Wildcats face tough challenge against Murphysboro
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<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Anna-Jonesboro Community High School football coach Brett Detering knows his team will be in for a stiff challenge this Friday.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Wildcats host Murphysboro, which rolled to a 63-28 win over Jackson County rival Carbondale last week.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Game time is set for 7 p.m. The game will be aired on WIBH radio in Anna.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"They are certainly a very good football team," Detering said. "We know we will have to play well."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"People are excited about this team," Murphysboro coach Gary Carter said. "We've got some pretty good kids this year. We've got juniors and seniors who have been in our system for a long time and are ready."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Red Devils were led in the win over the Terriers by senior Justin Pulcher, 5-8, 155 pounds, who scampered for 133 yards on 2 carries. Teammate senior Clay Rendleman, 5-9, 200 pounds, racked up 113 yards in 14 carries. Sophomore Brandon Caldwell added 50 yards rushing on five carries.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We have quite a few running backs who can carry the ball," Carter said. "They know what they have to do."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Detering knows his defense will have to rise to the occasion.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We'll have to minimize their big plays," Detering said.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Murphysboro quarterback senior Braden Miller, 5-11, 170 pounds, was 9 of 13 passing for 182 yards. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">His top target was senior Marshall Grammer, 6-0, 180 pounds, who snared 3 passes for 81 yards.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Some of the stalwarts on the line are seniors Zach James, 6-3, 215 pounds; Ronald Gaston, 6-2, 290 pounds; and juniors Dalton Grammer, 6-2, 245 pounds and Dalton Miller, 5-11, 225 pounds.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Senior lineman Brock Barnes was injured in the opener and will sit out this week's game.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Carter says that Murphysboro will have its hands full this Friday.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Coach Detering will have them ready to play," Carter said. "They will be trying to figure out how to stop us. But everybody is going to bring their A game for us this year. We've got to go out every game and play well. We hope to have a good week of practice so we will be ready for them."</span></p>