Improved BCM Visits Van Metre
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ In some way, shape or form, Mother Nature has left her mark on each season opening Du Quoin High School Football game since 2000.
One glance at the current National Weather Service forecast for Perry County and Southern Illinois leads one to believe that trend may finally come to an end.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are just 20% likely in and around Du Quoin Friday night, where the Indians begin their 81st season of prep football against Bethalto Civic Memorial at 7 p.m.
The Indians and Eagles are meeting for the second time and jump-start the 74th year of gridiron play on historic Van Metre Field.
Du Quoin won last year's meeting in convincing manner, 34-7, at Bethalto, despite a near hour-long storm delay prior to kickoff.
A member of the Mississippi Valley Conference, BCM had 840 students enrolled for the first day of classes last week.
The Eagles compete in Class 5A and are just three years removed from back-to-back trips into the state quarterfinals.
After opening with Highland for seven years-and enduring a meteorological smorgasboard which included downpours, thunderstorms, stifling heat, humidity, rain-soaked fields and even tornado warnings-Du Quoin again hopes to escape its bad run of first night weather.
"The storms are always something you worry about this time of year," Indians coach Al Martin admits. "We've had very good luck with the weather so far. I hope it continues Friday night."
In BCM, Du Quoin faces an opponent with 24 returning letter winners from last year's 2-7 squad.
Second year mentor Scott Tonsor (44-35, 10th year overall) builds a veer and split-back offensive attack around talented sophomore quarterback Zach Tobin (5'10, 170, So.).
Moving into the starting line-up midway through 2007, Tobin completed 100 of 188 passes for 12 touchdowns. His top three receivers have graduated, but bruising fullback Andrew Ahlers (6'2, 205, Sr.) is back to lead the ground game. Brent Springer (5'8, 180, Sr.) will also be counted on.
Tobin's top targets are seniors Jake Crews (6'2, 175, WR) and Tyler Wilks (6'0, 195, TE).
Anchoring play up front are returning starters Jeremy Muehling (6'4, 305, Sr.) and Alex Barnes (6'1, 250, Sr.).
"We are gearing up to hopefully make the playoffs and feel like we have the kind of team to get that done," said Tonsor.
"They've been working hard and worked hard all summer."
Tonsor lists 38 players on the varsity roster and only 10 are seniors.
Despite the youth, BCM expects to be one of the metro east's most improved teams. They've been tabbed to finish fourth in the MVC.
"Everyone we've talked to thinks Bethalto will be pretty good," Martin said. "I know the quarterback is a great athlete and really an outstanding player."
Du Quoin will start Northern Illinois University-bound A.J. Hill at quarterback. Six players-Jamar Reed, Cale Bastien, David Gayton, Matt Gossett, Ben Conner and Blake Hester-will rotate in the bakfield behind Hill.
Up front, the Indians start returning center Garrett Hopkins.
Josh Cushman and Alex Heape are the tackles. Jonathon Tennyson and Luke Montgomery will start at guard.
Senior tight end Dalton Morgan, and junior wide receiver David Rose, return. Marcus Clarry, another junior, starts in place of senior standout Seth Flint.
Per a controversial IHSA rule, Flint is forced to sit out the first football game of 2008 after being ejected from the school's final baseball game last spring.
Sophomore Karson Hoffman will handle Flint's duties in the secondary.
Rose (S), Clarry (CB) and Reed (CB) bring back plenty of experience in defending the pass.
Morgan and Cushman are the ends.
All-state candidate Seth Heape is one defensive tackle. Kyle Paxton, a senior, will join him
Jones, Gossett and Conner are the linebackers.
"We have very good depth this year and will again use a lot of players," Martin said.
"Our kids had a great off-season and its been one of our best pre-seasons. We hope they'll be ready to go Friday."
Prior to the game, Du Quoin recognizes the 20th anniversary of its first Class 3A State Championship.
Upwards of 30 players- along with Martin and several coaches-will be on hand for the festivities.
As a rookie head coach that season, Martin's squad went 14-0 and defeated heavily favored Herscher 25-13 in the finals.
"That was a very special group of kids and a very special year," Martin said. "Everything really fell into place."
WDQN-AM (1580) broadcasts Friday's game and the 1988 ceremony live.
Start time is set for approximately 6:35.