FOOTBALL: Panthers snap skid, end season on a high note at Dupo

Trent Hicks had four rushing touchdowns and quarterback Clayton Houghland threw for three more as Pinckneyville buried their five-game losing streak with a 56-12 thrashing of Dupo in week nine.

The Panthers looked much like the team everyone saw the first three weeks of the season when they started out 3-0 and racked up over 500 total yards - 331 on the ground, 208 through the air.

"It was a pretty productive night offensively," said Pinckneyville head coach Todd Thomas. "Tristan Fisher had a big night. Clayton Hougland did a good job, he was on the money (Friday) night and got some confidence. That's a good thing for the end of the season."

It was a two-point game after the first quarter ended, but from that point on, Pinckneyville dominated. Hicks found the end zone twice in the second period and Houghland connected with Tristan Fisher for a 90-yard touchdown pass with 1:29 to go in the half, and PCHS took a 29-6 lead into the break before cruising in the second half.

Houghland and Fisher connected again for a 50-yard TD in the third quarter, and Houghland also found Dalton Peradotto for an 18-yard TD.

After Hicks' fourth touchdown run early in the fourth, Alex Howard got into the scoring column with a 33-yard run for six late in the game.

"It was very good to see a smile on our seniors faces again," Thomas said. "They were very determined this week to not lay down, and they came ready to go in practice. They were very prepared. Dupo doesn't have a very good record, but I thought we played extremely focused and extremely well."

Hicks finished with 127 yards on just nine carries to lead the run game for Pinckneyville. Howard (3-49), Peradotto (3-38), Adam Banach (8-60), Caulden Lazenby (7-37), Gabe Yearian (1-11) and Tyler Rice (1-15) also ran for positive yardage for the Panthers.

Fisher had a career night receiving, catching five passes for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Banach (1-3) and Peradotto (1-18) also caught passes from Houghland, who finished 7-for-9 throwing for 208 yards with three TD passes.

The Panthers finish the 2014 season with a record of 4-5, which leaves Thomas' career mark as head coach of Pinckneyville at 9-9.