quinn Backus. 

“We have a lot of very talented running backs and skill players,” Overholt said. “We usually move players around anyway, but Abram [Stitt], Jayleon [Jones], and Quinn Backus were able to pick up the slack there and still have success.”

The Eagles were able to overcome a very potent passing attack from Fort Wayne South Side. Junior quarterback Larrenz Tabron was 13-29 with 200 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception thrown to Delta senior safety Parker Faletic. Senior wide receiver Quincy English had five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Many of the Archers drives ended thanks to fumbles. South Side committed five total, each by a different player. 

“The biggest thing was pressure,” Overholt said. “Our defensive line played well all night. We were able to get a lot of QB pressures. It takes time for those guys to get down the field, and if they don’t have time, we tend to be successful stopping them.”

Coach Overholt and the Eagles knew the stakes were high this game, and they’ll be even higher next week. 

“It’s win or go home,” Overholt said. “We didn’t want to make this the last night for our seniors, and we came out and we fought. Our life is extended for another week.”

Delta will host Fort Wayne Wayne on Friday, Oct. 29 in the second round of the Indiana Division 20 Class 4A Football Sectionals.

Contact Nate Grubb with comments at nathaniel.grubb@bsu.edu or on Twitter @GrubbNate43

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