The Road to Champaign: Tough Opening Round Hill for Tribe to Climb

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[For the 41st time in an already-state record run, Du Quoin High School's Football team will host an Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 3A State Playoff game.

The Indians, 8-1 and ranked ninth in the final Associated Press poll of 2009, welcome Hillsboro (6-3) to Van Metre Field for a 1 o'clock kickoff Saturday.

The Hilltoppers from Montgomery County enter the contest as the #11 seed in a loaded southern half-of-the-state bracket.

Du Quoin is picked sixth among a 16-team group that includes 10 squads with seven or more victories.

Saturday will be the 84th post season game for the Indians, who appear in the playoffs for an IHSA best 26th consecutive year.

Du Quoin, 22-3 in first round battles since 1984, is 35-4 on Van Metre's sod during that same playoff stretch.

"I've always felt like going 8-1 against our schedule deserves a first round home game," Indians coach Al Martin (22nd year, 221-43; 50-19 in playoffs; 1-1 vs. Hillsboro) said.

"These kids worked very hard during the off-season and have really worked to just get better and improve each day in practice. Now's the time where you hope all of the hard work and preparation pays off."

While Martin's team is riding an eight-game winning streak, they expect quite a challenge from a quick and physical Hillsboro unit.

Employing an aggressive 4-4 defense, the Hilltoppers have allowed just 38 points in the last three games since standout middle linebacker John Joyce (5'10, 175, sr.) returned from injury.

Joyce and the trio of Keith Thacker (6'2, 185, jr. ), Zac Wiltshire (5'10, 185, sr.) and Derek Davidson (5'11, 200, sr.) have combined for 184 stops.

Beau Jarman (5'10, 190, jr.), Trevor Lohman (5'11, 180, jr.) and Reid Cerutti (5'11, 235, sr.) anchor a solid defensive line.

The secondary is paced by leading tackler Dillon White (6'0, 155, jr.) and Keegan Lohman (5'8, 160, sr.).

"Hillsboro doesn't have the biggest defense we've played but they play very aggressive and physical.," said Martin. They have a lot of people around the football and look very fundamentally sound on film."

Thacker (359 yards, 3 td), sophomore Scott Ettling (5'10, 165, 419 yards, 5td) and Joyce (188 yards, 3td in last two games) are the top Hillsboro rushers.

Quarterback Robbie Dirigo (5'10, 190, sr.) has gained 387 yards and scored nine times. He's thrown for 607 yards, 441 to standout wideout Nolan Rappe (5'10, 160, sr.), who boasts all six touchdown catches.

Rappe's averaging just under 32 yards per reception.

"We run the stacked-I and will also break out into the double wing," second year coach Aaron Duff (9-9 at Hillsboro, 53-30 in 11 overall years) said.

"Robbie (Dirigo) is a very good quarterback who runs and throws effectively. We haven't thrown it all that much (76 times in nine games), but we've made some big plays."

Duff-who guided Greenville past Du Quoin and into the 3A semifinals in 2007-continues to build strong offensive line play at his alma mater.

Cerutti and Kurtis Clark (6'2, 230, jr.) are the key blockers up front. Wiltshire (C), guard Dalton Renfro (5'9, 165, sr.) and tackle Quinn Lipe (5'11, 240, so.) also start.

"We will need to stay our blocks and not make many mistakes against Du Quoin," said Duff. "The key for us is not turning the ball over and staying away from mistakes."

Du Quoin's balanced offense quickly gained Duff's attention-and respect-after exchanging game films with Martin last weekend.

Quarterback Matt Gossett (1,079 yards, 15td) spreads the wealth equally among all-state receiver David Rose (31 catches, 515 yards) and running mate Marcus Clarry (16 catches, 274 yards).

Sophomore tight end Brandon Williams has caught three touchdowns.

An improved running game relies on the halfback tandem of David Gayton and Aaron Smith, who've combined for 1,345 yards and 17 scores.

Seth Baxter (208 yards, 4td), Jamor Reed (195 yards, 2td) and Gossett (193 yards, 3td) add plenty of support.

"Du Quoin's backs hit the holes hard and fast," Duff noted. "I've been very impressed with them on film. The quarterback is a nice player and #9 (Rose) is a game-breaker type. They are just solid across the board offensively."

Seniors Alex Heape (C), Jon Tennyson (T) and Ozzie Britton (G) anchor Martin's offensive line, which also includes talented juniors Cory Campanella and Collin Keith.

Defensively, the Indians have surrendered just two touchdowns over its last 12-plus quarters.

Eleven Du Quoin defenders sport 40 or more stops.

The linebackers-Heape, Chaz Bland, Evon Stollhans and Jerel Holmes-have teamed up for 220 stops.

Up front, defensive tackles Patrick Jones, Bryce Hamburger and Jeremy Jones boast 120 more.

In the secondary, the trio of Rose, Reed and Clarry have been dominating. Clarry's 66 tackles are a team-high.

Ends Williams and Kenny Kabat are quickly improving. Kabat (6'1, 185, jr.) is just one stop behind Clarry on the tackle chart.

"Du Quoin just fly's to the football," Duff said of the Tribe's defense. "The secondary is very good. The line and 'backers will come right at us.""

With a forecast calling for drenching rains-and a chance of lingering showers at game time-the playing surface at Van Metre Field could quickly turn into a quagmire.

Bad weather forced the Tribe to practice indoors several times during the week. Friday's walk-through will also likely be held inside.

WDQN-AM (1580) carries Saturday's action live. Air-time is scheduled for 12:40 p.m.