Fred Huff's look at the hallowed and proud history of Du Quoin High School Football
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[As great as the football Indians have been in the 2000s, it's impossible for them to match the number of wins posted in the previous decade . . . not even if coach Al Martin's current club goes all the way in this year's playoff series opening Saturday.
It's simply a case where Du Quoin's consistency in the 1990s is difficult to duplicate and that's hardly a criticism. The 104 overall wins posted from 1990 through 1999 was highlighted by one perfect season -- 1992 -- when the Indians won 14 of 14, including a state championship.
The new century, however, has been kind to the program and has been sparked by several career performances as well as superior offensive efforts by the likes of Robbie Eaton, Jordan Campanella, Jarod Karnes, Jaret Willi, Nick Hill, Ridge Thompson, Jon Lanum, David Rose and A.J. Hill.
At the same time there have been a number of defensive standouts in recent years. Just a few of the names include Matt Brown, Collin Bastien, Matt Beckham, Chase Porter, Chad Wilson, Chris Worthington, Seth Milam, Heath Bastien, Scottie Anders, Dalton Morgan and Matt Gossett. The list is almost endless. It's impossible to name them all and that's one of the advantages of the book on Du Quoin's football history. It includes all of the all-conference selections, both offense and defense.
Another difference worth noting between the 1990s and 2000s is the number of high-scoring players in the earlier decade is twice as many as those in more recent years.
Eaton, the Lanums, both David and Jon, and Willi all topped the century mark in the scoring department in the 1990s while A.J. Hill has been the only player to do so in the 2000s. At least that's what our study of the Du Quoin Evening Call's files reveal and that has been our primary source of information for all that is included in the 160-page book due out soon after the completion of this season.
There have been 16 athletes who have led Du Quoin in scoring in back-to-back seasons. Only one has led for three years in a row.
The 16 include Elbert Catanzaro, Bill Martin, Don Baughman, Curtis Jackson, Dan Dudas, Chuck Koerner, Don Stanhouse, Stan Clarry, Jeff Robinson, Bruce Cavins, Ken Johnson, Marty Nutter, Gonnie Morgan, Robbie Eaton, Jon Lanum and A.J. Hill.
Which one led his teammates for three seasons in a row?
We're not revealing that answer right now, but many loyal Du Quoin fans can probably answer the question in the event you need to know before the book hits the streets.
Every school in southern Illinois, as far as that goes, throughout the state, has its strong supporters. Fans who continue to back the high school program throughout the years are one reason the activity is so successful and is so important in the lives of young boys/men in their development years.
Recognizing all them -- and there are more than 1,400 names of lettermen in the book -- is the major reason for publishing the book. We sincerely hope you enjoy it and we'll be sure to let you know when and where it'll be available.