DU QUOIN - The Du Quoin Indians punctuated an 8-1 regular season with a 49-0 nonconference win over Murphysboro.

Although the Indians put 49 points on the board, it was the Du Quoin defense that was dominant. A blocked punt by Chaz Bland following Murphysboro's first possession set the tone for the game.

After Bland's block, the Indians gained control of the football on the Murphysboro 29. It took Aaron Smith one play to put Du Quoin on the scoreboard. Smith took a pitch around right end and rolled into the end zone untouched.

"Our defense, I thought, play well right off the get-go," said Du Quoin coach Al Martin. "We got the blocked punt; the defense definitely got us going."

The first quarter ended with the Indians holding a 7-0 lead, but Du Quoin lit up the scoreboard in the second quarter. They scored 21 points in the first 59 seconds of the quarter.

Smith scored again on an eight yard run.

David Rose picked off an Eben Brooks pass on Murphysboro's first play from scrimmage and returned the ball to the Murphysboro 9.

"We felt we had to play good defense against them," Martin said. "They scored 30 points against Harrisburg last week."

Smith scored his third touchdown on the next play.

A mix-up on the ensuing kickoff gave the ball right back to Du Quoin. The kick landed between three Murphysboro players with no one wanting to grab it. Following a brief scrum, Du Quoin's Jerel Holmes recovered.

"We had some guys that I don't think were ready to play," said Murphysboro coach Bob Stilley. "We did a lot of standing around. I don't know if it was because we were in awe of Du Quoin.

"If you're not ready to play against a team like Du Quoin, it's going to get ugly early."

After Holmes recovered the botched kickoff on the Murphysboro 26, it took just four plays for David Gayton to reach the end zone. He scored on a 15-yard run just 59 seconds into the second quarter.

Du Quoin would put two more scores on the board before the half. Jamar Reed scored on a four-yard run at the 5:13 mark and Seth Baxter scored from the 11 with 2:45 remaining in the half.

"I thought our offense was balanced," Martin said. "We got the ball in a lot of people's hands."

The Red Devils finish the season at 3-6.

Murphysboro 0 0 0 0 - 0

Du Quoin 7 35 0 7 - 49

DQ-Smith 30 run (Bigham kick), 1st 10:01

DQ-Smith 8 run (Bigham kick), 2nd 11:55

DQ-Smith 9 run (Bigham kick), 2nd 11:38

DQ-Gayton 15 run (Bigham kick), 2nd 11:01

DQ-Reed 4 run (Bigham kick), 2nd 05:13

DQ-Baxter 11 run (Bigham kick), 2nd 02:45

DQ-Baxter 6 run (Bigham kick), 4th 09:57

MU DQ

First downs 5 18

Total Net Yards 120 379

Rushes-yards 21-71 46-297

Passing 49 82

Comp-Att-Int 6-20-2 4-7-1

Penalties-Yards 1-5 4-25

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 1-0

Time of Possession 00:00 00:00

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-MU, McWilliams 9-41, O. Jarrett 6-40. DQ, Gayton 10-97, Smith 8-81, S. Clarry 10-56, Baxter 8-41, Bigham 2-25.

PASSING-MU, Brooks 6-20-2-49. DQ, Gossett 4-7-1-82.

RECEIVING-MU, Stanton 1-4, Mueller 1-32, Cook 1-14. DQ, Williams 1-9, Rose 2-73.

les.winkeler@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5088