Crim: Little, Blue Devils setting ‘sky’s the limit’ standard

QUINCY – Of all the eye-popping statistics the Quincy High School football team has produced, and the choices are many considering its video game-like offense, one stands above the rest.

This senior class has been involved in more victories (30) in the last three-plus seasons than the program achieved in the 1980s (16), 1990s (20) or 2000s (28).

We’re talking about outperforming decades.

“I don’t know if I could describe it because they’ve done such a great job for so long,” Quincy coach Rick Little said after watching his team erupt for 56 points in the first half Friday night to remain undefeated by dismantling Western Big 6 Conference nemesis Sterling 63-6 at Flinn Stadium.

“I love coaching every group, but you know, sometimes groups miss the mark. Like you see them as a young group and you think they’re gonna be super special, and for whatever reason, guys go different directions or things just don’t work out how you thought.

“These guys have certainly met and are exceeding the expectations. It’s something I truly don’t take for granted. This is a special group and what’s happening here is magnificent. These other teams are trying really hard to stop them … and they’re still coming up and just flipping the scales on these teams.”

The Blue Devils can wrap up back-to-back WB6 titles for the first time in a half-century this Friday night by beating Geneseo on the road. A win over Capital City in Jefferson City, Mo., on Oct. 25 would give them consecutive unbeaten regular seasons, something the program has never achieved.

Another first could be in store this week. Quincy, ranked second in the latest Associated Press Class 7A poll, could ascend to the top spot after No. 1 and 2023 state finalist Downers Grove North was beaten 21-20 Friday night by LaGrange Lyons, which was ranked sixth in Class 8A.

While that could hardly be considered a “bad” loss, and pollsters can be fickle, especially when it comes to rating teams with no long-time pedigree from this part of the state, reaching the penthouse after spending so many seasons in the basement decades ago would be a heady achievement.

“I grew up with these guys,” wide receiver Tykell Hammers said. “I think we’re going to be the best team to ever come through here. (Last year’s seniors) set the standard, and we appreciate what they did for us, and we’re trying to break that standard and go even higher.”

The Blue Devils won their first 11 games to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time a year ago, but a deflating 61-14 home loss to eventual champion Chicago Mount Carmel remains etched in their minds. For all their record-setting achievements, the Caravan were clearly a cut or two above that day.

“We played a really tough team last year, so I think that for us seniors that played against them, it’s a big thing for us to come back,” Hammers said.

Quincy’s offense has been unstoppable so far this season. It has scored on its opening possession in all seven games, has outscored opponents 243-45 in the first half, is averaging 47.1 points per game and has yet to be held below 40.

“It’s really about being efficient and getting the job done quick,” Hammers said.

The Blue Devils were extremely efficient against Sterling in arguably their finest performance of the season. They needed just 13 plays to score 28 points in the opening 7 minutes, 23 seconds before duplicating that output in the second quarter. They scored touchdowns on their first eight possessions, with only one drive lasting more than six plays, while racking up 454 yards of offense (359 through the air) before the starters retired for the night.

The defense has been equally as good. That unit has yielded one touchdown in its last three games and has allowed only 66 points overall. It held Sterling, which entered the game as the only other unbeaten team in WB6 play, to 11 rushing yards in the first half and snared two interceptions.

“They’re so physical up front on the defensive line,” Little said. “Their ability to be big and also have a rush group … being able to control the line of scrimmage has been huge for us. Obviously, at linebacker we’re good and in the secondary we’re good. It’s super special to watch these guys.”

Quincy can achieve two primary goals with victories in the next two weeks. Doing so should ensure a return to Flinn Stadium for the first round of the playoffs.

Only then can the Blue Devils focus on trying to play deep into November, which would be a fitting closing act for a senior group that has accomplished so much.

“I gotta be careful here because I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” said Little, who began coaching many of these seniors, including his quarterback son Bradyn, when they were in second grade.

“We know we’re going to the postseason. We know what’s happening. “I think in order to elevate programs, to take it to the next level, there’s got to be some mental barrier that you get through. We know there’s great talent up north and down south. We know that, but at some point, this stuff you’re seeing is real, the plays we’re making are real.

“To get to the next level is sometimes as much mental as anything else. We’ll talk about that when we get there. That’s what coaching is. It’s not just physical, it’s the between-the-ears thing. That’s how great programs are built, and that’s something we’re certainly striving for.

“I mean, the sky’s the limit.”