Indians blast Bulldogs
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[In several instances recently, the Harrisburg High School football team has been able to hang around with the Du Quoin Indians at Van Metre Field.
Yet somehow, the Bulldogs just can't seem to get to halftime quick enough, when the roof caves in. Such was the case in Friday night's 43-7 Indians romp.
Trailing just 7-0 late in the second period, the Bulldogs (0-2) once more fell apart on the Indians' turf, courtesy to the hands and legs of one Dalton Morgan.
First, Morgan crashed through to block a Bulldogs punt, which wound up being a safety. Then, just seconds later, Morgan grabbed a 47-yard scoring pass from quarterback A.J. Hill, a crossing pattern which wound up being a one-man footrace down the south boundary.
Suddenly, what was a 7-0 lead for DQ was a 16-0 bulge, and DQ (2-0) was well on its way to winning an eighth straight contest in this series.
"(Morgan) made some big plays for us," DQ coach Al Martin said. "That turned the ball game around. He showed some speed down the sidelines on the touchdown catch. Dalton's a kid that has a second burst and he showed it tonight."
Despite being dominated statistically in the first half, the Bulldogs were able to play well enough defensively to be down just one touchdown before the late breakdowns.
Hill connected with David Rose for an 18-yard touchdown on Du Quoin's second drive, on a third down and long situation, to get the scoring started.
Harrisburg's defense played admirably in the first half, coming up with a fourth-down sack of Hill and falling on a fumble.
However, the Bulldogs offense continued their trend of struggling, netting but 18 yards on 11 carries and looking producing two first-half first downs.
The best sign of life came when quarterback Reid Roper hit Cain Sheldon on a 27-yard fly pattern. But the drive stalled when Dawson Montfort was stuffed on fourth and one at the DQ-44.
Still, the game was 7-0 until Morgan came up with his big plays.
HHS coach Jason Roper said his punt unit was aware of the Indians' ability to stunt.
"We had a mental breakdown," Roper said. "We knew they were going to attack up middle. The Morgan kid blitzes in the middle and blocked the punt."
DQ brought the momentum back with it in the third period, converting three Bulldogs turnovers into scores.
Cale Bastien scored on a 15-yard pass from Hill, Hill snuck in from a yard out and Jamor Reed stiff-armed Montfort to the turf on an eight-yard skirt around left end.
By the end of the third period, the Indians had run up a 36-0 lead and the rout was on.
After backup fullback Ben Conner scored from two yards in the fourth period, the 40-point clock rule prevailed.
Assisted by a couple of Du Quoin personal fouls, Harrisburg foiled the shutout on a Noah King touchdown run.
"Du Quoin had momentum most of the game," Roper said. "A.J. Hill's like a fullback at quarterback."
Harrisburg was outgained 212-54 on the ground and Hill threw for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
"Offensively, we're not in rhythm," Roper said. "We're having a hard time running the football, but we're working with what we've got."
Both teams venture into Williamson County next week; Harrisburg plays at Marion, while Du Quoin goes calling in Herrin.