Massac County brings 0-2 record to A-J this Friday
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<p class="p1">The Massac County High School football team is 0-2 after a 31-23 loss to Carterville last weekend.</p><p class="p1">But the winless record doesn't mean a lot.</p><p class="p1">"They played Carterville really tough," A-J coach Brett Detering said about Massac County. "They had the football for a whole half. They just made some mistakes."</p><p class="p1">"We gave up some big plays and we made some mistakes," Massac County coach Ryan Lott said. "But, we're improving each week. We just need to play more consistently."</p><p class="p1">A-J is scheduled to host Massac County this Friday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired on WIBH radio in Anna.</p><p class="p1">This is the official White Out game to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. </p><p class="p1">A silent auction in the gymnasium is scheduled, as well as give away prizes, including two airline tickets.</p><p class="p1">The Patriots lost their season opening game 35-13 to Freeburg.</p><p class="p1">Senior running back Devon Wade, 5-8, 180 pounds, led the Patriot rushing attack in the loss to Carterville with 109 yards in 17 carries. Senior Malik Miller, 5-10, 220 pounds, added 33 yards on 13 carries.</p><p class="p1">Senior quarterback Jay Bernard, 6-2, 205 pounds, had a good game passing, completing 16 of 25 attempts for 191 yards with no interceptions.</p><p class="p1">"He had a lot better second half than he did in the first half," Lott said. "He was starting to settle in."</p><p class="p1">His top receivers downfield were senior Brock Costello, 5-8, 170 pounds, who had 69 yards on 6 receptions, and junior Darien Roundtree, 5-0, 150 pounds, who snared 7 passes for 64 yards. </p><p class="p1">One of the top lineman is senior Zach Donaldson, 6-5, 275 pounds.</p><p class="p1">Defensive stalwarts are seniors Brayden Campbell, 6-3, 250 pounds and Ty Copley, 5-9, 205 pounds; and juniors Lane Pegram, 6-1, 220 pounds and Caleb Ashley, 5-10, 250 pounds.</p><p class="p1">Massac County finished last season with an 0-9 record.</p><p class="p1">Lott does like the forecast of cooler weather this Friday because Massac County is playing a lot of his players both ways. The first two games of the season were hotter game conditions and wore down his starters, he noted.</p>