Blue Devils’ second straight undefeated run through WB6 is ‘something we’re very proud of’

GENESEO, Ill. — Rick Little had a surprise awaiting the Quincy High School football players during their postgame huddle Friday night.

The head coach unfurled a 2024 Western Big 6 Conference champions banner.

“It’s something we’re very proud of,” Little said.

The Blue Devils punctuated back-to-back undefeated WB6 crowns with a 55-18 victory over Geneseo. Quincy, ranked second in Class 7A, has won 15 consecutive conference games, one shy of the record shared by Rock Island Alleman (1988-91) and Rock Island (1999-2002).

“The second conference title in a row is a special thing,” Little said.

Quincy has done it only once prior, winning league titles in 1973 and ’74.

“It’s a special time and a special group of players,” Little said. “It’s a special team.”

With a dynamic offense.

The Blue Devils (8-0, 6-0 WB6) amassed 664 yards of total offense with senior quarterback Bradyn Little completing 21 of 23 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Tykell Hammers caught seven passes for 225 yards and three scores, and senior running back Jeraius Rice Jr. had 141 yards rushing, 81 yards receiving and four touchdowns total.

Quincy scored on its first possession for the eighth consecutive game and experienced little resistance from a Geneseo defense trying to claw its way into the playoffs. However, the Maple Leafs tried to trade scoring volleys with the Blue Devils early.

After Hammers caught a 19-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive, the Maple Leafs answered with a 36-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing possession. Quincy scored three consecutive touchdowns before Geneseo’s Kyle Weinzierl scored on a 4-yard run with 1:25 remaining in the first half.

That was more than enough time for the Blue Devils to tack on another touchdown as Rico Clay Jr. caught a 20-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds remaining in the half.

A 67-yard catch-and-run for a score by Hammers was sandwiched between two Rice touchdown runs in the third quarter to invoke the running clock.