WB6 champion Blue Devils load up with all-conference football selections

QUINCY — The Western Big 6 Conference football coaches didn’t go as far as to say Quincy High School’s high-scoring offense deserved every starter on the all-conference team, but they certainly came close.

The Blue Devils snared six of the 11 first-team All-WB6 spots offensively and had eight members of the offense honored overall. Meanwhile, the back-to-back undefeated conference champions had three players receive first-team All-WB6 honors on defense and 10 defenders honored overall.

Quincy has won 15 consecutive WB6 games — the second-longest streak in conference history — and completed a 6-0 run through the league by averaging 50.5 points per game. The Blue Devils outscored their WB6 opponents 303-59.

Engineering those video game numbers is senior quarterback Bradyn Little, who was named the WB6 MVP for the second straight season.

Following Saturday’s 49-7 victory over Summit Argo in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Little has thrown for a single-season QHS record 3,506 yards to go with 44 touchdowns (one shy of the single-season record). He has completed 73.5 percent of his passes (211 of 287).

For his career, Little is second on the IHSA’s career list in completions (648) and passing yards (10,050) and third in touchdown passes (116).

His favorite targets earned All-WB6 first-team honors as well.

Senior running back Jeraius Rice Jr. has scored 30 touchdowns — 17 rushing, 12 receiving and one on a kick return — while leading the Blue Devils with 907 yards rushing and 9.2 yards per carry. He has caught 46 passes for 777 yards.

Senior wide receiver Tykell Hammers was the league’s leading pass catcher and goes into the second round of the playoffs having grabbed 73 passes for 1,202 yards and 11 scores. Senior wide receiver Rico Clay Jr, has 52 catches for 831 yards and 11 scores.

Up front, junior left tackle Todd Smith and senior right guard Nathan Konrad each earned first-team plaudits. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Smith and 6-foot-1, 230-pound Konrad have helped the Blue Devils average 7.6 yards per carry and 10.3 yards per play.

Earning second-team all-conference honors offensively was senior right tackle Brendan Vogel, while senior wide receiver Caeden Johannessen picked up honorable mention.

Defensively, junior linebacker Ben Schelp, senior defensive lineman Kamryn Flachs-Hill and Clay, a cornerback, earned first-team honors.

Schelp leads the Blue Devils with 79 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss. He has four sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Flachs-Hill leads the Blue Devils with 4.5 sacks to go with one forced fumble and 43 total tackles.

Clay, who has committed to Illinois State University, has three interceptions, 37 tackles, one forced fumble and one sack.

Second-team selections defensively include senior tackle Demarius Deverger, senior defensive end Kolton Smith, senior linebacker Ryan Cashman, senior linebacker Jack Hammock and Rice, who played defensive back.

Senior linebacker Max Wires and senior defensive back Carter Hildebrand received honorable mention.