Du Quoin Stays in 3A, Hosts Pana
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The most frequent visitor to Illinois High School Class 3A <span id="lw_1224992712_0" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">playoff football
</span> is back again. At least for another year.
Saturday night, the Indians were paired against Pana in the opening round of
the 3A bracket by the <span id="lw_1224992712_1" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Illinois High School Association</span> (IHSA).
The Indians‹with an 8-1 record and seeded sixth in a rugged southern
quadrant- host Pana's 5-4 Panthers at Van Metre Field.
Game time will be officially determined Monday morning, but the game is
expected to be played next Saturday (Nov. 1) at 1 p.m.
Du Quoin is in the playoffs for a state record 25th consecutive year, all in
3A. <span id="lw_1224992712_2" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Speculation</span> the Indians might fall into Class 2A was just six students
shy of becoming reality.
With an enrollment of 444, Du Quoin is the smallest
of the 32 Class 3A qualifiers. Marshall, at 438, is the largest 2A school.
"We don't know a lot about them right now," Indians coach Al Martin said.
"I do know we played up there and won about years ago (1997) in the
playoffs. They come from a good conference (South Central East) that plays
tough and hard-nosed football."
Pana reached the post season for the first time since 2005 with victories
over Gillespie, Staunton, <span id="lw_1224992712_3" class="yshortcuts">Piasa</span> Southwestern, Hillsboro and East Alton-Wood
River. They've lost to Newton (27-6), Greenville (35-6), Litchfield (17-16)
and Vandalia (20-15). Scoring 18 points per game, Pana's allowed right at 17
points each outing.
The Du Quoin vs. Pana winner advances into second round play, awaiting
either Carterville (9-0) or Piasa Southwestern (5-4).
<span id="lw_1224992712_4" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> Undefeated</span> squads from <span id="lw_1224992712_5" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Greenville</span>, Columbia and <span id="lw_1224992712_6" class="yshortcuts">Decatur St. Teresa</span> are also
in the far-south quad. Besides <span id="lw_1224992712_7" class="yshortcuts">Du Quoin</span>, 8-1 entries included <span id="lw_1224992712_8" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">Vandalia</span>,
Pittsfield and Anna-Jonesboro.
"That's just a great 3A bracket," Martin said. "Every team's going to be a
handful."
CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS
(Seeds precede school name)
Upper Bracket
#16 Camp Point (Central) [C.-Southeastern Coop] (5-4) at #1 Carthage (Illini
West) (9-0)
#9 Tolono (Unity) (6-3) at #8 Macomb (7-2)
#13 Lisle (Sr.) (5-4) at #4 Aledo [A.-Westmer Coop] (8-1)
#12 Rockford (R. Christian) (6-3) at #5 Stillman Valley (8-1)
#15 Peru (<span id="lw_1224992712_9" class="yshortcuts">St. Bede</span>) (5-4) at #2 Oregon (9-0)
#10 <span id="lw_1224992712_10" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">Spring Valley</span> (Hall) (6-3) at #7 Amboy [A.-LaMoille Coop] (7-2)
#14 St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) (5-4) at #3 Wilmington (9-0)
#11 Monmouth (M.-Roseville) (6-3) at #6 Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)
(7-2)
Lower Bracket
#16 Carlinville (4-5) at #1 Greenville (9-0)
#9 Flora (7-2) at #8 Vandalia (8-1)
#13 New Berlin [N.B.-Franklin-Waverly Coop] (5-4) at #4 Columbia (9-0)
#12 Fairfield (5-4) at #5 Pittsfield [Coop] (8-1)
#15 Christopher [C.-Zeigler-Royalton Coop] (5-4) at #2 Decatur (St. Teresa)
(9-0)
#10 Staunton (6-3) at #7 Anna (A.-Jonesboro) (8-1)
#14 Piasa (Southwestern) (5-4) at #3 Carterville (9-0)
#11 Pana (H.S.) (5-4) at #6 <span id="lw_1224992712_11" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;">DuQuoin</span> (H.S.) (8-1)