Storybook Season Ends in Heartbreak for Tribe

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ For the fourth consecutive time, Du Quoin High School's trip to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 3A State Finals has ended in total heartbreak.

Friday night, the Indians fell 21-14 against top-ranked Carthage (Illini West) in the championship game at Memorial Stadium as Mike Lafferty tossed an 18-yard scoring pass to Jake Smudlach with just 25 seconds remaining.

The final margin accounted for Illini West's only lead in the contest, which wasn't decided until Zack Burling's interception with 17 seconds left.

Du Quoin, making its seventh appearance in the finals, ended another brilliant season at 12-2.

"We came within a few plays of a state championship, but came up just a bit short," Indians coach Al Martin said. "I guess you win some and you lose some."

Yardage was tough to come by for Du Quoin, which managed to grind out the lone first half score with a long drive. Going 77 yards in 23 plays, the Tribe used just under eight minutes to finally break through. At the 9:35 mark of the second quarter, Hill slammed in from the one-yard line for a 6-0 lead. Nick Baskin booted the extra point-his 20th straight during the post season-to push the Indians ahead by seven.

Hill's laser-beam pass to David Rose at the one-yard line came on fourth down and five, just keeping things alive. Hill ran behind a good block from halfback Jamor Reed to find the end zone one play later.

"Against a defense like Carthage you just have to grind things out a few yards at a time," Martin said. "We were able to complete some big plays to keep things moving."

The 7-0 advantage stood for the remainder of the half, despite three journey's into Du Quoin territory by the Chargers. Marcus Clarry forced Smudlach into a fumble at the Indians 22, ending the first drive. Reed recovered.

A punt, fourth down stop by Du Quoin and Rose's interception at the eight yard line to end the half kept the lead intact.

Carthage out-gained the Indians 178-133 during the first 24 minutes with Stefan Flynn's 86 rushing yards a preview of things to come.

"At halftime we didn't really make many adjustments," Martin said. "We wanted to stay with our game plan of keeping the ball moving and playing good defense. I felt like we did that. Carthage just made a few more plays than we did."

Illini West (14-0) overcame its second lost fumble-again recovered by Reed at the Du Quoin six-to finally knot the score.

Flynn busted in from the two-yard line with 5:19 left in the third quarter, efficiently moving 38 yards in six plays.

Lafferty kicked the extra point, making things 7-7, just sneaking a low boot through the uprights.

Du Quoin wouldn't be denied, again putting together a long drive against the swarming Charger defense. The 16 play series again covered 77 yards, ending when Hill threw a 1-yard slant pass to D. Rose.

Hill and senior tight end Dalton Morgan hooked up for a 12-yard pass across the middle, keeping things going. Earlier in the drive, Hill's pass to Morgan totalled 36 yards to push the ball deep into Chargers territory.

After Baskin's PAT kick-and with just 16 seconds left in the quarter-the Indians forged back in front 14-7.

"I felt like we were able to put together a very balanced drive to take the lead," Martin said of the nine pass-play and seven running-play series.

"It was just hard to pull off any kind of big play against their defense."

The 14-7 lead held until the next Illini West possession. With Flynn (30 carries, 213 yards) ending a 62-yard drive on the sixth play with a 33-yard bolt up the middle. Flynn broke free at the line of scrimmage and raced untouched for the score.

Reed-who shared the Du Quoin rushing lead with Hill (45 yards), made seven tackles while recovering two fumbles-then pulled off what appeared to be a title-saving play. The junior sliced in from right end and easily blocked Lafferty's PAT try, keeping Du Quoin ahead at 14-13. Only 5:12 remained on the clock.

"We felt like maybe we had the game won with just a tremendous play on special teams by Jamor Reed," Martin said. "He really made a great play to block that kick."

Du Quoin then started with Hill's 7-yard pass to Seth Flint. Hill ran for another yard before being sacked on third down by Illini West linebacker Derek Van Fleet (14 tackles).

