Herrin rallies past Murphysboro
MURPHYSBORO - It wasn't a school-record 300-yard rushing night as was the case in Week 2 against Carterville, but senior halfback Jackson Yates was nearly as good Friday as the Herrin Tigers rallied past host Murphysboro, 37-35.
Yates rushed for 196 yards on 18 carries with four touchdowns, including the game-winner.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 2-0 in the Ohio Division of the River to River Conference and 4-1 overall. The Red Devils fell to 1-1 in the league and 3-2 overall.
Trailing 35-31 after Jake Hoppenstedt scored from 1 yard out with 6:32 to play in the game, the Tigers strapped on their work boots and lunch bucket and went to work. 
Starting from their own 20, they methodically churned out first down after first down while running from their double-tight end formation against nine and 10 men in the box defensively for the Red Devils.
Yates capped off the 80-yard march with a dash to the endzone from 5 yards out with 1:14 left in the game.
"Gutsy is the word I would use to describe that drive. Good old-fashioned Herrin Tigers football," said veteran head coach Jason Karnes. "We had our backs against the wall a few times tonight. It took four quarters to pull out a 'W' tonight."
Murphy's Dezmond Clark opened the scoring with a 29-yard run for a score at the 7:30 mark of the first period after the Tigers, who had forced the home team to punt on its initial drive, committed a penalty that kept the drive alive. 
The extra-point kick failed.
Yates responded for Herrin with a 39-yard run at the 0:42 mark of the first quarter.
Senior Tate Johnson then gave the Tigers the lead at 14-6 with a 5-yard run with 10:00 left in the second period.
The Red Devils tied the game at 14 moments later on a 14-yard TD catch from sophomore signal caller Ryan Finke.
Aiden McNitt then gave Murphy the lead back on a 20-yard run to paydirt with 2:27 left in the half.
One minute later, Herrin answered as Yates bolted to the end zone from 25 yards out. The score was tied at 21 at the break.
The Tigers retook the lead with 10:20 to go in the third period when Yates split two defenders en route for a score from 63 yards out.
Kevin Kirkwood knotted it back up at 28 all for the Red Devils when he scored from 10 yards out.
Herrin's Jake Baumgarte put the visitors back on top with a 35-yard field goal that would have been good from 50 to make the score 31-28 with 2:12 to play in the third.
Murphy then took the lead one final time at 6:32 of the fourth on Hoppenstedt's dive, setting the table for Herrin's game-winning drive.
In addition to Yates' 196 yards, senior fullback Jeff Rock contributed 72 yards on seven carries. Johnson netted 70 yards on 10 tries and quarterback Chance Karnes chipped in 23 yards on eight attempts. Karnes was also 2-of-4 passing for 29 yards.
Murphy, which finished with over 400 rushing yards, was led by Hoppenstedt's 149 yards on 21 rushes. Clark added 106 on 14 carries.
"When we clean up our mistakes (jumping off sides, late hits etc.), we're going to be a so much better ballclub," Karnes said. "We're 4-1 now, but there's so much room for improvement."
Herrin will host the Massac County Patriots on Homecoming this Friday.