Raiders hold on to hope playoff bid materializes after finishing season with three straight victories

QUINCY — As Collin Altgilbers paraded through the picture line, chatted with friends and family members, and soaked in the final moments following likely the last game on his home field, the Quincy Notre Dame senior lineman tried to find the words to explain what the next 24 hours will be like as the Raiders await their postseason fate.

“Sit, pray and wait,” Altgilbers said.

QND will find out if they have earned a spot in the Class 2A playoffs during Saturday night’s IHSA playoff selection show. The Raiders disposed of visiting John Burroughs 23-7 Friday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field, giving them three consecutive wins to end the regular season, a 4-5 overall record and a slim chance of extending their playoff streak to four straight seasons.

“I wish we can keep going,” QND coach Jack Cornell said. “I hope that’s the case, and if it is, that will be a gift from God. I’m just happy for the guys and the way they played tonight and the way they ended the season with three wins in a row. It speaks a lot to their character.”

Only one team, Buffalo Grove in Class 7A, made the playoffs last season with a record of 4-5.

“If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be. We’re just going to enjoy (tonight),” Cornell said.

Friday’s final regular season finale didn’t start out as planned. The Raiders’ offense went three-and-out on their first two series and the Bombers grabbed the early momentum as running back Dylan Macon scored from 6 yards out for a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.

QND got on the scoreboard less than a minute into the second quarter thanks to Jack Brenner’s 25-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 7-3.

Five minutes later, the Raiders took the lead for good. Sophomore quarterback Hunter Schuckman rolled to his right and heaved a hail mary-like pass to senior Aiden Klauser who stepped in front of a defender and turned the corner racing to the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown to give QND a 10-7 advantage.

Klauser felt like he was in his living room playing a video game.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know (the pass) was to me,” Klauser said. “Everyone kind of went for the ball. It was like a play off of Madden. Sometimes plays aren’t going to work out and it just comes down to who wants it more. You got to go and get a ball and make something happen.”

With less than a half minute remaining in the first half, Schuckman and Klauser hooked up again on an 11-yard strike. Klauser split a pair of Bombers defensive backs to catch the pass, increasing the Raiders’ lead to 17-7 at halftime. Klauser caught seven passes for 102 yards.

“Klauser is a dynamic athlete for us and has been for a while,” Cornell said. “When you throw it up to Klauser, something good is going to happen.”

Schuckman, in just his third game as the starting signal caller, completed 15 of 27 passes for 288 yards and two TDs.

“What Hunter brings to the table is a lot of upside,” Cornell said. “I’m excited to get him in the weight room this offseason and get some size on him.”

QND padded its lead in the third quarter when junior running back Ivan Hun found the end zone from 1-yard out. Hun finished with 61 yards rushing on 16 carries.

The defense did most of the heavy lifting, keeping the Bombers scoreless for the final three quarters. Junior safety Wyatt Mueller led the way with 15 tackles, junior linebacker Taylin Scott finished with 14 tackles, and senior defensive end Gabe Terstriep wound up with 10 tackles. Scott and sophomore defensive back Gavin Doellman both had interceptions. QND also had four sacks and held the Bombers to 161 yards of offense.

Collectively, the Raiders defense allowed opponents to score only 15 points over the final three weeks of the season.

“QND football has always hung their hat on great defense,” Cornell said. “These guys played another excellent football game, holding a team like that to seven (points). Even when they were able to move the ball at the end, we were able to finally stop their momentum and get off the field.”

Terstriep said the return of Mueller and Brenner from injury in recent weeks sparked the defense.

“We had a couple guys injured and they finally got to come back,” Terstriep said. “We stepped it up in practice and got after it.”

The Raiders’ victory was extra special considering the 11 seniors walked off their home field on a high note.

“They mean a lot to me as every young man that comes through and plays for us does,” Cornell said. “I spend countless hours coaching them during the season, but even the offseason and weight room and at school every day, these are my guys. I know they’re going to achieve great things in life because that’s what they’re going to work for. I’ve seen them do it with my own eyes for four years.”

Klauser summed it up best after grabbing one more post-game picture with a handful of his senior teammates.

“I can’t really think of a better way to go out,” he said.