Tribe Tunes Up for Post Season, Routs Murphysboro
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For the 16th time in the last quarter century, <span id="lw_1224993152_0" class="yshortcuts">Du Quoin High School¹s
Football team</span> has ended its regular season with at least eight victories.
Friday night on muddy Bencini Field, the Tribe put the finishing touches on
its 8-1 campaign with a convincing 42-8 win over host Murphysboro .
Methodically rolling up 322 yards in total offense, Du Quoin played most of
its roster and had six rushing touchdowns in what turned out to be another
solid tune-up for next weekend¹s <span id="lw_1224993152_1" class="yshortcuts">Illinois High School Association</span> (IHSA)
State Playoffs.
The Indians, into the post season party for a state-record 25th consecutive
year, seem destined for a high seed in the southern-most quadrant of Class
2A or Class 3A.
As the weekend paper went to press, exactly where Du Quoin ends up remained
too close to call.
Playoff pairings are determined‹and then released by the IHSA‹Saturday
night. The chances are very promising for a first round game at Van Metre
Field.
³We always want to get out of that ninth game without any injuries and want
to just win the game,² Indians coach Al Martin said.
³You want to keep improving and keep building momentum. And we were able to
do this.²
Murphysboro (3-6) completed its best season in the last seven years,
managing to score with under two minutes left on Adrian Harris¹ 1-yard run.
<span id="lw_1224993152_2" class="yshortcuts"> The Red Devils</span> haven¹t beaten Du Quoin since 1994 and fell behind 21-0 by
intermission.
Despite a pair of rare pass interceptions thrown by Indians All-State
quarterback candidate A.J. Hill, Du Quoin scored on three of its first four
possessions.
Jamor Reed scored on a 20-yard burst up the middle for the game¹s first
score. Hill added the second TD, blasting in from the one less to start the
second period.
Ahead 13-0, the Indians tacked on another score on Reed¹s 2-yard run with
3:55 left before intermission.
Hill threw to Seth Flint for the <span id="lw_1224993152_3" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">two-point conversion</span>.
The 21-0 halftime edge doubled in the third quarter, starting the continuous
clock.
David Gayton scored on a 1-yard run, set up by Reed¹s 23-yard interception
return, to make it 28-0 barely 90 seconds into the last half.
Another Gayton touchdown‹this a 4-yarder‹pushed the Indians in front 35-0.
Reed's second pick and return gave Du Quoin great field position at
the Murphy 22.
Three plays later, Baskin waltzed across the goal line.
Senior Blake Hester went 15 yards with 1:56 remaining in the period to give
Du Quoin its sixth rushing touchdown.
Nick Baskin was good on the PAT kick for a 42-0 edge.
Reed (85 yards) and Gayton (83 yards) topped the rushing attack. Each
carried 10 times.
Hester added 46 yards and Hill 29 more.
Hill hit 6-of-9 passes for 67 yards.
Defensively, 21 different Indians appeared on the tackle chart.
Marcus Clarry had five stops with Dalton Morgan and Matt Gossett notching
four apiece.
Kyle Paxton recovered a fumble. Cushman recorded a <span id="lw_1224993152_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">quarterback sack</span> and sophomore Trent Bigham added an interception.
³Again we¹ve had nine very tough games in the regular season,² Martin
concluded.
³Every year, its one of our goals to play as many games as we can on Van
Metre Field. Hopefully, we took care of that tonight. I think we are
continuing to block well and improve as a team.²
Murphysboro managed just 95 yards in net offense. Nick Jones, one of the
area¹s top receivers and runners, was held to 15 yards rushing and one catch
by the Tribe¹s improving defense.