IHSA PLAYOFFS: Tribe's Back Home Again
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[
For the 39th time in its long and illustrious lifetime, Van Metre Field
will host a post season playoff football game.
The venerable home of Du Quoin's Indians will be the site of Saturday's
<span id="lw_1226730504_0" class="yshortcuts">Illinois High School Association</span> (IHSA) Class 3A State Quarterfinal battle
between the host Indians (10-1) and undefeated St. Teresa Catholic High
School of Decatur (11-0).
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. with the winner advancing into next week's
state semifinal round, facing either Greenville (11-0) or Columbia (11-0).
Saturday will mark the first battle ever between <span id="lw_1226730504_1" class="yshortcuts">Du Quoin</span> and St.
Teresa, traditional powers who've combined to win five state championships
and play 153 playoff games.
"It's always a great part of the playoff experience to face someone
new," Indians coach Al Martin (21st year, 213-43; 48-18 playoffs). "You
welcome that and the chance to have games like this on our home field is
something we never take for granted."
Both squads were explosive and dominating in early round playoff
victories. The Indians dispatched of Pana (40-6) and Carterville (51-19)
while <span id="lw_1226730504_2" class="yshortcuts">St. Teresa</span> trounced Christopher/Zeigler-Royalton (44-7) and
Anna-Jonesboro (49-14).
Decatur averages just a tick over 41 points per game while Du Quoin's
putting up right at 41 per outing. Each squad boasts stout defenses and
strong special teams play.
St. Teresa's I-formation running attack is a four-headed monster that
presents plenty of potential problems for the Tribe.
Senior speedster Matt Brown (5'9, 165) has 1,299 yards with 19
touchdowns. Kyle Burns (793 yards, 7 TD) is a 5-foot-5, 145 sophomore who
adds more speed. <span id="lw_1226730504_3" class="yshortcuts">Quarterback</span> Danny Walker (5'10, 170, sr.) sports nine more
rushing scores and 399 yards. Matt Wooden (5'10, 170, sr.), seldom-used
early in the season, ran for 185 yards against A-J. Wooden was a top runner
for St. Teresa during last season's jaunt to the 4A quarterfinals.
The experienced <span id="lw_1226730504_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">offensive line</span> quintet of Nick Olendorf (5'10, 235,
sr.), Steve Matuscak (6'0, 185, sr.), Ben Flesch (5'10, 190, sr.), Cameron
Hall (5'9, 175, jr.) and Addison Genenbacher (5'9, 165, sr.) fuels the
Bulldog motors.
Walker has passed for 1,142 yards‹822 to senior wideout Tommy Eichenauer
(5'9, 150, sr.).
"For us to succeed, no matter what, we've had to get great <span id="lw_1226730504_5" class="yshortcuts">offensive
line</span> play," said veteran St. Teresa coach Scott Davis (22nd year, 176-57;
19-15 playoffs). "Everything we do‹running or passing‹starts with that
offensive line. And they've played well. Now how will they fare against a
bigger team like Du Quoin ? That's hard to say."
Olendorf, Flesch and Matuscak are three-year starters who also lead the
Bulldogs defense.
Matuscak, Brown, Wooden and Jeremy Raderman (5'9, 160, so.) are the
linebackers. A physical group upfront relies on Flesch, Tyler Albright (6'0,
200, sr.) and Olendorf. Most of St. Teresa's starters play two-ways with
Walker, Brown and Eichenauer standouts in the secondary and on special
teams.
"They are balanced," Martin said of the Bulldogs. "They can go on top
and score or grind things out and march down the field on you. The
quarterback is a great athlete. He can do a lot of things. Against
Anna-Jonesboro, they scored on long pass plays, long runs, short runs and
took back a kickoff all the way."
Du Quoin's offense will also present Davis' Bulldogs with plenty of
problems.
A.J. Hill (1,746 yards passing, 27 TD) has enjoyed a record-setting
season for the Indians. He's also ran for 14 scores. Hill, fullback Ben
Conner (5'7, 185, sr.) and the junior halfback duo of Jamor Reed (5'9, 168)
and David Gayton (5'10, 160) have combined for nearly 2,200 yards on the
ground.
Du Quoin's single season receiving record holder David Rose (6'1, 175,
jr.) is one of Hill's favorite targets. The senior lefty will rely on tight
end Dalton Morgan (26 catches, 406 yards), wideout Seth Flint (28 catches, 7
TD) and junior Marcus Clarry (20 catches).
"We see a pretty good blend of different styles within our conference
(Okaw Valley)," Davis said. "But we haven't played a team in several years
that mixes the run and pass like Du Quoin. Their skill people are extremely
talented. The quarterback and tight end are big and athletic kids. They have
a good offensive line and can run or throw equally well."
Seniors Luke Montgomery (6'2, 270), Garrett Hopkins (6'0, 190) and Josh
Cushman (6'3, 235) are joined by juniors Alex Heape (5'11, 200) and Jonathon
Tennyson (6'2, 230) on Du Quoin's offensive line. Morgan (6'3, 233, sr.)
brings plenty of size and strength at tight end.
Davis is familiar with Du Quoin's unmatched tradition in Class 3A
football. He broke into coaching as rookie assistant at then Macon <span id="lw_1226730504_6" class="yshortcuts">High
School</span> (since consolidated as Macon-Meridian) with Du Quoin native‹and
longtime Argenta-Oreana coach‹Tom Saunches.
"Argenta's one of our big rivals and I have been friends with Tommy for
years," Davis said. "We go way back and I know he's always spoke highly of
coach Martin and everything down there."