FOOTBALL: Lions win shootout in Pinckneyville

PINCKNEYVILLE, IL - Lions quarterback Michael Aschemann and fullback Phillip Frangello accounted for 358 total rushing yards as Carterville handed Pinckneyville their second straight loss in a 43-32 conference shootout at Quillman Field on Friday night.

Carterville out-gained the Panthers 513-330 in total offense and won despite being penalized for 130 yards on 13 flags and committing the game's only turnover on their first offensive drive.

"Our offensive line did a good job of wearing them down along with Phillip Frangello who ran hard the last quarter," said Carterville head football coach Dennis Drust. "We told him at the half to put us on his back and take us to a win, and he did that in he second half. The first half was all Asch, he made big plays. We're growing up, we've got some kids that are getting better each week. This was a big win for us."

Most of the Lions' damage was done with the option and a no-huddle offense - two things that seemed to give Pinckneyville fits from the opening kickoff.

"I think it was a good plan on their part," said PCHS head coach Tod Rushing. "If (Aschemann) was just an average kid, it probably wouldn't have bothered us too bad, but he made some good reads."

"I thought (Frangello) ran extremely well, that makes that quarterback even better because you do have to honor the fullback. When you've got a fullback like that and a quarterback like that, it's pretty tough."

The Panthers stalled just past midfield after recovering the first-quarter Carterville fumble, then the defense forced the Lions into a fourth-and-twelve at the Pinckneyville 40-yard line. Aschemann didn't punt, however, sprinting all the way to the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 34 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

Both teams followed with a three-and-out, and this time when Carterville actually did drop back to punt, the Panthers came with pressure and forced a short kick to the Lions' 32-yard line.

Colton Nelson found Justyn Rushing on a 19-yard completion between defenders in the end zone a few plays later, but the Panthers couldn't get the two-point conversion and trailed by one with 8:21 left in the half.

Carterville drove 80 yards for the second time on their next possession, an 11-play series that ended with Aschemann keeping it for a five-yard TD run and a 14-6 advantage.

Later in the quarter Carterville had 58 yards to go and 1:57 to get there, and Aschemann got the drive going with a pair of runs down to Pinckneyville's 38. On second-and-five, Aschemann connected with Sam Stearns for a touchdown, but it was called back for an illegal formation flag. From the 39-yard line, the Lions ran the exact same play - and it worked again. Stearns' touchdown catch and Aschemann's two-point run made it 22-6 with 52 seconds on the clock.

That was enough time for the Panthers, who got a nice return from J. Rushing on the kickoff down to the Lions' 30 before Nelson found Dalton Bathon for a 17-yard TD pass just before halftime.

A 66-yard touchdown run by Aschemann less than a minute into the second half gave the Lions a three-score cushion at 29-12, but the Panthers refused to go away.

Nelson passed to J. Rushing for a 34-yard touchdown, then the defense got a much-needed stop. Chase Lazenby then hauled in a 32-yard reception to set up a 5-yard touchdown run by J. Rushing that cut Carterville's lead to three points following a two-point conversion from Nelson-to-Bathon.

The Lions responded, going 79 yards on 11 plays with Frangello scoring from 17 yards out on the ground. Carterville's defense then made a stand when they had to, getting a three-and-out to set up Aschemann's fourth TD run of the game.

Nelson later connected with Bathon for a 6-yard TD strike, but it wasn't enough.

"I think we had three of four sophomores out there at the skill positions at times," T. Rushing said. "They all did a good job, and Colton did a great job. He took a lot of pressure tonight, took a lot of knocks, and he made some big throws with people in his face."

"We had some great catches, Dalton (Bathon), Chase (Lazenby) and (Justyn) Rushing all made some big catches. You've got to have people that make plays, and they made them."

Aschemann finished his evening with 216 rushing yards on 22 carries and threw for 138 yards on 10-of-13 passing. Frangello carried 20 times for 142 yards.

Nelson led the Pinckneyville offense, rushing for 69 yards on his 15 attempts and connecting on 19-of-39 passes for 214 yards in the air. J. Rushing (4-71), Bathon (9-69), Lazenby (1-32), Ky Hamilton (2-26), Daulton Hubler (1-5), Trent Hicks (1-6) and Jacob Downard (1-5) all caught passes for PCHS.

J. Rushing (4-33), Hicks (4-11) and Chris Mitchell (1-3) rounded out the Panthers' rushing totals.

Both teams will enter week five at 2-2 with the Panthers heading to Anna-Jonesboro (3-1) and the Lions hosting Nashville (1-3).