Byquist leads first-half charge for Blue Devils; one more victory needed to earn playoff berth

QUINCY — Adon Byquist took care of things in the first half, and two touchdowns in the first minute of the second half sealed a 48-0 victory for the Quincy High School football team over hapless Rock Island Alleman in a Western Big Six game on Friday night at Flinn Stadium.

The victory evens the Blue Devils’ record at 4-4 and gives them an opportunity to qualify for the IHSA playoffs. They must defeat Rock Island (5-3) on the road to earn a bid.

Byquist, a junior quarterback, ran for two touchdowns and passed for two touchdowns in the first half to help the Blue Devils take a 28-0 halftime lead. His interception on Alleman’s first series set up his first score, a 3-yard touchdown run.

He threw a 3-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter to Gregory Quince to make the score 14-0, A fumble recovery by Ty Douglas stopped the Pioneers’ best drive of the game at the QHS 27, and three plays later on third-and-one, Byquist threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Peyton Weech with 10:15 remaining in the second quarter.

Quince returns second-half kickoff for touchdown

Byquist added a 12-year touchdown run with 4:33 left in the second quarter. He completed seven of 10 passes for 162 yards in the first half.

Blue Devils coach Rick Little was worried about how his team with the emotions of Senior Night.

“I want the guys to understand and to appreciate the night,” he sad. “Sometimes coaches are like, ‘Forget about it. It’s a distraction.’ … I’ll go the other way. This is their moment. This is our time. We’ve talked a lot about the parents. Thank your parents. Not to be overly sentimental and emotional, but think back when you started playing this game and all the practices and all the pep talks and all the ups and the downs. The one constant was your parents.”

Quince returned the second-half kickoff 84 yards down the Alleman sideline for a touchdown. Two plays later, Jesus Johnson recovered a fumble at the Pioneers’ 23-yard line, and Brian Douglas scored on the next play with 11:09 left in the third quarter.

Little: ‘This young team’s growing up’

Quincy’s final score came on a 3-yard touchdown run by Shammy Gay. The Blue Devils outgained the Pioneers 320-117. 

Alleman (0-8) has been outscored 436-14 this season.

“I just have a lot of respect for that program,” Little said. “They are my favorite team to play. I say favorite, not as like it’s this hated rivalry, but as a coach that we’ve gone against. In years past and the teams they put out there, they’re playing both ways and they’re respectful. … I just love playing them because it’s the way it’s supposed to be played.”

A victory next week would send the Blue Devils back to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus. QHS made six consecutive playoff appearances from 2014 to 2019.

“This is where we want to be we want to be, playing meaningful football games at the end of the year,” Little said. “This young team’s growing up. We’ll hopefully get that win next week, propel us in and push us into the next season.”