Sophomore Football: Back & Forth Affair goes to DQ

The Harrisburg High School sophomore football team evened its record to 1-1 with a 52-22 loss to Du Quoin Monday night.

Xavier Doss returned the opening kickoff of the second half 84 yards for the score and knotted the game at 22-all, but on the ensuing kickoff Du Quoin returned its kickoff for a touchdown to take the 28-22 advantage and later added a score late in the third quarter, building a 36-22 lead.

"I thought we might have some momentum right after half time when we returned the kickoff for a touchdown but then DuQuoin returned the favor by returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown," Harrisburg sophomore head coach Kyle McGowan said." From there, it seemed like we could never rebound or get back into the game. What momentum we had had shifted. Defensively, we have to play better and tackle better."

Doss scored on a 13-yard run in the first quarter, getting Harrisburg on the board and tying the game at 6-6, but with one minute to play, DQ found paydirt to go up 14-6.

Jordan Gould tied the game again for Harrisburg, scoring from six yards out with 6:46 left in the second quarter. Doss added the two-point conversion, but DQ again scored with 41 seconds to play before half to take the 22-14 lead.