FOOTBALL: Indians back at .500 after rout of Sparta
A week ago last Friday, the Du Quoin Indians matched their season point total in a 22-18 win at Pinckneyville, scoring three touchdowns in what head coach Al Martin later called "a great accomplishment for us this year."
If reaching the end zone three times was great, then this past Friday's performance was nothing short of spectacular.
The Indians nearly matched their offensive output for the year again, racking up six touchdowns in a 42-18 home win over Sparta to even their record for the season at 3-3 and keep Du Quoin alive in the postseason conversation. It was DHS's 31st consecutive victory over the Bulldogs, who fell to 3-3 with the loss.
Sparta's Seth Ferguson ran for over 100 yards in the game, but the rest of the team's rushing totals added up to negative yardage against Du Quoin's defense.
On offense, the Indians again found the balance their head coach has been looking for throughout the season. A.J. Smith completed 9-of-15 passes for 66 yards, Lane Valier topped the century mark with 101 yards on 24 rushing attempts, and Du Quoin out-gained Sparta 350-202 in total yards from scrimmage.
"They're a good football club, they've got good athletes," said Du Quoin head coach Al Martin. "We knew they had some weapons, so we knew we had to play some good defense. We were able to run the ball a little bit and came up with some big pass plays, so I'm glad we were able to have good balance offensively."
Smith started the scoring through the air, finding Levi Brening for a 47-yard touchdown pass less than two minutes into the game for a 6-0 Du Quoin lead. The Indian quarterback finished off another drive before the end of the quarter with a one-yard plunge into the end zone, adding the two-point conversion run to make it 14-0.
Sparta stuck around, answering with Ferguson's 24-yard touchdown run with 10:06 to go in the half, but the Indians put together another solid drive shortly thereafter, with Valier punching it in from two yards out with 6:11 on the clock. DHS led at that point 22-6.
Ferguson broke loose again, though, less than a minute later. This time the Sparta back raced 22 yards for paydirt as the Bulldogs crept to within ten at 22-12.
But Smith would find Brock Bullar for an 11-yard touchdown pass with under a minute to go in the half, giving the Indians all the momentum heading into the break.
Valier took it in for a 4-yard score late in the third quarter, and the rout was on for the Indians as they went up 36-12.
Zane Fornear, who complemented Valier's rushing totals with 72 yards on a dozen carries himself, added a 14-yard TD run early in the final period to put it away.
"We feel like we're getting better, we're just improving each week," said Martin. "Every game is a big one now. It's just one game at a time and we've got to prepare ourselves as hard as we can each week."
Bryce Clarry added 31 yards on a pair of carries as the Indians racked up 284 yards on the ground.
Smith's leading receivers for the night were Brening (3 catches, 70 yards) and Bullar (4-58).
Sparta quarterback Drew Kordys was 8-for-14 passing for 102 yards, connecting five times with Micah Bradshaw (62 yards).
Du Quoin gained thirteen first downs in the game to Sparta's seven.
The Indians (3-3, 2-1) are at home again this Friday night against Anna-Jonesboro (1-2, 3-3) in what may be the final Van Metre Field appearance for Martin as head coach. Du Quoin is on the road in weeks eight and nine.