Blue Devils exploit Maple Leafs’ pass defense, become playoff eligible with WB6 victory

GENESEO, Ill. — Film study doesn’t lie.

In preparation for Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup, the Quincy High School football coaching staff noticed a way to attack the Geneseo defense with its passing game if the Maple Leafs ran the same schemes.

“We’re at that point of the season where we wonder how teams are going to play us,” QHS coach Rick Little said. “Will we see the same look or not that they are showing on film? They kind of gave us what they had been showing early on, and we were able to take advantage of it.”

QHS quarterback Bradyn Little threw three first-half touchdown passes to three different receivers and the ability to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball in the second half propelled the Blue Devils to a 35-17 victory at Bob Reade Field.

With the victory, Quincy (5-2, 3-2 WB6) becomes playoff eligible for the first time since 2018.

“Getting back to the playoffs has been a big goal for this group,” Rick Little said. “But we’re not going to stop just because we have hit that five-win mark. We need to pile up as many victories as possible to improve our postseason path.”

The balance and depth offensively will be key to that.

Jack Mettemeyer hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bradyn Little to cap a 72-yard drive on the Blue Devils’ opening possession. The lead grew to 14-3 when the sophomore quarterback hit Tykell Hammers for a 29-yard score.

Gregory Quince, the WB6’s leading receiver, got into the scoring act when he reached the end zone on a 76-yard catch-and-run for a 21-3 halftime lead.

“Offensively, we’re really clicking from a standpoint that there are a lot of guys who can make plays,” Little said.

In the second half, Brian Douglas scored on a 5-yard run and Jeraius Rice scored on a 12-yard run for a 35-3 lead by the end of the third quarter.

Douglas finished with 128 yards rushing, while Bradyn Little threw for 301 yards and Quince finished with 178 yards receiving.

“We know we need both of those elements,” Rick Little said. “We need to be able to run the ball and be dynamic in the passing game. That’s a credit to our line to be able to do both.”