GRANITE CITY - Josh Lumpkins is the junior quarterback for the Alton football team, and he helped the Redbirds to their first win since Oct. 25, 2024, with a 49-6 win over Granite City at Memorial Stadium/Kevin Greene Field in Granite Sept. 25.
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In the game, Lumpkins threw for two touchdowns, and for the season, he's 26-of-60 passing for 351 yards and two touchdowns, and has also ran 27 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns as the Redbirds are now 1-5 with three weeks to go in the regular season.
Lumpkins is The Eardley Agency, LLC, Male Athlete Of The Month for the Redbirds.
In a postgame interview, Lumpkins felt excellent, especially after the Redbirds dropped a hard 30-28 decision to Collinsville the week before.
"I feel very satisfied," Lumpkins said. "It always feels good to win, especially after a hard-fought loss we had last week. I just feel good right now."
Both the Redbirds and Warriors have had tough sledding for both of their football programs in the past few years and are rebuilding. Lumpkins felt getting a breakthrough win such as against Granite was very satisfying, indeed.
"It feels great to get a win," Lumpkins said. "We go week-by-week, and we just compete. We feel good to finally win."
The entire team has been working very hard all season, and it was great to get a win to reward their efforts.
Lumpkins' goals and ambitions for himself and the team involve more winning and progress for the Redbirds.
"The last three weeks of the season? We showed what we could do," Lumpkins said, "so now, we've got to live up to that expectation. I expect to have a great game every single game after this."
There is still an outside chance for the IHSA playoffs, with the expanded format this season, where 40 teams in each class qualify. Lumpkins agreed that it's part of the unpredictable nature of high school football.
"You never know what could happen," Lumpkins said, "especially in high school football. I personally think we're still going to be in the playoffs."
