Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
Russell Conwell/River Radio Sports Central
MURPHYSBORO — The Blue team scored two touchdowns in the final 5:14 to come away with a 40-26 win over the Red team in a highly entertaining Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-Star Football Game played at Murphysboro.
Mt. Carmel’s Blayne Sisson, who is headed to play at the University of Illinois next year, ran for two touchdowns and threw a 75-yard go ahead TD pass to Mt. Vernon’s Mylan Nettles on 4th and 15 to give the Blue team a 33-26 fourth quarter lead.
After Pinckneyville’s Talan Benbrook broke up Brock Bowlby’s pass near the endzone on fourth down to stop the Red team’s potential game-tying drive, Nettles’ Mt. Vernon teammate Navontae Nesbit, Junior sealed the deal with a 70-yard touchdown run.
Nettles had a monster game, returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Another long kickoff return set up another score, and a long reception set up Sisson’s first rushing TD.
Playing on their home field for the final time, Murphysboro Red Devils Karmelo Abernathy and Josh Cano helped Red get on the board. Abernathy’s interception set up the drive, and Cano finished it with the first of two touchdown runs on the night.
Anna-Jonesboro’s Payton Denny also scored a first half touchdown as Red grabbed a 14-12 lead, but Sisson scored late in the half to give Blue a 19-14 lead at the half.
Sisson’s second rushing TD put the Blue team up 25-14 in the third, but the Red rallied.
Bowlby threw a TD pass to his Carbondale teammate Henry Harsy. Then in the fourth, Cano’s second TD put the Red Team up 26-25.
Sisson was named the Mike Rude Player of the Game. Nettles was named Offensive Player of the Game, while Du Quoin’s Dwayne Wilmington was named Defensive Player of the Game for the Blue Team. For the Red team, Bowlby was named Offensive Player of the Game and Murphysboro’s Sam Herring the Defensive Player of the Game. West Frankfort’s Brady Melvin and Breese Central’s Anthony Attaway were given the Paul Houghton Sportsmanship Awards.
