FOOTBALL: Sparta ends 32-year drought against Du Quoin
Sparta put an end to a 32-year drought against Du Quoin on Friday night, beating the Indians for the first time since 1983, 33-21. The Bulldogs took advantage of three Du Quoin turnovers and quarterback Drew Kordys threw for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Sparta signal-caller had two of his main targets go for over 100 yards receiving, too. Devin Brown hauled in 5 catches for 110 yards and Gabe Yearian caught 11 balls for 107 yards.
"Kordys is a three-year starter at quarterback, and that goes a long way," said DHS head coach A.J. Hill. "You're comfortable back there, there's not much you haven't seen, you're confident in your throws. It shows, he slings that thing around and he's confident, and that's what you want out of your quarterback, especially with the athletes they have on the outside."
Contrary to most of their other performances this season, the Indians got off to a blazing start on offense. After the opening kickoff sailed out of bounds, Du Quoin tailback Zayne Fornear took a handoff on the first play from scrimmage 65 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
But the Indians failed to reach the end zone the rest of the first half while Sparta's offense answered fast and kept tacking on points.
"It was a fast start for us," said Hill, "and we had been talking about trying to get off to a fast start all year. I don't want to say it was a bad thing to start like that, but I don't know if it was one of those things where we busted that first one open and our kids got comfortable or what it was. Things started to go downhill after that."
On their ensuing drive, the Bulldogs went 59 yards on 10 plays, the last 35 coming on a strike from Kordys to Brown to cut the lead to 7-6 after a failed extra point.
Sparta blocked a Du Quoin punt midway through the second quarter to take over on the Indians' 16-yard line, and Kordys capped off that short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Bulldogs got the ball back with 3:15 to go in the first half at their own 45-yard line and again marched down the short field in front of them. Yearian hauled in three passes on the drive and Alize Nesbit caught a fourth down pass from Kordys for a 15-yard score with 28 seconds left on the clock, allowing Sparta to head into the locker rooms up 19-7.
"We did a decent job defensively," Hill said, "but when they're starting on the 40 or 50 yard line, sometimes in our territory, it makes it a lot easier on the opposing team. They don't have to feel much pressure as far as play calling goes and things like that."
"Our special teams played a big part in it, we didn't play very well on special teams. We gave them good field position all night. Those are things we've just got to get better at and address during the week. You'd like to think in week six we wouldn't be talking about that, but that's the reality of it. We've just got to get better."
Du Quoin sacked Kordys in the end zone for a safety just moments into the second half, then continued their comeback with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Vogel to Jordan Edwards later in the third quarter. Sparta was clinging to a 19-15 lead with 6:37 to go in the period.
The Indians looked ready to take the lead early in the fourth, but fumbled it away to the Bulldogs at the Sparta 45-yard line, setting up a 2-play, 55-yard touchdown drive. Kordys hit Brown on a screen pass from 21 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 26-15 lead with 10:27 to play.
Vogel was picked off by Brown on the Indians next drive deep in Du Quoin territory, allowing Will Price to score from a yard out to put DHS away. Vogel found Devin Jones for a 4-yard score later in the fourth, but it wasn't nearly enough.
"We gave them the ball in our territory a few times, we made it easy on them," Hill said. "I don't want to take anything away from Sparta, because they're a well-coached football team. They play hard and they've got a ton of great athletes running around out there and they make some plays."
Fornear finished the night with another 100-yard rushing game, racking up 148 yards on 23 carries. Bryce Clarry carried 4 times for 14 yards, Vogel twice for 28 yards.
Vogel was 7-for-17 passing for 121 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He completed throws to Jones (1-4), Edwards (1-33), Brock Bullar (2-31), Cole Hopkins (2-45) and Braden Tuthill (1-7).
The Indians (3-3, 2-1) travel to Anna-Jonesboro this coming Friday night.