Herrin defense will test Wildcats

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School football team’s offense will face a big challenge this Friday night.

The 7-1 Wildcats are set to host a 6-2 Herrin squad which boasts a strong defense.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.  at The Pit for A-J’s Senior Night game.

The game will be aired on WIBH radio in Anna. The game also can be heard live on www.annanews.com.

“Our offense will be tested,” A-J coach Brett Detering said. Detering noted that Herrin has only given up 38 points in the last seven weeks.

Herrin has clinched the the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Ohio Division title. A-J is in the conference’s Mississippi Division.

The Tigers defeated Harrisburg 40-0 last Friday night.

“We played pretty well defensively,” said Herrin coach Jason Karnes in talking about the Harrisburg win. “It really helped us in the offseason to stress defense to the team.”

Herrin’s stingy defense limited Harrisburg’s rushing attack to 116 yards and allowed no yards passing.

The defense is led by senior Joseph Hawkins, 5-7, 190 pounds. Other defensive standouts are junior Brent Milner, 5-11, 190 pounds; senior Patrick McCowen, 6-1, 190 pounds; senior Jayvon Yarbrough, 5-10, 210 pounds; junior Chris Butler, 5-8, 180 pounds; and sophomore Gavyn Gosha, 5-9, 170 pounds.

Senior Nick Hays, 5-9, 180 pounds, is the Tiger quarterback. He was 7 of 12 passing for 89 yards against Harrisburg.

Herrin’s top receiver has been senior Parick McCowen, 6-1, 190 pounds.

The leading rushing threat is junior Chase Merrill, 5-10, 180 pounds. He rushed for 102 yards on 14 carries against the Bulldogs. Milner rushed for 56 yards on 12 carries.

The offensive line is built round senior Benjamin Abney, 5-9, 190 pounds; Corey Vaughn, 6-2, 255 pounds; senior Brett Green, 5-11, 250 pounds; and Jeff Brown, 6-0, 180 pounds.

The Tigers have another weapon in junior field goal kicker Josh Haynes, 5-11, 150 pounds.

“If we get past their 40 yard line we can score with  Josh,” Karnes said. “He’s the best  kicker in the state.”

Detering said the Wildcats will have to bring their “A” game to be successful.

There is a lot at stake in this game. A win by either team could mean a possible home game for the winner in  the first round of the upcoming 2013 postseason playoffs.

Karnes knows what it will take to beat the Wildcats. His squad will need to stop A-J’s Jay Kemp, Damian Reed and Noah Fuller.

“We’ve got to make sure they don’t get the big plays on us. We’ll have to get some turnovers, too,” he said.