Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
October 22, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CARTHAGE, Ill. — On a field where history grows with every blade of grass, the Illini West football team was intent on keeping history from happening. For nearly eight minutes, that seemed possible. Then in a blink, it became clear history wouldn’t be denied. Facing undefeated, state-ranked Macomb in the regular-season finale Friday night at…
Read Full Article October 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Bradyn Little deliberated before answering, and even then the Quincy High School sophomore quarterback struggled to give a single response. So which one of his wide receivers is the best at making the tough catches? “Caeden (Johannessen) has had a few tough catches. And Jack (Mettemeyer). And Tykell (Hammers),” Little said. “Really, it’s…
Read Full Article October 21, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
What’s at stake Friday night? For some high school football teams, it’s the chance to play another day. For others, history beckons. And there are those who want to finish with a flurry. Quincy High School wraps up the Western Big 6 Conference slate by playing host to Rock Island. With a victory, the Blue…
Read Full Article October 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MENDOTA, Ill. — There will come a time when the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players will appreciate and yearn for the opportunity to take an afternoon nap. It might happen Thursday. Following Wednesday night’s 9-2 shellacking of Serena in the Class 1A Mendota Sectional semifinals, the Raiders embarked on a four-hour charter bus ride…
Read Full Article October 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MENDOTA, Ill. — For a fleeting moment in both halves of Wednesday night’s Class 1A Mendota Sectional semifinal, the Serena boys soccer team saw a glimmer of hope. Quincy Notre Dame extinguished it each time before it ever got bright. The Husker trailed 2-0 nine minutes into the game, but a counterattack allowed them to…
Read Full Article October 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MENDOTA, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team looked like the team to beat in the Class 1A Mendota Sectional on Wednesday night, dispatching Serena 9-2 in the sectional semifinals. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman made the four-hour trek to Mendota to capture images of the Raiders’ third postseason victory. Check out…
Read Full Article October 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Jake Hoyt doesn’t have an explanation for how he ended up in such unfamiliar territory. “Honestly, I still really don’t know,” the senior said of being moved from forward to center back to fill a void in the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s defense. There’s really only one viable reason. A master…
Read Full Article October 19, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CANTON, Mo. — The circumstances suggested the Canton softball team was doomed. The Tigers never believed that. And when they escaped a controversial, fingernail-biting seventh inning in last Saturday’s Class 1 District 9 championship game unscathed, they embraced the belief nothing was going to stand in their way. “We definitely felt that in our huddle,”…
Read Full Article October 18, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The outcome matters. It has to, otherwise the sweat equity put into practice and the commitment to be at your best wouldn’t matter so much. Still, there are nights where the final score takes on secondary importance, where winners aren’t determined solely by the numbers on a scoreboard but more by the integrity,…
Read Full Article October 15, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — More than two decades have passed since Steve Hawkins last walked into Pepsi Arena to coach the first official practice of the college basketball season, but his expectations for the Quincy University men’s basketball players aren’t any different. The Hawks better be prepared to tirelessly work to get better. Saturday morning, the Hawks…
Read Full Article Anderson, QND seniors put stamp on home career with six-goal victory in Class 1A regional title tilt
October 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Spending the final home game of a bally-hooed prep soccer career watching from the sideline had zero appeal for Tanner Anderson. So he rested, rehabbed and readied his aching hip in order to be available Friday night. The senior striker made sure he was more than just available, too. Anderson scored twice in…
Read Full Article October 14, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Growing up, the best part of the calendar rolling into October meant hunting season was upon us and I had the opportunity to spend more time with my dad. No matter what we did outdoors, I was right by his side. That hasn’t changed in adulthood. With the archery deer season in full…
Read Full Article October 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (9) (7-0) 108 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (2) (7-0) 101 2 3. York (7-0) 88 3 4. Glenbard West (6-1) 74 4 5. Gurnee Warren…
Read Full Article October 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Leave it to a Quincy product to score the first goal in a Quincy soccer team’s historic victory. Logan Zanger, a freshman defender on the John Wood Community College men’s soccer team and a Quincy Notre Dame graduate, moved up to join the attack on a restart and finished from outside the far…
Read Full Article October 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Conner Cox seemed almost apologetic for not being overly elated when the Quincy High School football team scores a touchdown these days. As the junior offensive lineman sees it, scoring isn’t a rarity. It’s an expectation. “Every game, it feels almost routine to score a touchdown,” said Cox, a 6-foot, 250-pound right tackle.…
