Raiders pummel Pioneers in all aspects, capture home opener with ease

By STEVE EIGHINGER

QUINCY — There was no letdown.

Quincy Notre Dame, fresh off an emotional — and convincing — victory a week earlier at Quincy High School, continued its early season surge with a 59-0 dismantling of Rock Island Alleman on Friday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field.

Ranked No. 4 among the state’s Class 4A schools, QND (2-0) is now eyeing its best start since 2010. That was the last time the Raiders, who host Marceline (Mo.) next Friday, won their first three games en route to a 5-0 beginning.

Notre Dame controlled every imaginable aspect of the game against Alleman (0-2), which has been outscored 121-0 in its two games. Fourth-year QND coach Jack Cornell said complacency, following the 40-20 victory over QHS, was never going to be a problem.

“We don’t take anything for granted,” he said. “We wanted to be 2-0, and obviously I’m proud of the guys’ effort. We will always fight against complacency.”

Alleman did not cross midfield until the 2:34 mark of the fourth quarter and had just 87 yards of total offense —73 of those coming in the second half against QND reserves. The Raiders’ first string only played the first half, building a 52-0 lead. The game was played with a running clock in the second half.

Senior running back Ben Kasparie was one of numerous Raiders to enjoy a productive night, scoring four first-half touchdowns and rushing for 81 yards on just nine carries.

“We had a big win last week and a lot of momentum coming into this game,” the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Kasparie said.  “The important thing was we (continued to play) as a team.”

Kasparie scored on runs of 9, 11, 3 and 25 yards. He pointed to the blocking of fellow backs Nolan Obert and Elliott Maas for opening some of the largest holes he worked his way through. QND quarterback Calvin Lavery used his 6-6 frame to effectively pick apart the Alleman defense to the tune of 144 yards and a touchdown. The senior completed 10 of 15 throws, including nine of his last 10 attempts. 

Lavery’s favorite target was senior Jack Gilliland, who caught three balls for 40 yards, including a 9-yard scoring pass.

Notre Dame had the ball in Alleman territory the entire first half, thanks in part to excellent field position provided by a Raiders defense that was spearheaded by 190-pound junior linebacker Jackson Stratton, who came away with an interception, fumble recovery and a sack.

“We like to set the tone right off the bat,” Stratton said.

QND forced six turnovers — recovering three fumbles and reeling in three interceptions. Drew McDonald and Maas also recovered fumbles for QND, with Charlie Lavery and Gilliland also recording interceptions.

“We go into every game thinking it will be a battle,” Stratton said. “You have to be prepared. When one member of our defense does well, we all do well.”

QND senior placekicker Ethan Beroiza also enjoyed a big night, kicking a 42-yard field goal (and just missing a 40-yard attempt), plus going 8 for 8 in extra points.