Crim: Clay’s emergence as offensive threat gives Blue Devils another weapon in loaded arsenal

QUINCY — Rico Clay proved he could be a defensive force for the Quincy High School football team in last season’s opener against Quincy Notre Dame when he intercepted two passes, returned the first for a touchdown and came within 5 yards of doing the same with the second.

This season, he displayed his offensive skills against the Raiders.

Clay beat his defender off the line of scrimmage to create separation and raced down the QND sideline to haul in a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bradyn Little on the Blue Devils’ first possession to give them a lead they would never relinquish Friday night in a 40-12 victory at Advance Physical Therapy Field.

“Ever since I was younger, I wanted to play wide receiver,” said Clay, who wasn’t given many opportunities on that side of the ball last season because of the depth and talent at the position. “I’m a tall wide receiver, I’m a good athlete, I can jump. You have to use me. It wouldn’t be any good to have me on the bench on offense.”

At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Clay adds another weapon to an already stocked QHS arsenal, and he demonstrated that early.

On QHS’s opening possession, Little completed four quick-release passes — two each to Tykell Hammers and Caeden Johannessen — with none gaining more than 6 yards.

Then, with defenders inching up to take away short routes, Little lofted a perfect strike to Clay streaking behind the secondary for the first of his five touchdown passes. 

“He’s a really good player, he can do it all, and I’m really excited to have him this year,” Little said. “We lost a few receivers (to graduation), but we have guys that work hard behind them and (Clay) is doing a really nice job for us.”

Familiarity helps. Clay and Little have played together since grade school, and neither lacks confidence.

“You know, it’s like a bond. The instant No. 7 throws the ball I know what’s happening and I go on the attack,” said Clay, who has committed to Illinois State University to play cornerback. “I was a backup last year, but I think I can help give us more options to score this year. Really, I think you could just throw it to me every single time.”

QHS coach Rick Little knew Clay could step in to complement the receiving duo of Hammers and Johannessen, as well as running back Jeraius Rice Jr., who is a threat running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.

“With his height, his ability, his speed, his length, his hands, he’s a natural fit for that position,” the coach said of Clay. “We have a bunch of guys who once you get them the ball they can break it, and he’s one of them.”

Bradyn Little finished with 27 completions on 35 attempts for 364 yards before being lifted midway through the fourth quarter. He moved into the top 20 all-time for career completions in Illinois high school history and needs just 138 passing yards and five more TDs to reach that plateau in those categories.

He spread the wealth against QND, which stubbornly refused to buckle until QHS scored two touchdowns on its first eight offensive plays in the second half en route to a 20-point third quarter that broke the game open.

Johannessen caught five passes for 109 yards, Rice seven for 97, Hammers 10 for 77 and Clay four for 77. Rice, who also rushed for 93 yards, and Hammers scored two touchdowns apiece. The Blue Devils piled up 508 yards of total offense on a night when penalties (12 for 100 yards) and turnovers (3) stymied them at times.

Bradyn Little connected with Hammers on an apparent 69-yard touchdown pass in the third period, only to have it negated because an offensive lineman was downfield. QHS eventually scored 10 plays later to culminate its longest drive of the night.

“We tell them all the time, it’s gonna be somebody’s night, somebody’s gonna have a night,” Rick Little said. “Be patient, because if it’s not yours tonight, it will be another night.”