By Sean Zollner
The Du Quoin Indian football team wasted no time getting on top of the Sparta Bulldogs Friday night, and they never let up running away with a 56-0 victory in conference play.
The visiting Indians scored three times in the first quarter with their last coming with 3:24 left to play in the opening frame for a  21-0 lead.
Du Quoin took advantage of some Sparta mistakes in the second quarter on their way to three more touchdowns before the half, the first score came just five seconds into the frame. On the ensuing kickoff, Sharvell Austin returned the ball and had to leave the game with a broken foot after the tackle.
Then came the first mistake. Quarterback Darius Jackson ran the option on the first play of the drive and there was a miscue on the pitch allowing Du Quoin to recover the fumble on Sparta’s 18-yard line. On the next play the Indians ran the ball 18 yards for a touchdown. The kick was again good and Du Quoin led 35-0.
On the next kickoff, Sparta couldn’t handle the bounce, again resulting in a turnover. Du Quoin got the ball on Sparta’s 30-yard line and eventually punched the ball in on a three-yard touchdown run to take a 42-0 lead into the locker rooms at the half. Sparta head coach Edmund Jones said the low numbers continue to make it tough for his team.
“We had low numbers in the first place and the injuries just make things harder,” Jones said. “Devante Garrett is going to have to replace Austin at tailback this week and Jackson is going to have to stay at quarterback. He gives us the best opportunity to have offensive success in that position because he’s a dual threat. Right now, we just have to get better at what we’re doing.”
In the second half, Sparta came out with a little spark when Jackson connected with Sean Lukes on a 33-yard pass to the Du Quoin 45 yard line. Unfortunately, a few plays later the drive fizzled out.
The Indians would not score in the quarter, but at the 11:55 mark in the fourth quarter they again punched in a two-yard run, this time they tried for the two-point conversion and failed, making the score 48-0.
The Indians would get one more score in the game on a 30-plus yard run with 3:08 left in the game. Again they went for two points, this time succeeding, making the final score 56-0 in favor of the visiting team.
This week the Bulldogs will take on the 4-1 Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats on the road. The Wildcats are coming off of their first loss of the year last week against the Pinckneyville Panthers, 26-13. Game time will be 7 p.m.