10/24/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
ALTON - In what appeared to be a classic matchup between rival schools in the river bend region of the Metro-East on Friday night turned into a blow out quickly for Roxana and head coach Wade DeVries.

With his Shells coming in with the same won-loss mark (5-3) as Alton Marquette, the game had the look of a close game on paper.

It never was.

Roxana scored on it six of its eight possessions in rolling to a 41-6 victory to improve to 6-3 on the season.

It was their second consecutive rivalry game triumph, having defeated East Alton-Wood River the week before.

Qualifying in 3A, the Shells will await the pairings that will be announced Saturday night by the IHSA for the upcoming playoffs.

“We really want to come out and set the tone. We always want a score/stop/score and have some doubt creep in for them (Marquette),” said Coach DeVries. “They have some kids that can play. Their running back (Croft) and linebackers can go and it certainly wasn't like it has been for them the last few years.”

Alton Marquette is also playoff eligible and will await their fate on Saturday as well.

Heading into the game on Friday, Roxana had racked up over 2,600-yards on the ground.

Coach DeVries' attack crammed another 232-yards on the ground on 37-attempts against the over-matched Marquette defense.

Senior Mason Crump rushed 15-times for 93-yards and a trio of scores as the Shells never trailed after scoring just three minutes into the game.

Five-five sophomore scat-back Mekhi Shorter added 59-yards with eight-carries and senior back Max Autery contributed five-rushes for 31-yards and one of the TD's for Roxana.

Six-five junior quarterback Cohen Dugan added 6-of-13 passing attempts for 132-yards and a pair of touchdown passes, which put him over 600-yards passing for the season.

Marquette's Jhordyn Croft, a 5-9 sophomore running back, ran 19-times for 65-yards while senior Jack Rea added four-attempts for 90-yards, including a fourth quarter 49-yard TD run for the only Explorers' score.

Roxana received the opening kickoff and made quick work of the 58-yard drive that took just six plays.

Dugan found Crump on a pass in the middle of the field that turned into a 40-yard scoring strike.

The PAT from kicker Keelan Crawford made it 7-0 Shells.

After forcing a three-and-out, Roxana nearly scored again but they were stopped deep in Marquette territory.

However another defensive stand by the Shells (second three-and-out) gave the Shells position to score again.

Fifty-nine yards on eight-plays was the second Roxana scoring march.

Crump added his second touchdown with a run to the left for a three-yard score less than a minute into the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.

The Explorers didn't pick up their first first down until their third possession.

They managed to move into the Roxana side of the 50 before the Shells made their first big defensive play.

Sophomore quarterback Toby Eberlin back-to-back interceptions, with the first one being nullified by a pass interference penalty.

His second throw was grabbed by Dugan in the Shells' secondary and downed at their own 41.

It took just eight plays for Roxana to find the endzone again.

Crump scored yet again on another three-yard TD rush.

The Shells' Crawford clunked the PAT kick off of the left upright as the score stood at 20-0 with 5:27 left in the half.

Marquette's second play of its next drive resulted in another turnover.

Eberlin fumbled the snap and Autery recovered at the Explorers' 34.

A false start penalty to the 39 didn't phase Roxana.

Dugan went up top with a pass to senior receiver Dalton Carriker.

The completion was good for 34-yards to the Marquette six.

Crump scored again on a three-yard run and the Crawford point after kick pushed the score to 27-0.

Marquette's best drive of the half came next, with the Explorers getting all the way to the Roxana 26.

However the third turnover by Eberlin, an interception in the endzone by freshman Logan Cox for Roxana stopped the drive with :20 left in the half.

Coach DeVries and his coaching staff decided to go for broke on the second half kickoff.

A successful onside kick was recovered by senior back Brandon Green.

Helped by a pass interference penalty, Roxana moved into scoring position with Crump running three-straight plays getting the ball to the Marquette 15.

Autery went the final 15-yards up the middle for the score and a 34-0 lead following the successful point after.

The best drive of the game for Marquette next as they picked up four first downs and got to the Roxana 34.

But on fourth-and-five, Croft was stopped just short of the line to get and the Explorers turned it back over.

Roxana closed the deal on the victory by going 71-yards in 11-plays for a TD.

Dugan closed the drive with a pass to junior tight end Aiden Stemm for a 13-yard score.

The PAT from Crawford triggered the mercy rule at 41-0 with just 9:25 left in the game.

Marquette's Jack Rea scored their own points on a 49-yard run late in the game against the Shells reserves.

The failed PAT kick left the final score at 41-6.

The Shells are the #11 seed will now face #6 West Frankfort next week in the first round of the 3A playoffs.

Marquette qualified in 4A (#15) and will travel to #2 Carterville in the first round.

“Tonight we executed some things very well. Our guys (special teams) are solid and have been all year long,” said Coach DeVries. “Offensively we're putting it together. Our conference this season, which is our last in the league, was as good as it has been since we joined. Breese Central, Freeburg and Columbia are all good and they're all in the playoffs. We feel like we will be a tough out.”