FOOTBALL: Indians are Mississippi champs again
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ For the third consecutive season, the Du Quoin Indians claimed at least a share of the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference's Mississippi Division title, defeating Anna-Jonesboro 36-14 at "The Pit" on Friday night. The loss is the third in a row for the Wildcats, both on the season and to the Indians since 2007.
The Indians led by only one at halftime, but their defense shut down the Wildcats in the second half behind big play efforts of Bryce Hamburger among others.
"Sometimes your defense can really give your offense some momentum," said Indians head coach Al Martin after the victory.
"We've been able to execute our offense (the past few weeks), and if you can execute what you're trying to do, you have to feel pretty good. The kids executed very well."
Du Quoin struck first blood in a hurry with a five-play, 75-yard drive to start the game when Sam Gossett found James Williams on an out route around the Wildcats' 35 and the receiver took it up the sideline for six points.
The Wildcats got right back into it with a 70-yard drive of their own, riding fullback Taylor Fitzgerald almost all the way. Fitzgerald broke a 39-yard touchdown run with 5:57 to go in the opening quarter, and after an offsides penalty on Du Quoin put the extra point at the one-and-a-half yard line, A-J elected to go for two, successfully.
"They're a good ball club, I think they're especially good up front," said Martin. "That's a tough spot to start with, when you've got a good defensive line and a good offensive line, and Anna-Jonesboro has that."
The Indians gave the game the makings of a shootout on their next drive. Gossett connected with Aaron Smith on a swing pass and Smith made a couple of cuts then shot up the sideline for a 33-yard gain down to the Wildcats' seven yard line.
Seth Baxter dove into the end zone from four yards out a couple plays later, then Gossett again found Smith for the two-pointer and a 15-8 Du Quoin lead with 3:35 still remaining on the first quarter clock.
After an Indians punt with just over nine minutes left in the half, A-J began a drive at their own 33-yard line that would eat up over eight minutes of game clock and shift the momentum their way.
A-J quarterback Aaron Smithey broke loose for a 20-yard scramble down to the Indians' 35-yard line with just under 7:00 to play in the half. From there the Wildcats pounded away with eleven more running plays before Smithey's two-yard keeper up the middle cut the Du Quoin lead to a single point with 43 seconds left. The extra point attempt failed after a penalty pushed Anna-Jonesoboro back for a 25-yard attempt.
After the break, it was all Du Quoin.
On a big third down and three from the Wildcats' 37 on the first drive of the third quarter, Fitzgerald fumbled and Chaz Bland fell on the ball at the A-J 35 for a Du Quoin possession, the second fumble of the night for the Anna offense.
A wide handoff to Smith for a 21-yard gain set up Baxter's second TD, a 4-yard run that put the Indians ahead 22-14 after Brenden Fred's extra point.
Hamburger and the defense made sure that was all the Indians would need, as the senior defensive lineman stopped Smithey on a fourth-and-four, then a drive later sacked the A-J quarterback at the Wildcats' 21 to force a punt.
Jeremy Jones got a piece of that punt and the Indians took over at the A-J 27-yard line, and Gossett connected with Brandon Williams from 13 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 29-14.
Hamburger wasn't finished, recovering a fumble that he forced with a fourth-down sack on the Anna quarterback with just under eight minutes to go in the contest.
The Indians took over at their own 48, and Baxter broke free down to A-J's twelve on the first play of the drive, making a number of cuts and breaking more than one tackle on his way.
Gossett would eventually find the end zone with 5:50 to go in the game on a rollout scramble from the five yard line, and the Indians celebrated their sixth victory of 2010.
"We knew coming down (to Anna) it would be a tough battle," Martin said. "We had to be disciplined ... I think our disclipline was very good."
Baxter led the way on the ground with 73 yards on 14 carries, Smith added 59 yards on his 12 handoffs. Gossett took off and ran 4 times for 54 yards, and completed 4-of-9 passes for 110 yard and a pair of touchdowns. J. Williams led the Indians in receiving with two catches for 64 yards, B. Williams and Smith also hauled in passes.
In all, the Indians outgained Anna-Jonesboro 319 yards to 217.
The victory, coupled with Carterville's loss to Pinckneyville, helps Du Quoin (6-2, 4-1) come playoff time as they will receive seeding as the conference's champion due to their win over Nashville.
The Indians look to head into their 27th straight postseason on the right note this Friday with a trip to Murphysboro, a team they've beaten every season since 1994.