Four score and six and one: Hun follows offensive line to victory over Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The mission was simple for the Quincy Notre Dame football team entering Friday night’s trip to Jacksonville. So simple that Ivan Hun only needed three words to describe the task at hand.

“Run the ball,” the senior running back said.

Despite being outsized at every spot up front QND (6-1, 5-0 in the CS8 West) rushed for 235 yards,
including Hun who carried the ball 12 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns, in their 35-21 victory
over Jacksonville to cap an undefeated five-game run in the Central State 8 West Division and a
divisional title.

It marked the Raiders sixth consecutive win in their first matchup against Jacksonville since 1986.

“We didn’t come (to the CS8) to be second fiddle, or be middle of the road,” QND head coach Jack
Cornell said. “We wanted to win games and we felt like we had a chance to compete. If we didn’t, we
wouldn’t have taken up this challenge. But for us to be in this position we’re in is a testament to the
resiliency of our young men and how hard they work, day in and day out all year round.”

Hun’s presence can’t be overlooked. Two weeks ago, Hun sat out the contest at Springfield due to injury
and had a limited workload in last Friday’s game against Springfield Lanphier.

Hun, who finished with 230 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns overall, evened the score 7-7 in the first quarter with a 71-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass from Hunter Schuckman. It was Hun’s lone catch of the night.

“Ivan is a very talented running back,” Cornell said. “The scary thing is he’s just now getting the hang of it. His vision is getting better, his patience is getting better, and as soon as he hits the gap, he’s going to hit a second gear and go.”

Jacksonville (4-3, 2-3 in the CS8 West) also had its fair share of success on the ground. The Crimsons
rushed for 337 yards and erased a 14-7 halftime deficit thanks to a 9-play, 66-yard scoring drive to start
the third quarter, which ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Crucifixle Mitchell to tie the game 14-
14.

QND’s ensuing possession resulted in a three-and-out. The Crimsons started their next possession on
their own 44-yard line when the Raiders came up with their biggest defensive play, which seemed to
swing the momentum back in their favor.

On third down and short, QND defensive end Charsten Williams brought down Dashawn Armstrong with
one hand, saving what would have been a first down and a long gain. Jacksonville was forced to punt on
the next play.

That was a big play by Charsten,” Cornell said. “For him to make that play, a one-handed tackle in the open field like that, that really was a game changing type play for us.”

A few minutes later, the Raiders offense went back to their bag of tricks when Wyatt Mueller took a
reverse and found Gavin Doellman in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown reception
putting QND back on top 21-14 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We ran that (play) twice against Sacred Heart-Griffin, and we ran it today, and they didn’t pick up on
that I was out there at receiver,” Mueller said. “I say that’s just props to our coaching staff.”

QND increased its lead to 28-14 on a 6-yard touchdown run by Hun with 9:21 left in the game. Jacksonville once again cut into the advantage with a 2-yard touchdown scamper from La’Marion
Williams with 6:24 remaining. But the Raiders answered with Hun’s fourth score of the contest, a 64-
yard run with 3:40 left, erasing any doubt of a Crimsons comeback.

Only one word can describe us, we’re tough. We’re mentally and physically tough,” QND linebacker
Taylin Scott said. “(We) don’t back down from a challenge. We love a challenge and that’s what makes
us thrive.”

The sixth victory assures the Raiders a spot in the playoffs for the 26 th time in the last 30 seasons. QND
has only missed the postseason once in Cornell’s six full seasons as head coach.

“Last year at this time we were 2-5, and now we’re 6-1, just the momentum from last year to this year,
and how we’ve really carried it over is huge,” Mueller said. “It’s really nice that we don’t have to be praying to make the playoffs this year, but we’re not satisfied yet.”

The emphasis turns to defeating Lincoln next Friday at home and Decatur MacArthur on the road in the
regular season finale to likely assure the Raiders of opening the playoffs at home.

“This is a special time in these young men’s lives, and they’re not taking it for granted,” Cornell said.
“I think that part of it makes it even more fun when they’re in these positions. It makes the wins that
much more enjoyable.”