Murphysboro head coach Gary Carter prior to the Red Devils’ game against Benton on Friday, Sept. 12, in Murphysboro.
Murphysboro High School announced Friday morning they are adding Roxana to their 2026 and 2027 schedules in the Week 2 slot. In 2028 and 2029, that week will be against Marion.
The Red Devils were one of the many teams looking for a new Week 2 opponent for the 2026 season following the IHSA new by-laws that move the season up a week and open the postseason up to 16 more teams in each class.
For many years now, Murphysboro and Anna-Jonesboro met in Week 2 of the football season. The 2025 season was the final year of that annual matchup. The Red Devils thought they had filled that gap with Valle Catholic of St. Genevieve, MO. With the new by-laws, that agreement went up in smoke as the two team’s schedules no longer matched up.
The Red Devils will now host Roxana in 2026 before going to the Shells in 2027. In 2028, Murphysboro will host the Wildcats before making the Red Devils make the trip in 2029.
Murphysboro is coming off a 4-5 season, missing the postseason for the first time since 2017. Roxana went 7-4, including a 55-26 win at West Frankfort in the first round of the 3A playoffs before falling to St. Joseph-Ogden 42-32 in Round 2.
