FOOTBALL PREVIEW: New look Indians begin the A.J. Hill era
It's not very often that a change is made in the varsity head football coaching job at Du Quoin High School. In fact, prior to this season, it has happened only once in the last 46 years.
25-year-old A.J. Hill becomes just the third man to lead DHS onto the field since Bob Karnes took over in 1968 when he and the varsity Indians kick off the 2015 season this Friday night at Van Metre Field against the Sesser-Valier-Woodlawn-Waltonville (S-V-W-W) Red Devils at 7 p.m. Following in the Hall-of-Fame footsteps of Karnes and Al Martin, it would be easy for Hill to feel some pressure, but the former quarterback of the Indians' 2008 state runner-up squad says he's not letting it get to him.
"Of course you can't overlook what Coach Martin accomplished here at Du Quoin," said Hill. "He's a great guy if you know him, and he's been great for this town and community for 27, 28 years. They're definitely some big shoes to fill, but I don't think I look at it that way. I know Du Quoin is a football town. I'm just fortunate enough to be able to follow in his steps. At first it was kind of surreal. Two coaches since 1968 and I'm number three, that's a pretty cool feeling. I don't put any pressure on myself, and neither does anyone else really, to try and be Al."
"It's been pretty interesting. The emotions are high just coming out here and getting to do it for the first time, being in charge. It's been a great experience, I've got a lot of good coaches out here with me, and I've got a great group of kids."
A new coach, a new playbook, and new jerseys will be the immediate changes fans will notice on Friday night when the Indians begin year two of their co-op with Elverado High School for varsity football. What Hill hopes hasn't changed is one of the strengths of the program year in and year out, their line.
"I definitely think one of our strengths will be up front on both sides of the ball," said Hill. "We've got some strong kids up there who want to be physical, especially a couple that have starting experience. The interior lines, and trying to establish the run game, that just makes it easier as a play caller."
While so many other teams are going to a spread formation on offense, Hill says he still wants his team to be a run-first, smash-mouth football team that wears down a defense over the course of four quarters. In addition to the offensive line, returning running backs Bryce Clarry and Zayne Fornear will be important to getting that accomplished.
"Noah Barnes has done a great job, too," Hill added. "All three of those guys are juniors, and really we have four or five running backs I feel pretty comfortable with putting back there. They'll all find their way on the field somehow."
"Brock Bullar had a great year on both sides of the ball. He's a rock, he always knows what he's doing. He'll be in the backfield, he'll be at receiver, and we'll move him around defensively. We've definitely got some good skill position players. We've got to find a way to incorporate them all and get them on the field."
Although establishing the run may be priority number one, Hill says if the situation calls for quarterback Caleb Vogel to air it out, the Indians will be ready.
"We definitely have the personnel to be a spread team," Hill said. "Vogel can throw the ball more than well enough. He's gotten a little stronger this offseason, that's helped with his velocity on his passes. He's a great runner too. He's kind of at his best when the play breaks down and he has to move around and instinctively make a play."
One of Vogel's main weapons in the passing game will be easy to find - 6'3, 240-lb. Devin Jones, who Hill calls a "special target."
"That's a nice target for a QB, and kind of a safety blanket," said Hill. "He's a kid that wants the ball thrown to him every play. He has no problem catching the ball and getting downfield. Vogel, Fornear and Jones all went to the state track meet last year. They're three pretty special athletes that have started to come into their own and grow into their bodies a little bit."
The past few years have been a bit of an oddity for the Du Quoin football program. Only once in the last four seasons have the Indians made the playoffs, and they were below the .500 mark each of the past two years. Prior to 2013, DHS hadn't had a losing record since 1980.
While nobody expects Hill to march in and turn things around overnight, he says expectations are still high. It is, after all, Du Quoin Indian football.
"The plan is always to win the conference and make it to the playoffs," Hill said. "Take care of business during the regular season. I wouldn't say I've been looking at it, and I don't think we every really have in years past, as 'we've got to make the playoffs.' I do think this is a team that has the potential to make a little run and win some regular season ball games, which will put us in position to make the playoffs."
"The last couple years we've missed the playoffs, and I think it's just getting the kids excited about it and getting that feeling back on Friday night that it's Du Quoin football again."