Maroa-Forsyth’s legend-making final scoring drive ends QND’s season in state quarterfinals

Several Quincy Notre Dame football players console each other following Saturday's 22-21 loss to Maroa-Forsyth in the Class 2A state quarterfinals at Walter Boyd Field in Maroa, Ill. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

MAROA, Ill. — As soon as Josh Jostes saw his defense force a late game turnover on downs the Maroa-Forsyth football coach went to find his quarterback. “I pulled (Ryne Sheppard) over and said, ‘This is what legends are made of,’” Jostes said. Sheppard led the Trojans on an 11-play, 94-yard scoring drive capped off…

Read More

Great Scott! Linebacker’s critical stop helps Raiders put away second-round playoff victory

Quincy Notre Dame wide receiver Gavin Doellman reacts to scoring on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Schuckman in the first quarter of Saturday's Class 2A second-round playoff game against ALAH at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame defensive tackle Kellen Mangan has a front row seat to the weekly exploits of teammate Taylin Scott. So, it came as no surprise for Mangan to see the Raiders middle linebacker make a momentum-swinging stop on defense. “Taylin is all-state for a reason,” Mangan said. “He makes those plays.” Scott’s…

Read More

‘It’s one big position’: QND leaning on offensive linemen to pave way deep into postseason

The play of the Quincy Notre Dame offensive line has been key to the Raiders' 8-1 record and No. 3 seed in the Class 2A playoff bracket. | Photo courtesy Jessica Genenbacher

QUINCY — Each member of the Quincy Notre Dame football team’s offensive line has unique individual strengths, but the individuality ends there. “It’s not five different positions,” senior left guard Ryan Darnell said. “It’s one big position.” With one big goal in mind. The Raiders want to plow the road. Heading into the Class 2A…

Read More

‘We never lost faith and we never gave in’: Resilient effort not enough to keep Raiders’ postseason run alive

Quincy Notre Dame running back Ivan Hun, left, gets hit by a Nashville defender during Saturday's Class 2A second-round playoff game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The team which grasped onto a flicker of hope weeks ago and let it light the way to the playoffs tried everything imaginable Saturday to keep that flame from dying out. Still, the Quincy Notre Dame football players discovered what flickers usually fades away. Nashville brought the extinguisher. An Isaac Blazier 5-yard touchdown…

Read More

Photo gallery: QND fights to overcome first-half deficit, falls short in second-round playoff loss

Quincy Notre Dame's Gavin Doellman, left, heads into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown during the second half of Saturday's Class 2A second-round playoff game against Nashville at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior center Ben Schwartz called the never-give-in attitude of the QND football team is tradition. Saturday, the Raiders upheld the tradition, battling until the final snap in a 27-18 loss to Nashville in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was at Advance…

Read More

Blue Bullets take kick out of Mustangs with stingy defensive effort in first half of playoff game

KNOXVILLE, Ill.  — As the Unity-Payson football team broke its final postgame huddle of the season, senior quarterback/defensive back Ryle Duke found coach Matt Woodworth. The two embraced, heads buried in each other’s shoulders for several moments, following the Mustangs’ 33-14 Class 2A first-round playoff loss Saturday afternoon at Knoxville. “In every year, you hate…

Read More