Du Quoin - AJ Gridiron Rivals
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ One of Southern Illinois' longest running- and most intense-gridiron rivalries renews for the 70th time Friday night.
And, as always seems the case when Du Quoin and Anna-Jonesboro trade blows, the survivor stands to gain plenty.
The Wildcats (6-0) are ranked eighth in the Associated Press Class 4A poll and welcome Du Quoin High School to "The Pit" for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
An overflow crowd- possibly nearing 4,000- is being anticipated for the game.
The National Weather Service forecasts ideal conditions with little chance of rain and temperatures falling from the mid-70's.
Both teams are 3-0 in Mississippi Division action within the River-to-River Conference.
Du Quoin is 5-1 overall, the lone blemish coming four weeks ago against 4A Herrin (34-33).
Currently rated 10th in Class 3A, the Indians hold a commanding 46-23 series lead over A-J.
"Its always been a big game when Du Quoin plays Anna," Indians coach Al Martin admitted. "Going back a long time, for the last 25 years, we've played some great football against each other. This should again decide the conference championship. Its exciting to play and coach in these types of games."
Aside from Du Quoin's one-point hiccup at Herrin, neither team has been tested. The Indians own wins of 21,36, 29, 36 and 29 points.
Anna-Jonesboro's differentials are even more impressive (41,39,29,54 and 40). Last week's 34-6 rout of Chester marked the closest affair.
Veteran coach Brett Detering (12th year, 85-42) has guided the Wildcats to 78 wins this decade and this year's squad again appears poised for a deep playoff run.
Bulldozing fullback Rik Hicks (6'1, 210, sr.) is also A-J's top tackler at linebacker.
Ryan Mays (5'10, 165, sr.), Gabe Pecord (6'0, 170, jr.), Jordan Chamness (5'11, 185, jr.) and multi-talented receiver/quarterback J.R. Woodward (6'4, 185, jr.) provide strong compliments to Hicks in Detering's punishing mid-line option attack.
Senior Luke Partridge (6'0, 175, sr.) is the starting quarterback, but Woodward could also take a few snaps.
Sully Edwards (6'2, 205, sr.) and Woodward are leading receivers.
A-J starts as many as nine players on offense and defense.
Hicks, Edwards (DE), Woodward (S), Chamness (LB), Pecord (DB), Mitchell Holshouser (5'9, 200, sr.) are the key two-way starters.
"All up and down the line-up A-J has some good athletes with good speed," Martin said. "And that's always a problem for any team to defend. We've just got to get a lot of kids around the football defensively and again play well offensively. Some of their kids have exceptional speed and we have to be concerned with that at all times."
There are weapons aplenty in Martin's attack A-J will face.
All-state quarterback A.J. Hill paces Du Quoin with 946 yards passing and 15 touchdowns.
A balanced rushing attack is keyed by Hill (303 yards) and junior halfbacks David Gayton (341 yards) and Jamor Reed (313 yards).
On a record-setting scoring pace, the Tribe's averaged just a tad over 40 points per game in 2008.
Wide receivers David Rose, Seth Flint and Marcus Clarry all average more than 12 yards per reception.
Defensively, returning All-SIRR performers Dalton Morgan and Seth Heape each have 49 tackles.
Linebackers Matt Gossett and Evon Stollhans-two promising juniors-top Du Quoin with 51 stops each.
"We feel like its going to take a good defense to stop Anna," Martin said.
"But its also going to take a good defense to stop us. We've really grown as a team and improved so much. Our kicking game and defense have came a long way. The offense keeps improving, too. I feel pretty good where we are now."
Du Quoin vs. A-J...A look back at some of the classic games matching these two rivals.