A-J Wildcats to host Pinkneyville Panthers for homecoming game

The Pinckneyville High School football team lost 54-6 to undefeated Du Quoin last Friday.

The Panthers will travel to Anna-Jonesboro for the Wildcats’ homecoming game this Friday night.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired on WIBH radio in Anna.

The Panthers, 3-2, will take on the Wildcats, who are also 3-2.

“We played really well in our first three games and then we fumbled and lost the ball six times in the first half,” Pinckneyville coach Tod Rushing said. 

“It snowballed after that,” Rushing said, adding that Du Quoin “is a good team, but you can’t afford to make mistakes like that.”

The Wildcats only fumbled once in their win.

“They are certainly a team that is small in numbers, but they’ve got some big kids up front,” A-J coach Brett Detering said. “It’s a good matchup for us.”

The offensive line is built around seniors Lucas Gerlach, 6-0, 260 pounds, and Seth Witbracht, 6-3, 355 pounds, and juniors Ty Fleming, 6-1, 240 pounds and Dalton Kitchen, 6-0, 285 pounds.

Junior running back Darian Harris,  5-10, 175 pounds, led the rushing for the Panthers in the DuQuoin loss with 45 yards on 18 carries. Senior Chase Fulkerson, 6-3, 235 pounds, is another top backfield candidate. 

Quarterback is junior Hunter Riggins, 5-11, 170 pounds, who was 6 of 14 passing for 67 yards against the Indians. 

Senior Lucas Downard, 5-11, 160 pounds, was his top receiver with 4 receptions for 54 yards.

Top defensive players are seniors Fulkerson, Stetson Lappin, 6-0, 170 pounds, and Dreden Kreger, 5-10, 170 pounds, and juniors Dalton Kitchen, 6-0, 285 pounds, and Riggins.

“We’ve got to play well and not make mistakes,” Rushing said. “The big thing is we have to forget last week and not dwell on it, but just learn from it.”

“We’ve got to continue to improve,” Detering said.”Hopefully, we’ll continue down that path.”