A-J rallies for big win on road at Du Quoin

With a little over 2 minutes remaining in the game and trailing by a point, the Anna-Jonesboro Community High School football team opted to run for the conversion points.

Running back Reid Morrison scored and the visiting Wildcats scored a 36-35 come-from-behind win over host Du Quoin on Friday night, Oct. 5.

“We were moving the ball pretty well on the ground,” A-J coach Brett Detering said. “We ran the same play we scored the touchdown on.”

The win left  the Wildcats undefeated in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division race with a 4-0 record and a 5-2 overall mark. 

Du Quoin, which suffered its first loss of the season, is 6-1 and 3-1 in the conference.

The Wildcats had called a time out with the extra point kicking team on the field. When they returned from the time out they were back in their regular offensive formation.

Morrison then scored to give the Wildcats the one-point advantage and the win.

Any Indian comeback bid ended on the ensuing drive when A-J’s Devon Toliver picked off quarterback Josh Heape’s pass at midfield.

But the Wildcats had trouble getting their offense rolling in the first half.

Both teams traded punts to begin the game.

After the Wildcats’ next punt, the Indians’ offense went to work.

Westly Milam scored on a 58-yard run on Du Quoin’s first play. Alec Caldwell’s extra point kick put the Indians ahead 7-0 with 8:23 left in the second half.

The Wildcats answered back on their next drive.

Morrison caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Conner Jerolds at the end of a 5-play drive. Noah Treece’s extra point kick tied the game 7-7 with 4:29 remaining in the first half.

On their next drive, the Indians’ Shamar Adams scored on the first play on a 78-yard TD run.

Caldwell’s kick boosted Du Quoin to a 14-7 advantage with 4:11 remaining in the first half.

A-J fumbled on its next drive and Braeden Pursell recovered the ball for the Indians.

The Indians’ Heape then capped a 10-play drive with a 12-yard TD pass to Anthony Cole.

Caldwell’s extra point kick put Du Quoin ahead 21-7 with 1 second remaining in the opening half.

“We had to battle back from two scores three different times,” Detering said. “We didn’t panic. We started moving the ball pretty well.” 

After the Indians were forced to punt on their opening drive of the second half, A-J’s offense came to life.

Wildcats’ fullback Damian Chrisp scored on a 5-yard run at the end of a 9-play drive.

Treece’s extra point kick pulled A-J to 21-14 with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter.

Nate Kisat recovered a fumble on the Indians’ next drive. However, that drive stalled when the Wildcats’ lost the ball on a fumble on their ensuing posession.

Heape then connected with Cole on a 19-yard TD pass to cap an 8-play drive.

Caldwell’s extra point kick boosted the Indians to a 28-14 lead with 11:52 remaining in the game.

After A-J’s Kyle McMahan made a good return deep into Indian territory on the kickoff, the Wildcats’ offense was rolling again.

Jerolds connected with Tyler Smith for a 21-yard TD pass. Treece’s extra point kick pulled A-J to 28-21 with 11:05 remaining in the game.

Milam scored then on a 53-yard run at the end of a 6-play drive. Caldwell’s extra point kick boosted Du Quoin to a 35-21 lead with 8:52 remaining in the game.

Chrisp then scored on a 3-yard run after a lengthy 11-play drive and A-J pulled to 35-28 with 3:59 left in the  game.

On the ensuing kick off, Du Quoin tried an onside kick that McMahan recovered at midfield.

Moving deep into Indian territory, an illegal motion penalty pushed A-J back to the 9-yard line.

Morrison then scored on a 9-yard run with 2:24 remaining in the game when A-J went  for the conversion point run to win the game.

“We did what we had to do to win,” Detering said. “It says a lot about our kids, it was a great team effort for them.”

The Indians rushed for 299 yards and had 99 yards passing.

“We knew going in they would be a very difficult team to defend,” Detering said. “They were a challenge. They’ve got so many different weapons. And, Milam was probably the best back we’ve seen this year.” 

Milam finished the game with 180 yards rushing on 15 carries. 

A-J’s 375-yard rushing attack was led by Chrisp’s 160 yards rushing on 31 carries. Jerolds had 101 yards on 16 carries and Morrison had 100 yards on 16 carries. Kisat had 9 yards on 4 carries and McMahan 5 yards on a carry.

Jerolds was 2 of 7 passing for 49 yards. 

“I thought Conner Jerolds played a really good game for us,” Detering said. I thought he ran the option well and made some good reads and he made some big plays for us.”

Both of Jerolds’ passes were for TDs.

Morrison scored on a 28 yard catch and Smith on the other for 21 yards.