Read Full Article October 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Leo Cann didn’t give the Abingdon-Avon boys soccer team the chance to get settled. If Quincy Notre Dame can do the same thing to Roanoke-Benson come Friday night, another regional championship should be added the Raiders’ treasure trove of titles. Cann, the junior forward, scored less than three minutes into Tuesday’s regional semifinal…
Read Full Article October 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
LIBERTY, Ill. — A decorated high school golf career came to an end last Saturday when Liberty senior Blake Arnold finished tied for 13th at the Class 1A state tournament, and he finished it with a birdie on his final hole. In the process, Arnold became the highest individual state finisher in Liberty golf history.…
Read Full Article October 10, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
FOWLER, Ill. — The pride and sense of accomplishment Butch Crowder saw in the sparkle in the eyes of his 10-year-old grandson Michael and the smile stretching across the youngster’s face is all the 61-year-old wanted to see. It was nearly enough to bring a grizzled hunter to tears. “Dusty,” Crowder said. “I told him…
Read Full Article October 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The signature moment of Jackson Connell’s season — probably of his collegiate football career as well — meant so much more than six points on the scoreboard. It’s how he finally put short-term disappointment and long-term setbacks behind him. With Quincy University leading Kentucky Wesleyan 19-3 in the closing minutes of the third…
Read Full Article October 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Lily and Phoebe Hayes lived up to the expectations. Anika Reddy and Mary Dodd exceeded them. Both of those things have been happening throughout the girls tennis season. The Hayes sisters, who were the No. 1-seeded doubles team for the Western Big 6 Conference tournament, rallied after losing the first set of the…
Read Full Article October 8, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Eric Hill doesn’t mind the pressure and stress of a one-goal game. “It’s something that gets us prepared for where we need to be come postseason time and the type of game we’re going to be in,” the Hannibal boys soccer coach said. “That’s kind of a dogfight.” Friday night, the Pirates proved…
Read Full Article October 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CENTER, Mo. — Lakoda Preston’s feet are planted firmly on the ground. He plans to keep it that way, even if joining the Air Force becomes part of his future. The Mark Twain multi-sport standout, who is likely headed to college to play football, has designs of joining an ROTC program and earning a bachelor’s…
Read Full Article October 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — A boy and a ball. That’s perfect symmetry. Hayden Hoskins’ job and his joy is to run around behind the goal at the northeast end of Flinn Stadium during Quincy High School boys soccer games and act as the ball boy. In reality, the 9-year-old just wants to play the way boys should.…
Read Full Article October 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Golf can humble you. Infuriate you. Exasperate you. Baffle you. And if you let it, the game can break your spirit. Ross Thompson wouldn’t allow that to happen. A freshman when he made the six-man lineup in 2019 and was part of the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team’s second-place state finish, Thompson…
Read Full Article October 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — In a sport where the standard dimensions of the goal are sizable — 24 feet wide and 8 feet high — every inch still matters. Wednesday night, the diameter of the goal posts mattered most. A little more than six minutes into the second half of the boys soccer crosstown showdown at Flinn…
Read Full Article October 4, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Looking forward could have meant falling behind. The Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb girls volleyball teams both faced that scenario Tuesday. Both handled it with aplomb. The Raiders dispatched Southeastern 25-13, 25-15 at The Pit, while the Bombers put away Havana 25-17, 25-23 at the Washington Street Gym. Now, both squads can turn…
Read Full Article October 4, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — A little push in the right direction is welcome right before the Quincy High School girls tennis team chases a Western Big 6 Conference championship. Quincy Notre Dame provided that Monday. The Blue Devils won the crosstown dual 7-2 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park, but two of the three doubles…
Read Full Article October 2, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Be it point to point, set to set or match to match, the Quincy University women’s volleyball team is sticking to a forward-thinking mantra. “It’s reset and get the job done,” senior outside hitter Mattison Norris said. Saturday required the biggest reset to date. The Hawks’ season-opening 14-match win streak ended with Friday…
Read Full Article October 1, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MENDON, Ill. — When modern technology accents old-school charm, you wind up watching a prep football game in an environment artists pen songs about and screenwriters use as inspiration for movie scripts. Friday night, this Adams County village offered one of those backdrops. From the bonfire in the neighboring yard to a respected, celebrated old…
Read Full Article September 29, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Hana Knuffman understands the Quincy Notre Dame girls golf team doesn’t have to rely on the same golfers day in and day out to post competitive scores. It’s the kind of depth that makes postseason success possible. “We have really good chemistry with each other, which makes it that we know…
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