Friday Night Lights: Dangerous Nashville Rainy Night Foe for Tribe

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Following last week's lopsided Homecoming win over Perry County rival Pinckneyville, Du Quoin High School's Football team faces a dangerous opponent on its Homecoming night.

The Indians (5-1, 3-0) visit Nashville (3-3, 1-2) in River-to-River Conference, Mississippi Division play at NCHS Field.

Kickoff is set for 7 o'clock Friday night as the two schools meet for the 49th time.

Du Quoin-which has held the Hornets without a touchdown in four of the last six renewals-holds a commanding 36-11-1 lead in the all-time series. Last year at Du Quoin, the Indians coasted to an easy 49-20 win.

Despite dressing just six seniors on his roster, fourth-year coach Matt Gajewski (12-21, 0-3 vs. Du Quoin) has assembled a big and athletic squad.

Speedy Gannon Mammell (5'10, 150, jr.) is the Hornets top runner and pass catcher. Chris Storey (6'0, 210, sr.) works at fullback with quarterback Brady Harre (6'1, 160, jr.) already a two-year starter.

An all-junior offensive line, led by 290-pound tackles Travis Newman, David Gill and Brandon Lehde (5'9, 265) will out-weigh the 10th-ranked Indians at virtually every position.

"Nashville is a very big, strong and physical football team along both the offensive and defensive lines," Indians coach Al Martin (22nd year, 218-44, 21-3 vs. Nashville) said. "It's not easy to prepare for Nashville. They will run that real tight wing offense but also have the speed to spread things out. It's really like getting your kids ready to play against about three or four different offenses."

After opening 2009 with a 31-8 blitzing of still-playoff eligible Benton, the Hornets were beaten 41-13 at rival Breese Mater Dei.

A 59-20 win over West Frankfort followed before the Hornets lost to Chester (6-3) and Pinckneyville (26-18).

Last week, Nashville rallied in the final 40 seconds to outlast another likely playoff-bound foe, Anna-Jonesboro, 36-29.

"When we look at Nashville on film the one thing standing out is how much they've improved since the Pinckneyville and Chester games. In just a week or two, they've seemed to get things going again."

Senior quarterback Matt Gossett leads Du Quoin's high-energy offense.

Gossett (6'4, 185) has thrown for 793 yards, a dozen touchdowns and two PAT passes.

Sure-fire all-stater David Rose (28 catches, 406 yards, six TD) and Marcus Clarry (13 catches, 228 yards, three touchdowns) are the primary targets for Gossett. Sophomore tight end Brandon Williams (6'4, 225) is rounding into near 100% health after battling a groin injury the past few weeks.

David Gayton (509 yards) and Aaron Smith (four games, 356 yards) are the top rushers.

Defensively, captains Rose, Jamor Reed, Alex Heape and Clarry are among the tackle leaders. The quartet's combined for nearly 190 stops.

A victory Friday all but secures Du Quoin extending its IHSA record state record consecutive playoff streak to 26 years. A sixth win all but secures the deal, and guarantees the Tribe no worse than a share of another River-to-River Conference title in the Mississippi Division.

An ominous weather forecast-that includes the potential of up to six inches of rain falling in and around Nashville between now and kickoff time Friday, does concern Martin.

"Nashville is probably better suited for a game on a muddy and slick field, " Martin admitted. "But I feel like we can play that way, too."

For the first time in several weeks, the Indians appear fully healthy.

Starters Evon Stolhans (LB) and Jonathon Tennyson (OT) are nursing injuries from the Pinckneyville game, but should be ready to go.

WDQN-AM (1580) broadcasts the Indians vs. Hornets live, starting at 6:40.

"The next game is always what's most important," Martin said. "That's what we are focusing on. We want to get better and win that sixth game