Baskin punted 32 yards against the wind to the I-W 34 and the Chargers soon faced a third-down-and-five. Lafferty found Z. Burling for 19 yards to keep the drive going. After Flynn ran four times for 28 yards, Illini West was at the Du Quoin 13 with 29 seconds left.

A five-yard illegal substitution penalty moved the ball back five yards, but Lafferty's perfectly thrown pass to Smudlach in the far corner of the end zone just escaped D. Rose's outstretched hands.

Ahead for the first time at 19-14, Illini West then added the two-point PAT on Lafferty's pass to Z. Burling.

Du Quoin took over at 41 with 25 ticks left on the clock, but Hill overthrow Rose and Z. Burling intercepted.

"It's unbelievable to a state championship like this," Illini West coach Jim Unruh said. "Its even more unbelievable to win the last two games of the season in this fashion."

Illini West had scored on a similiar play with under a minute left to shock Oregon last week after trailing by 17 points midway through the period.

Beals (88 yards) and Drake Smudlach (56 yards) provided a solid compliment for Flynn. Lafferty completed just four passes, totalling 57 yards.

Reed and Hill shared Du Quoin's rushing honors with 45 yards apiece.

Hill (16-for-31) ended with 131 yards. Flint (55), Morgan (48) and D. Rose (27) were the reception leaders.

Matt Gossett, Clarry, Colin Jones, Flint and Garrett Hopkins all had eight tackles to pace the defense. Morgan, Kyle Paxton and Reed contributed seven stops. Josh Cushman added six.

"They play good old-fashioned football and didn't throw much," Martin said. "But when they did, the executed really well. Give Carthage credit. They played a great game."

Illini West 21, Du Quoin 14

Du Quoin 0 7 7 0-14

Illini West 0 0 7 14-21

Second Quarter

DQ-Hill 1 run (Baskin kick), 9:35

Third Quarter

IW-Flynn 2 run (Lafferty kick), 5:19

DQ-Hill 1 pass to D. Rose (Baskin kick), :16

Fourth Quarter

IW-Flynn 33 run (kick blocked), 5:12

IW-Lafferty 18 pass to J. Schmudlach (Lafferty pass to Z. Burling), :25

TEAM STATISTICS

DQ IW

First downs 14 24

Rushes-yards 34-107 54-383

Passing yards 145 57

Yards lost -25 -9

Total net yards 227 431

Comp-att-int 16-31-1 4-10-1

Punts, yds. avg. 5-171, 34.2 2-46, 23.0

Return yards 81 54

Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2

Penalties-yards 1-5 4-30

Possession time 25:14 22:46

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Du Quoin: Hill 23-45, Reed 10-45, Conner 1-1.

Illini West: Flynn 30-213, Beals 12-88, D. Smudlach 6-56, Lafferty 5-10, J. Schmudlach 1-10.

PASSING-Du Quoin: Hill 16-31, 145 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.

Illini West: Lafferty 4-10, 57 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.

RECEIVING-Du Quoin: Flint 6-55, D. Rose 5-27, Morgan 2-48, Gossett 2-10, M. Clarry 1-5.

TACKLES-Du Quoin: Gossett 8, M. Clarry 8, Jones 8, Flint 8, Hopkins 8, Morgan 7, Paxton 7, Reed 7, Cushman 6, S. Heape 6, D. Rose 2, Kabat 2, Baskin 1, Hester 1, Holmes 1.

INTERCEPTIONS-Du Quoin: D. Rose.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES-Du Quoin: Reed 2.

KICKOFF RETURNS-Du Quoin: D. Rose 1-12, Reed 1-10.

Illini West-Beals 2-21.

PUNT RETURNS-Illini West: Lafferty 1-25, Z. Burling 1-0.

SACKS-Illini West: Van Fleet 2.

OFFICIALS-Robert Smith crew.

ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE-8,500.

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