Du Quoin edges A-J 28-21 in first round of playoffs

The Anna-Jonesboro High School football team’s season ended in dramatic fashion last Saturday.

The Wildcats were driving against host Du Quoin for the potential tying touchdown in the closing minute of the game when quarterback Aaron Smithey’s pass was picked off by Luchie Porter.

“He (Smithey) made a good throw,” A-J football head coach Brett Detering said. “The defensive back made a nice play on it. We felt we didn’t have enough time (for another run). But, I felt like we would have beaten them if we had a little more time.”

The Wildcats finished the season with a 6-4 overall mark, while the Indians, 8-2, advance to next week’s second round against Carterville.

Ironically, the pass was the only one attempted by the Wildcats in the game.

When the final A-J drive stalled, the Indians held on for a 28-21 win in first- round action of the Class 3A playoffs.

With the score tied 21-21, the Indians took over with a little over 8 minutes remaining in the game and engineered an 11-play drive that was capped by a 5-yard TD run by Seth Baxter.  Brenden Fred’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with 3:18 remaining in the game.

“They managed the clock well (on the final drive),” Detering said. “We just needed to make one more play and we couldn’t seem to make it.”

The game didn’t appear like it was going to be close from the outset.

The Indians took the ensuing kickoff and in six plays, James Willliams scored on a 76-yard TD strike from quarterback Sam Gossett. The extra point kick failed and Du Quoin led 6-0 with 8:52 remaining in the opening quarter.

However, the initial Indian drive appeared to have stalled when Gossett fumbled and A-J’s Brady Wright appeared to have recovered the ball.

“Brady Wright came up with it,” Detering said.

“But they ruled (Gossett’s) forward progress had been stopped.”

The Indians scored two plays later.

Following a Wildcat punt on their ensuing possession, the Indians were off again.

Aaron Smith scored on a 20 yard run following a 15-play drive. Gossett connected with Williams for the conversion pass and the Indians were ahead 14-0 with 41 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The Wildcats’ offense finally got on track.

Brandon Cerney set the first score up by making a nifty punt return to give A-J good field possition.

Smithey scored on a 1-yard TD plunge at the end of a 10-play drive. Jaden Ayers’ extra point kick pulled the Wildcats to 14-7 with 8:34 remaining in the second quarter.

On the ensuing Indian drive, Baxter scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 11-play drive. Fred’s kick boosted Du Quoin to a 21-7 lead with 3:40 remaining in the first half.

Another good kickoff return by Cerney gave the Wildcats good field position again. Dalton Baker capped a 6-play drive with a 1-yard TD run to pull A-J to 21-14 with 1:15 remaining in the first half.

A-J’s Dolton Yunker intercepted a Gossett pass near midfield to end the Indians’ final threat of the first half.

Neither team scored in the third quarter.

On A-J’s second possession of the final half  late in the third quarter, the offense went to work. Fullback Taylor Fitzgerald scored on a 6-yard run to cap a 13-play drive. Ayers’ kick tied the game at 21-21 with 8:11 remaining in the game.

“We really had success moving the ball against them,” Detering said. “The big difference playing them this time is that we didn’t turn the ball over. We played with them possession for possession.”

The Wildcats rushed for 336 yards to the Indians’ 202 yard rushing attack.

Fitzgerald led the way for A-J with 178 yards rushing in 20 carries. Smithey added 116 yards in 24 carries. Baker had 29 yards on 10 carries. Cerney added 20 yards on a carry.

The Indians rushed for 202 yards and Gossett was 4 of 7 passing for 124 yards.

The Wildcats had 55 yards of penalties with several off sides called on the defense.

“They were going on multiple counts and we didn’t make the adjustment,” Detering said.

Detering had nothing but praise for the Wildcats, who advanced to the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season.

“It’s tough for our 13 seniors playing their last game,” Detering said. “But our kids deserve a lot of credit for how hard they worked this year. I was proud of our kids. They played extremely hard and battled to the very end. We knew this season would be a challenge going in. It’s unfortunate we drew Du Quoin in the first round. We have four good teams in this conference.”  

Besides A-J and Du Quoin, the other two league stalwarts are Carterville and Nashville and both have advanced to second round action.