Reunion of 1988 State Champions Friday
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ It was 2 a.m.--20 years ago--as light rains scattered the reds, blues and headlight-whites of the police and fire escort that brought the Illinois High School Class 3A state champion Indians back home to Du Quoin.
On Friday night, that team and that history-making event--the first of two state championships for Du Quoin--will be remembered during a reunion of players in the end zone and pregame recognition at VanMetre Field.The night will include a special 1988 State Champion team tailgate on the parking lot. Du Quoin High School athletic director John Campbell says over 20 members of the state championship team will be in the stadium.
On that night in 1988, more than 1,000 fans--many of whom had waited for the sounds of sirens for over three hours--assembled in Anders Gymnasium to the sweet strains of "State Champions! State Champions!"
First year Du Quoin head coach Allen Martin got his Thanksgiving Day present a day late. But, he wasn't complaining.
Martin's team polished off a `14-0 season by beating Herscher 25-13 in the Class 3A state title game on Friday, November 25.
"I'm very thankful," Martin said. "It was a tough situation to go into, but I'm thankful to the class of seniors and my coaching staff, and I'm thankful to God."
Martin was tired and deeply moved as he stepped to the DHS gymnasium microphone and laid praise on both the players and fans.
Earlier, Martin got all the offense he needed from halfback Gonnie Morgan and quarterback Scott Baxter. Morgan scored a pair of touchdowns, while Baxter rushed for 112 yards and scored once.
"We were unbeaten as a class in our freshman year," said Morgan, a senior. "People told me in my first year we'd be here. We just kept working and we kept our nose to the grindstone. It feels wonderful." Herscher, behind 12-0 at the half, scored early in the third quarter on a 22-yard pass from Daryl Connor to Chris Bisaillon. The pass brought the Tigers to within 12-7 with 9:23 left in the third. The seven-play drive covered 61 yards.
Du Quoin answered on the following possession with a 20-yard pass from Baxter to Morgan to the Herscher seven. After a 13-yard rushing gain by Morgan, the halfback slammed into the end zone from the Herscher four and Du Quoin led 19-7.
The TD, with 6:49 left in the third, capped a seven-play, 52-yard drive.
The O'Connor-Bisaillon connection came through again the fourth quarter. O'conner hit the split end on a 53-yard TD toss with 10:07 left in the game to make the score 19-12.
The point-after attempt failed.
But, Du Quoin came roaring back in the next series. The Indians constructed a seven-play, 55-yard drive that ended when Morgan scored from the Herscher 5 to make the score 25-13. The Indians' two-point conversion attempt failed.
All told in rushing, Gonnie Morgan would have 16 carries for 90 yards. Scott Baxter would have 17 carries for 108 yards. Sid Boyett would have 8 carries for 73 yards and Eric Green would have 4 carries for 51 yards.
Scott Baxter was 3 for 6 passing.
In receiving, Sid Boyett had one reception for 11 yards. Gonnie Morgan had one reception for 20 yards and Shane Boyett had one reception for 16 yards.
Du Quoin would end the day with a total of 322 yards rushing and 47 yards passing for a total of 369.
"It seemed like they could turn it on whenever they wanted," commented Herscher coach John Wakey. "Whenever they needed a score they got it. They did a great job."
Baxter started the scoring for the Indians with 6:38 left in the second quarter. He gave Du Quoin a 6-0 lead when he rambled for 53 yards to cap the Indians' four-play, 94-yard drive. Du Quoin's point after attempt was bobbled by the holder.
Du Quoin's Sid Boyett, a two-way starter, set himself up the end of the first half when he intercepted an O'Connor pass at the Du Quoin 29. Nine plays later, Boyett powered in to the end zone from 11 yards out with 50 seconds to go in the half. The TD drive covered 71 yards. Another two-point conversion attempt failed.
That night, it became almost a religious vigil as hundreds of anxious fans, many of whom had driven back well in advance of the team and pep buses, were hungry to take a first hand glimpse at the trophy that had eluded Du Quoin for so long.
"Tell us, what will tomorrow's headline read," asked an awaiting David Beggs as he stood in front of the gym. "How about something like "Finally!" suggested a cameraman from WSIL-TV News who had driven to Harrisburg from his home in Memphis, Tenn the day before to go to Bloomington and then drive back to Harrisburg at halftime.
It was 250 miles up and 250 miles back, all in the same day. It was happy exhaustion.
"Where are they?" fans kept asking as the watches displayed 1 a.m. and then 1:30 a.m. "Hey, the police say they're in Tamaroa now," yelled one onlooker. Finally, mile by mile the chartered buses of Beck Bus Service rolled across the last miles home. Du Quoin police cars and fire trucks met the team at the edge of Du Quoin. A caravan which had assembled at the Sunfield Wye had largely broken up as word spread that it would still be another hour before the team bus would arrive.
Finally, it turned the corner and headed east on South Street. Loud country music was blaring from a car that had pulled into the alley behind Onstott. The bus rolled past the cheering fans and circled the high school to unload both the Class 3A state champions and their trophy at the locker room door.
Inside, fans lined the entire north and northwest section of Anders Gym. You could tell they were tired. You could tell the excitement wouldn't sink in until the next day.
After displaying their trophy, members were treated to a cake that read "STATE CHAMPIONS!" After a reunion of family and girlfriends, the gym began to finally empty shortly before 3 a.m.
It was a remarkable day.