Final drive results in go-ahead touchdown as Raiders stay undefeated in CS8 play

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The situation called for patience, persistence and poise.

The Quincy Notre Dame football team showcased it all on one of the most critical drives of the season.

Trailing Springfield 9-8 with six minutes remaining in regulation Friday night, the state-ranked Raiders took possession at their own 48-yard line and steadily moved the ball forward, getting a clutch 9-yard completion to Jack Brenner on fourth and 4 with less than three minutes remaining.

Eventually, the Raiders got the ball inside the 5-yard line when Wyatt Mueller was knocked out of bounds at the 3-yard line. On the next play, Mueller scored on a push up the middle as he got in behind senior lineman Ryan Darnell and dove into the end zone to secure a 14-9 Central State 8 Conference victory.

“All around, it was a really good drive,” QND coach Jack Cornell said.

It was good enough to push the Raiders into first place all along in the CS8 West Division with a 3-0 record and two conference games remaining. The Raiders play host to Springfield Lanphier next wee before traveling to Jacksonville.

QND (4-1, 3-0 CS8) also moved a step closer to a return to the playoffs, while playing without starting running back Ivan Hun and others who were limited by bumps and bruises.

“The hallmark of a good team is still being able to find a way to get a win in spite of that,” said Cornell, whose team is ranked No. 3 in Class 2A.

Springfield opened with a steady drive that ended with an Armanze Lewis 1-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead. Lewis finished with 126 yards rushing on 21 carries. A 29-yard field goal by Kia Rinaberger gave the Senators a 9-0 lead early in the third quarter.

QND came back with Taylin Scott catching a 5-yard touchdown pass in which he juggled the ball and then secured it before stepping out of bounds. Joseph Dolleman’s two-point conversion made it a one-point game and capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

When the Raiders got the ball back midway through the fourth quarter, Mueller made the most of the situation. He finished with 68 yards rushing on 11 carries, while junior running back Oliver Triplett had 47 yards rushing.

“The way our guys played overall was inspiring,” Cornell said.