Friday Night Lights: Tribe Starts SIRR Title Defense at Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In the soon-to-be 17 year-old history of River-to-River Conference football within the Mississippi Division, there have been only three past champions.
Nashville (1997-98) and Anna-Jonesboro (2006-07) have managed consecutive crowns, but the road to the Mississippi's title has wound its way primarily to Du Quoin since the SIRR began in 1993.
The Indians, winners of a dozen division crowns (1993-1996, 1999-2005 and 2008, start pursuit of another championship Friday night at winless Sparta (0-3) as league play begins.
Du Quoin, 2-1, visits Pierce Field at 7 p.m. as the longtime rivals meet for a 72nd time.
With a commanding 53-16-2 series edge, the Indians haven't lost to Sparta since 1983. In fact, Sparta's managed to beat Du Quoin just four times during the past four decades.
"We think they are a good football team," Indians coach Al Martin said of Sparta.
"A lot of times they'll just line up and bring it right at you. And they've still got the ability to spread you out with their speed. Offensively we really aren't sure what they'll do. But we know they are just going to right at us one way or another."
New coach Phil Watson (0-3 at Sparta, overall 7th year, 26-35) welcomes back seven starters from last fall's 1-8 club that fell 49-6 at Van Metre Field in week eight of the regular season.
Despite the 0-3 start, the Bulldogs are an improved group in 2000.
After losing to Class 3A semifinalist Columbia (28-15), Sparta's played Benton (35-14) and Murphysboro (28-14) tough.
Speedy halfback/linebacker Preston Nance (5'9, 177, sr.) is the early rushing and tackle leader for Watson's squad.
Zach Ferguson (5'6, 160, jr.) and quarterback Blake Shelton (6'0, 207, sr.) have also ran the ball effectively.
Shelton, a three-year starter-looks for primarily David Sams (5'7, 152, sr.), Nance and Ethan Renner (5'7, 160, sr.) in the passing game.
"They are running the ball more and look like a strong and very physical ballclub with their offense," said Martin (22nd year, 216-44, 21-0 vs. Sparta). "Sparta's always seemed to have good skilled kids with a lot of speed. The quarterback is a good-looking player. He's a strong runner who also throws the ball well off the play-action. And they have several receivers we'll need to be concerned with. Several of their backs have breakaway speed. We know that from track season."
Sparta's offensive and defensive lines are anchored by Cory (6'6, 280, sr.), Joe Smith (5'10, 180, sr.) and Josh Loyd (6'0, 185, sr.).
Nance, Renner, Zach Adams (6'1, 170, sr.) and Ferguson are the linebackers in Watson's 4-4 aligment with Sams, Shelton and London Oliver (5'10, 160, jr.) leading the secondary.
"Defensively they've got six people up inside on the 4-4 who are pretty darn good football players. We've been working pretty hard this week getting ready to block those people. "
Martin said Sparta had several players sit out of last week's game with Murphysboro due to illness and that Watson indicated several players may have left the squad.
The Bulldogs have already canceled out of Monday's sophomore game against Du Quoin, so it appears a number of sophs have moved to the varsity level.
Junior Aaron Smith (5'11, 172) scored the winning touchdown in last week's game with Herrin and is again expected to join leading rusher David Gaytan (161 yards) in the backfield behind quarterback Matt Gossett (6'4, 185, sr.).
Jamor Reed (5'9, 177, sr.) played primarily defense against Herrin but is expected to see plenty of carries for te Indians, who rolled the field in the final quarter against Herrin.
The game-winning drive was 11 plays, all but two were running.
"Our blocking continues to improve and our kids, including the backs and receivers, have worked hard at just getting better in that area," Martin said.
"We always want to be balanced with the offense. We are gaining more confience with our line play."
Du Quoin's fighting illness and some nagging injuries as the conference season begins, but as of Wednesday Martin expected to have a full roster available at Sparta.
Friday's game is broadcast on WDQN-AM (1580), starting at 6:45 p.m.