Turnovers hurt Wildcats in loss to Murphysboro
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The host Anna-Jonesboro Community High School football team couldn't get untracked in a 35-14 loss to visiting Murphysboro at The Pit Friday night, Sept. 4.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"It doesn't matter who you are – if you turn the ball over four times on offense and on the kickoff you're probably not going to see very many wins," A-J coach Brett Detering said. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Facing a team like Murphysboro, you can't fumble inside their own territory," he added.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats committed five turnovers in Red Devil territory. The visitors capitalized by scoring touchdowns.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Ironically, in its 2015 season opener, A-J took advantage of West Frankfort mistakes in an identical 35-14 win.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"West Frankfort turned the ball over to us four times," Detering said. "It doesn't really matter who you are, if you turn the ball over that many times you're probably going to get beat."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Red Devils improved to 2-0 and A-J evened its record at 1-1.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Murphysboro wasted little time scoring. In the Red Devils' initial possession, they took the opening kickoff on their 18-yard line.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Six plays later, quarterback Braden Miller connected with Aaron Wyatt for a 6-yard TD strike.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The extra point was missed and Murphysboro led 6-0 with 10:16 remaining in the opening quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats came back and drove into Red Devil territory before losing the ball on a fumble.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After an 11-play drive, Clay Rendleman scored on a 3-yard plunge. Miller connected with Kane Toliver for the two-point conversion and the Red Devils were ahead 14-0 with 3:32 left in the opening quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After A-J running back Alec Gold made a nifty kickoff return to near midfield, it appeared like the Wildcats were in good shape.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">But after a six-play drive, Gold fumbled deep in Red Devil territory.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Murphysboro was then forced to punt on the drive for the first time.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A-J's Collin Prather had a nifty return to midfield of the punt as the opening quarter ended.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Six plays later, Gold scored on a 6-yard run. Dakota Earnhart's extra point kick pulled the Wildcats to 14-7 with 8:21 remaining in the second quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Red Devils bounced back after a short drive when quarterback Braden Miller connected with Marshall Grammer for a 24-yard TD strike. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Noah Baird's extra point kick put Murphysboro ahead 21-7 with 4:40 left in the first half.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats' next drive was thwarted with a fumble. A-J's Caleb Clover then intercepted quarterback Miller's pass to thwart the Red Devil drive.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">With seconds remaining, the Wildcats were halted on a fourth and short yardage play.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Red Devils fumbled the ball and A-J recovered to end the first half.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats opened the second half by driving deep into Murphysboro territory before fumbling the ball on the 5-yard line.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After a 13-play drive, Rendleman scored on a 1-yard run. Baird's kick put Murphysboro ahead 28-7 with 11:47 left in the final quarter.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">After the ensuing kickoff was fumbled deep in A-J territory, three plays later Toliver scored on a 13-yard run. Baird's kick put the Red Devils ahead 35-7 with 10:25 remaining in the game.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">For the first time in the game, A-J was then forced to punt on its next drive.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We were having success on the ground," Detering said. "We were able to run the ball effecively, but we would turn the ball over." </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Because of the effective Wildcat running game, A-J quarterback Stark was only 1 of 2 passing for 13 yards.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Following another Red Devil punt, the Wildcats capped an 8-play drive with a 3-yard TD run by Trenton Turner. Earnhart's kick closed out the scoring with :08 seconds remaining in the game.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Rendleman led the way for the Red Devils with 176 yards in 16 carries and Miller was 12 of 16 with an interception for 170 yards.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"They had a nice running back and quarterback who threw really well," Detering said. "We knew they were going to be a tough team to beat."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Gold led A-J with 108 yards in 22 carries. Clover added 66 yards on 8 carries and quarterback Stark had 60 yards on 11 carries.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"You have to execute every week," Detering said. "Nothing is given to you."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The A-J head coach said that he hopes to work on correcting the problem and the Wildcats "take care of the football" in their remaining games.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"If you don't take care of the football and don't get stops, you'll probably not see many wins."</span></p>