Hawks’ offense will focus on running game, but Davis’ return will open up passing game

QUINCY — Drake Davis was more observer than participant last spring when the Quincy University football team went through its first practices under first-year head coach Jason Killday and a new offensive staff.

That might have been for the best.

The senior quarterback was able to study the concepts and learn the progression Killday and offensive coordinator Jack Nelson want the offense to take. It also afforded Davis time to get his left knee completely healthy, having undergone surgery last fall to repair torn ligaments suffered in the late October loss to Indianapolis.

Cleared for full participation when the Hawks arrived August 5 for the start of fall camp, Davis has been at the helm every day since and looks as comfortable as he did last season when he guided the Hawks to five victories in their first seven games.

“Struggling through that adversity, having the guys around me and helping me out, that means so much,” said Davis, an honorable mention All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection. “I owe it to those guys to come back out here and give it my all as well.”

That means managing a balanced offense that prioritizes success in the run game.

“The key to winning with Coach Killday is to own the rushing stat,” Davis said. “We really want to own that. We’ve been doing a good job of that. A good run game opens up the pass game and vice versa.”

Killday is quite familiar with that. In his final five full seasons as the offensive coordinator at Truman State University, the Bulldogs won nine or more games four times and finished second in the GLVC in rushing offense four times.

The only team consistently better at running the ball was Indianapolis, which has won 10 of the 11 GLVC titles since the league made football a championship sport.

“I like how balanced our offense is,” senior wide receiver Anthony Gilpin Jr. said. “It gives us options and the run game and pass game can play off each other. And we have some really good running backs.”

Teon Dollard, a senior who became the go-to back during the second half of last season, is coming off a year in which he averaged 7.5 yards per carry and 72.5 yards per game — both team highs. The 6-foot, 205-pound Dollard was a second-team All-GLVC selection last season.

Kamrin Cox, a 6-foot sophomore from the Chicagoland area, and Kareem Carswell, a 5-foot-7 junior who transferred from Tusculum University, offer additional speedy weapons.

“We have some great backs,” Davis said.

They can only be great if the offensive line affords them the opportunity. Davis isn’t concerned about that with second-team All-GLVC left guard Austin Dearing and senior left tackle Nate Smith returning, along with senior Caleb Boucher and junior Austin Schrock.

“I have a lot of trust in those guys,” Davis said. “The stuff we built over the summer and into fall camp has made that trust very high.”

Davis admits the trust extends to every position because of the camaraderie cohesiveness the offense has created.

“The trust in everyone on the field with me makes me more comfortable,” Davis said.

Davis threw for 1,629 yards with 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions before the injury, and his ability to limit mistakes is a vital part of why he will be the starting QB yet again.

“Taking care of the ball and paying attention to the little details,” Davis said were two of Nelson’s major points of emphasis. “The little details are what’s going to take us a long way.”

So will a connection with his receivers.

“It’s amazing,” Gilpin said of the quality of passes Dacvis throws. “You would be surprised how good it is. I came from a junior college out in California and we had great quarterbacks, but then I come here and I play with Drake and I was shocked with how nice of a touch it is. The placement is just amazing.”

Gilpin should see plenty of touches, too. He caught 15 passes with one touchdown last season in limited action, but the top four receivers are no longer here, which opens the door of opportunity for anyone to take.

“They are looking for me to be one of the leaders of the wide receiver room,” said Gilpin, who was an honorable mention All-GLVC punt returner. “It’s definitely a responsibility to bear, but I’m looking forward to it. I think it should be a fun offense to be a part of.”

But it is one that takes work.

“Our concepts are very specific,” Gilpin said. “Every route we run has a purpose. That’s a great thing to have in a passing offense.”

Nelson won’t settle for anything less than doing everything correctly.

“He’s a quiet coach, but when he talks, you really have to listen up because you know it’s going to mean something,” Davis said.

Gilpin appreciates that.

“These are some of the best coaches I’ve had while I’ve been playing,” he said. “Having good coaches who tell you exactly what they want makes it easier to pick things up.”