Friday Night Lights: Homecoming Nights for PCHS, E-T
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the first time all season, Pinckneyville got on the scoreboard first in last Friday's game against Du Quoin, but their lead lasted a mere 21 seconds before it turned into a defecit.
The Indians scored 41 unanswered points the rest of the way, sending the Panthers to 1-4.
"For the first quarter and a half we played very good football," said Panthers head coach Tod Rushing. "In a matter of just a couple minutes it went from us having a chance to be up 21-7 to being down 21-7. When things started to go wrong we didn't handle it very well."
The Panthers had two shots inside the Indians' red zone to again take the lead, but came away empty handed despite some good playmaking from quarterback Bryant Shute.
"Those things are going to happen," conceded Rushing, "we've told them, you've got to execute and make plays, we can't coach desire and we can't execute for you. Both times (in the red zone) we could have gotten scores and we didn't, we didn't make the plays and (Du Quoin) did."
In injury news of note, Dylan Hagene has a broken thumb but will continue to play through the pain, and Neil Kellerman's foot and ankle are improving.
"(Kellerman) was about 75% (against Du Quoin), he's going to be much closer to 100% this week," said Rushing.
After being at the losing end of a homecoming game last week, the Panthers hope their homecoming week (and senior night) is as successful when they take on Sparta this Friday.
"I've told the kids, this is a week you're going to remember, homecoming is a lot of fun, but it's not as much fun if you don't win you're football game, everything is centered around that football game," said Rushing.
The Bulldogs didn't have much bite in 2008, and so far are winless in 2009, but have shown to be a much more competitive football team after a few changs to the roster.
"I think their coaching staff has done a great job, I think a big thing is they eliminated some problems over there," said Rushing. "I think what they've done the past few weeks (in being competitive in their games) is a result of getting rid of some excess baggage. Sometimes people don't want to hear that, but I feel like they had some players holding them down that they've let go of."
Rushing's players have refused to quit, and have shown steady improvement throughout a season where the playoffs are a mathematical improbability.
"We want the seniors to go out on a positive note," said Rushing, "it also creates a positive environment for the offseason for the other kids. I thought we had a little bit of a hangover from last year (early in the season) and if we can I'd like to avoid that going into next season."
"We want to finish this year strong, there's a big difference between going 4-5 and 1-8."
Friday's game can be heard live over WXAN-FM (103.9) at 6:55 p.m.
E-T HOSTS UNDEFEATED DEVILS
For the Elverado-Trico Fighting Falcons, an already challenging 2009 Black Diamond and regular season schedule gets even tougher Friday night.
E-T (0-6, 0-6) hosts undefeated and state-rated Sesser-Valier/Waltonville-Woodlawn (6-0, 6-0) at Isom Field.
Kickoff is set for 7 o'clock with soggy and muddy conditions expected after a late week deluge of rain rolled through Southern Illinois.
S-V/W-W was forced to rally back from early deficit to win at Carmi-White County last week (36-22).
The experienced and talented Red Devils build their high-scoring offense around the "Rock and Brock Show" of running backs Brock Wheatley (5'10, 160, sr.) and Tyler Rock (5'9, 215, sr.).
The duo has combined for over 20 touchdowns through the first six weeks with quarterback Kendall Gibson (6'4, 185, sr.) plenty capable through the air.
Dawson Verhines (6'2, 180, jr.), Gavin Bassett (6'3, 175, sr.) and tight end T.J. Eubanks (6'2, 230, sr.) are the principal targets for Gibson.
S-V/W-W is also a solid club defemsively, banking on eight returning starters from last season.
End Kyle Miller (6'0, 235, sr.), safety Dane Eubanks (5'11, 165, sr.) and the linebacker trio of Rock, Wheatley and Kyle Mitchell (5'8, 215, sr.) are defensive aces.
S-V/W-W opened the season by ending Carterville's long BDC winning streak, 33-19.
E-T was blanked last week against playoff-hopeful Hamilton County at home, 44-0.
- Jeff Profitt