Blue Devils to find themselves front and center in WB6 football title talks

QUINCY — Rick Little better pack a zinger or two in his back pocket.

A few are bound to be thrown his way.

The Quincy High School football coach will join the other seven Western Big 6 Conference coaches as guest speakers at the WB6 Coaches Kickoff banquet, taking place next Wednesday at the Quad Cities Botanical Gardens in Rock Island.

The annual event sheds light on the upcoming season, gives some insight into how preseason workouts are going for each team and lets the assembled fans know who the coaches think might rise to the top of the league standings.

The Blue Devils could very well be that team.

Since last winning the WB6 championship in 2016, Quincy has finished second twice, losing to Moline both times. In the three full seasons since the WB6 expanded to eight teams — the 2020 season was sacked by the COVID-19 pandemic — the Blue Devils have finished no higher than third.

That trend could change this season.

The amount of depth and weapons the Blue Devils possess, especially on the offensive side of the ball, give them a leg up. The two primary title contenders of recent memory — Moline and Sterling — are both dealing with significant graduation losses after finishing first and second in the league last season.

All seven of Moline’s first-team All-WB6 selections — three on offense, four on defense — were seniors. Sterling had four seniors make first-team all-conference, but the Golden Warriors return two all-league performers in senior lineman Lucas Austin, who is getting multiple NCAA Division I looks, and senior defensive lineman Kendricc Muhammad.

That leaves Quincy with the most returning first-team All-WB6 selections with four, three on the offensive side.

That list includes record-setting quarterback Bradyn Little, emerging running back star Jeraius Rice and Division II-bound lineman Chris Flachs. Senior linebacker Ty Douglas, who is receiving college scholarship offers from different NCAA levels, is Quincy’s top returnee on defense.

Little, the son of the head coach, broke every QHS single-game and single-season passing record last year when he threw for 2,773 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s already eclipsed the career passing yardage record — and he’s only a junior.

Rice became the Blue Devils’ leading rusher last season as a sophomore and began receiving NCAA Division I Power 5 interest this summer. Rice rushed for 1,004 yards and 19 touchdowns on 115 carries last season and caught 19 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns — and he’s only a junior.

The weapons flanking them are just as dynamic. Junior Tykell Hammers emerged as home-run threat at wide receiver, and senior Jack Mettemeyer caught six touchdown passes in WB6 play a year ago. Adon Byquist, who did not play following a Week 1 injury, returns fully healthy and is an all-purpose back who elevates the offense further.

Max Wires’ return from a knee injury defensively gives the Blue Devils another heat-seeking linebacker to complement Douglas.

All told, it gives Rick Little plenty of material to use when talking about the Blue Devils.

It also means he’ll likely come home with a target squarely on the Blue Devils’ backs.