Thirty Years of Gridiron Memories

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Friday's battle between perennial Southern Illinois powerhouses Du Quoin and Anna-Jonesboro will be the 72nd meeting overall, but the 31st since 1980.

The series has included four playoff games-three won by the Indians-along with five battles to decide conference supremacy.

Du Quoin boasts a dominating won-loss edge in the series, 48-23, and has also won 24 of the past 30 games.

However, the Wildcats are looking to beat Du Quoin for a third straight year Friday night.

1980 Anna-Jonesboro 23, Du Quoin 20

Rated #1 in Class 3A by United Press International, the Wildcats won the game on a 19 yard-field goal in the second overtime. Du Quoin forced the extra session on a late TD pass from Greg Malone to Neal Halstead.

1983 Anna-Jonesboro 14, Du Quoin 7

The Wildcats were again top-ranked and would eventually finish second in Class 3A. Second half TD runs by Joel Reed and Brian Ury proved to be the difference.

1984 Du Quoin 6, Anna-Jonesboro 0

In the game which many consider to be the springboard to the current playoff era of Du Quoin football, the Indians downed #1-ranked and eventual state champ A-J 6-0.

Four goal line stands-and the second of two Gerry Whitley fumble recoveries-gave Du Quoin the win.

Whitley picked up the second fumble after Chris Carter stripped Ury and rambled 80-yards for the game's lone score.

1984 Anna-Jonesboro 12, Du Quoin 6

In the Class 3A quarterfinals, the Wildcats turned the tables on Du Quoin and held back the Tribe with a pair of late goal line stands.

"This game might have decided the state championship," Hall-of-Fame Indians coach Bob Karnes said.

As it turns out, Karnes was right. A-J rolled to its first state crown 13 days later.

1985 Anna-Jonesboro 10, Du Quoin 0

The Wildcats were again top-rated and escaped Van Metre Field with a narrow win. A crowd estimated at nearly 5,000 attended. Du Quoin would reach the Class 3A semifinals that year. A-J lost to Harrisburg in first round play.

Between 1986 and 2000, the Indians would win 15 straight times versus the Wildcats. Only two of the games (1991, 1999) were decided by less than two touchdowns. In the 90's, Du Quoin's average margin of victory was just under 35 points per game.

2000 Du Quoin 21, Anna-Jonesboro 3

With its then 16-year playoff streak in jeopardy, the Indians left "The Pit" with an impressive victory. Raymond Jones ran for a pair of touchdowns and Michael Schneider sealed the game with a 1-yard scoring blast.

2001 Anna-Jonesboro 35, Du Quoin 14

With the nation still in shock after the 9-11 terrorist attacks four days earlier, the Wildcats pulled away for their first win at Du Quoin since 1985. Du Quoin led 14-7 early in the second quarter before injuries-and A-K's lethal mid-line option offense-began taking its toll.

2002 Du Quoin 28, Anna-Jonesboro 6

2002 Du Quoin 33, Anna-Jonesboro 0 (playoffs)

A long TD run by Nick Hill broke open a scoreless first half in the regular season meeting.

In the playoffs, en route to state runner-up honors, the Indians rolled as Hill connected with All-State tight end Jordan Campanella for a pair of TD passes.

"I feel like we've beaten an awfully good football team twice," Indians coach Al Martin said afterwards.

2003 Du Quoin 13, Anna-Jonesboro 7

Reid Bastien's 30-yard backdoor screen pass to Chase Porter was the deciding score in this battle of two semifinal bound teams. A-J would reach the final four in 4A.

Du Quoin made its 13th Class 3A semfinal appearance a few weeks later, falling to Wilmington.

In 2004, the rivals met twice again. Du Quoin won both, including a 44-20 rout in the first round of Class 3A.

2005 Du Quoin 25, Anna-Jonesboro 13

This time, Du Quoin was rated #1 in 3A and raced ahead 25-0 before A-J could score.

The Wildcats were ranked in the top ten of 4A, but Garrett Gross ran for 139 yards and Ridge Thompson scored twice in Du Quoin's lightning-fast start.

2007 Anna-Jonesboro 14, Du Quoin 13

Overtime heartbreak for the Indians, missing the potential game-tying extra point to end the first OT session. A-J won the 2006 battle easily, pulling away for a 24-7 homefield win.

"The games with Anna always seem to carry a lot of meaning," Martin said. "Conference championship and playoffs wins always seem to be on the line when we play."