A-J football opens with win
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Trailing host West Frankfort 7-0, Anna-Jonesboro bounced back to score five touchdowns on its way to a 35-14 win in the 2015 high school football season opener for both teams Friday night, Aug. 28.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We didn't get off to a good start," A-J coach Brett Detering said. "But the end result is what we were hoping for."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After the Wildcats' opening drive was thwarted and they were forced to punt, the Redbirds quickly went to work.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Running back Brandon Beery capped a six-play drive with a 1-yard TD plunge. The extra point kick gave West Frankfort a 7-0 lead with 7:12 remaining in the first quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Another A-J drive was thwarted and they had to punt again.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Redbirds moved to midfield and fumbled the football that was recovered by the Wildcats.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The fumble was the first of four West Frankfort would lose.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Turnovers were probably the big difference in the game," Detering said. "They turned the ball over four times and they were some big situations for us." </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Wildcat running back Alec Gold then picked up A-J's initial first down with a short run.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J quarterback Jake Stark completed a four-play drive by connecting with Zach Parr for a 40-yard TD strike.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Parr's extra point kick tied the game 7-7 with 2:08 left in the first quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Redbirds were then forced to punt on their next drive and Collin Prather received the punt and rambled 48-yards for the score. Parr's extra point kick put A-J ahead 14-7 with 12 seconds remaining in the first quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">On the first play following the punt, West Frankfort running back Kyle Sailliez broke through the line for a 79-yard TD jaunt. The extra point kick knotted the game 14-14 to conclude the first quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats then stalled a Redbird drive at midfield and forced a punt.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Following an eight-play drive, Stark broke through the line for a 59-yard TD run.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Parr's extra point kick was off the mark and A-J held a 20-14 lead with 4:02 remaining in the second quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">West Frankfort quarterback Hunter Pulley, 6-3, 230-pounds, was sacked twice to end the first half. A-J's Trenton Turner made the first sack and teamed with Austin Dillow for the second sack.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Midway through the third quarter, the Redbirds drove into Wildcat territory and were stalled and attempted a field goal that missed.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats were then forced to punt. On the first play from scrimmage, the Redbirds fumbled and the football was recovered by Jayce Turner.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Four plays later, Stark connected with Prather for a 25-yard TD strike. Parr's kick put A-J ahead 28-14 with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Redbirds fumbled again near the end of the third quarter and two plays later, sandwiched around a 19-yard run by Stark, Gold scored on a 1-yard plunge. Parr's extra point kick closed out the scoring at 35-14 with 11:50 remaining in the game.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats drove deep into Redbird territory and were stalled by back-to-back holding penalties and an intercepted Stark pass.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We should have scored," Detering said. "We've got to be more disciplined."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Gold led A-J's 222-yard rushing attack with 97 yards on 23 carries.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Gold made some nice runs for us," Detering said. "We did okay blocking. I certainly think we can do better and be more effective on the ground. Our defense played pretty well."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Stark rushed for 86 yards on 5 carries and was 3 of 7 passing for 59 yards with the lone interception. Receiver Parr made a pair of catches for 52 yards.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"In the first game, we made some mistakes but they are easily correctable," Detering said. "We knew a lot of our guys would be playing a ton. So, it's a challenge to be able to stay healthy and win that first game."</span></p>