Indians Romp to Undisputed Title
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ For the 14th time in the 17-year history of River-to-River Conference play,
the Du Quoin Indians are football champions of the Mississippi Division.
Friday at Van Metre Field-on Senior Night/Hall-of-Fame Weekend Kickoff
Night-the Tribe easily disposed of visiting Sparta, 49-6.
Du Quoin completed a perfect 5-0 sweep through the SIRR¹s small-school
league and improved to 7-1 overall.
Next week, the Indians prep for a state-record 25th consecutive playoff
appearance with a visit to Murphysboro (3-5).
Winless Sparta (0-8) has lost 15 consecutive times dating back to early
2007.
³We were able to win the ballgame and pretty much get everyone involved,²Du
Quoin coach Al Martin said.
³At times, we struggled a lit bit with our execution but I felt like
overall, things went pretty well for us.²
The Indians wasted little time in jumping ahead for good, scoring 99 seconds
into the game.
Dalton Morgan deflected an early Bulldogs punt from the 28-yard line and
Collin Jones returned block nine yards to the 19.
Two plays later, David Gayton ran untouched for a seven-yard TD.
Nick Baskin hit the first of six straight extra points, making the score
7-0.
A.J. Hill¹s one-yard blast pushed Du Quoin¹s lead to 14-0 midway through the
first quarter and three more scores would push the margin to 35-0 by
intermission.
Hill sandwiched TD passes of 31 and five yards (to David Rose and Seth
Flint) around a 12-yard run to the end zone.
In the third period, Hill and tight end Dalton Morgan made connections from
six yards, ending the game for the #1 Indians offensive unit.
A four-yard pass from Matt Gossett to senior end Kaleb Tyner completed Du
Quoin¹s scoring. Josh Morris booted the final DHS extra point.
Sparta managed to break the shutout with 6:35 left on Blake
Shelton¹s 20-yard pass to Clay Peck.
³Sparta threw a few new wrinkles at us and did some things we really didn¹t
expect with their offense, ³ Martin said. ³After making some adjustments, I
felt like we again played solid defense against a good offensive team.
Sparta¹s got some weapons.²
Shelton, the area¹s second-ranked passer, finished with 119 yards. He
completed just 7 of 26 tosses.
All totalled, Sparta had only 183 total yards.
Cornerback Marcus Clarry led the defensive charge for Du Quoin, recording
six tackles. He also picked off a pass while recovering a fumble.
Gayton (12 carries, 117 yards) was the top rusher. Jamor Reed added 54
yards.
Hill ran for two scores, three for three more and finished with 171 yards
through the air.
Rose (66 yards), Flint (54 yards) and Morgan (41 yards) were the reception
leaders.
³Winning a conference championship is something to be very proud of,² Martin
said. ³We also moved closer to possibly playing another game on our field
when the playoffs start. Those are two of our goals every season.²