Tribe Chases Perfect SIRR Run
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ With a record-setting 25th consecutive state playoff berth already secure, Du Quoin High School's Football team sets its sights squarely on another pre-season goal Friday night.
The Indians (6-1) welcome winless Sparta to Van Metre Field, needing only a victory to complete an undefeated run through River-to-River Conference, Mississippi Division play.
Du Quoin (4-0) clinched no worse than a share of its 14th SIRR crown in the league's 17-year history with last week's impressive win over Anna-Jonesboro.
"Sparta's gonna be loosey-goosey and ready to go," Indians coach Al Martin said. "They will come over here to play hard and really have nothing to lose. Teams like that can sometimes be pretty dangerous. We've got to realize this and I think our kids understand that Sparta has some very good athletes."
While third-year coach Seth English (4-21) is putting together a solid offensive attack (19.8 ppg.), the Bulldogs have surrendered 337 points (48.1 per game). Losses are against Columbia (43-22), Benton (49-12), Murphysboro (47-13), Anna-Jonesboro (62-8), Chester (46-26), Pinckneyville (40-18) and Nashville (50-12).
All seven foes have managed at least 40 points. Oddly enough, Bulldogs' closest game was against top-ranked Columbia in week one.
"Sparta does a of lot good things offensively," Martin said. "We've watched a couple games on film and they have some very good personel. The quarterback (Blake Shelton) is a nice player. And they have some good skilled kids, too."
Shelton (6'0, 185, jr.) ranks among the deep south's top passers with 1,067 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's completed exactly 50% (88-for-176) pass attempts while throwing six interceptions.
Slot back Clay Peck (5'6, 160, sr.) boasts 601 receiving yards on 29 catches. Speedy Preston Nance (5'9, 165, jr.) and Ethan Renner (5'6, 155, jr.) are the top rushers.
Du Quoin senior signal caller A.J. Hill (1,101 yards) is already tied with Reid Bastien for second place on the all-time single season touchdown pass list with 17. That's three behind A.J's older brother and current Tribe assistant coach Nick Hill.
Junior wide receiver David Rose (27 catches, 473 yards, seven TD) is now less than 300 yards shy of Jordan Campanella's season receiving record (746).
A rapidly-improving offensive line-anchored by seniors Luke Montgomery, Garrett Hopkins and Josh Cushman-cleared the way for two 100-yard runners (Hill and Jamor Reed) against A-J.
Defensively, Du Quoin will play without senior standout tackle Seth Heape (knee) for the next two weeks. Heape's replacements, sophomore Bryce Hamburger and senior Cory Mifflin, combined for three key tackles at Anna. Dalton Morgan (DE), Heape and linebacker Matt Gossett have recorded over 50 stops this season. Seth Flint's four interceptions leads a strong secondary.
"We've got a lot of things going for us this week," said Martin (21st year, 208-43, 20-0 vs. Sparta). "We want to win a conference championship outright and win another Senior Night game. You can't do that without effort and we will need good effort Friday."
English- a Christopher native-carries two strong Du Quoin ties.
His great uncle, the late J.T. English, coached football and taught at Du Quoin Township High School for seven seasons (1946-1952).
Playing for C-Z-R, English was coached by former Indians assistant John Kretz.
Sparta has beaten Du Quoin just once (1983) in the past 28 meetings and trails the all-time series 51-16-2. The 70th renewal kicks off at 7 p.m.
Ceremonies prior to the game honor the Indian senior players.
Members of the 2008 class of Du Quoin's Athletic Hall of Fame will also be recognized. Its also Athletic Boosters Chilli Supper Night, another long time Van Metre Field tradition.
"There's a lot going on," Martin said. "And we still have a lot to play for."
The complete list of Du Quoin's 20 seniors includes: Kaleb Tyner, A.J. Hill, Seth Flint, Cale Bastien, Blake Hester, Dalton Morgan, Ben Conner, Colin Jones, Garrett Hopkins, Kyle Paxton, Josh Cushman, Seth Heape, Caleb Swayne, Cory Mifflin, Brandon Spain, Luke Montgomery, Jordan Day, Ethan Beasley, Cody Youngman and Nick Baskin.