Du Quoin, Harrisburg Clash at Van Metre
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ As is usually the case, the Harrisburg High School football team finds itself jumping from the frying pan into the Week Two fire.
Only this time, the Bulldogs are in dire need of answers.
Following last week's 42-13 season-opening loss to Mount Carmel, Jason Roper's team is regrouping, while at the same time traveling a rugged path that continues at Du Quoin.
While the Golden Aces last week showed plenty of balance within its option offense, the Indians are showcasing the arm of senior quarterback A.J. Hill, the younger brother of former DQ and SIU-Carbondale signal-caller Nick Hill.
Nick Hill played for coach Jerry Kill at SIU and is now his younger brother's QB coach.
A.J. will play for Kill at Northern Illinois.
"Du Quoin is a very good team, with an outstanding quarterback," Roper said. "Hill has an outstanding arm, but he also does an outstanding job running the football."
Indians coach Al Martin says he has tweaked his offense a bit to show off Hill's abilities.
"We've got some good skilled athletes," Martin said. "We want to take advantage of those athletes and A.J.'s ability to throw the football. But, we've always strived to be balanced on offense."
Du Quoin disposed of Bethalto 35-14 in Week One, and is highly ranked in Class 3A.
Even with the Bulldogs' lop-sided loss to Mount Carmel, Martin is wary of Harrisburg's potential.
"Harrisburg is like us," Martin said, "in that they have plenty of skill people. Our kids know Harrisburg has good athletes from playing them in other sports."
While Du Quoin (1-0) is on its way to gaining a 25th consecutive playoff spot, HHS (0-1) will try and gain some identity.
Unable to establish much offensively against Mount Carmel last week, Roper is hoping things can improve up front.
"Our offensive line has to do better than it did last week," Roper said. "One of Du Quoin's strengths is in its defensive line. We have to do things offensively that will give our line an advantage, and get away from one-on-one blocking."
Harrisburg allowed 400-plus yards last week, all on the ground, while not being able to do much due to poor field position.
"We never got into any rhythm," Roper said. "From where we started, the field was long all night."
Roper said the Bulldogs' linemen, on both sides, worked this week on leverage and staying with blocks.
"When you're getting beat up front like we were, it was hard to show anything," Roper said.
Martin knows Harrisburg will play with its backs to the wall.
"They ran into a very good team last week," Martin said. "This week, they'll be ready to show more of what they have."
Harrisburg will be without two-way starter Russell Rambert, who injured his shoulder last week. He will be replaced at linebacker by Dawson Montfort, and by Kollin Dowdy at tight end.
The Indians report no significant injuries and expect to be at full strength with two-way starters Seth Flint (WR-S) and Ben Conner (FB-LB) returning to the line-up after missing last week's game.
David Gayton, Jamar Reed, Hill and Blake Hester spread the wealth in Du Quoin's running game last week, splitting 196 yards.
Hill passed for 223 more, 141 to junior wideout David Rose.
Martin is a bit concerned with the weather, as wet field conditions may play a role in Friday night's game.
"Harrisburg has the ability to scrap the spread offense , and line up in the straight-T offense," Martin said.
"We would have to take care of that defensively."
Roper is hoping the Bulldogs will show that, after last week's shelling, they belong in the mix.
"We just didn't get in what we wanted," Roper said. "We want to play well, but at some point, we have to show that we can stop them. We didn't do that last week, but we'd better be ready to do it this week."
Du Quoin hasn't lost to Harrisburg since 2000-dominating each of the last seven meetings-and leads the series 15-7.
Last year at Harrisburg, the Indians cruised to a 32-21 victory.
-Jeff Profitt contributed