Tide turns in third quarter as Mustangs end Blue Devils’ historic run in Class 7A state quarterfinals

Quincy High School quarterback Bradyn Little, left, and running back Jeraius Rice Jr. led the Blue Devils to an 11-win season that ended Saturday with a 49-14 loss to Chicago St. Rita in the Class 7A state quarterfinals. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHICAGO — Arguably the most anticipated season in Quincy High School football history lasted more than 14 weeks and surpassed 500 minutes of game time before coming to an abrupt halt in a matter of 12 minutes Saturday afternoon. With all of that in mind, Rick Little knew a five-minute postgame huddle wasn’t going to…

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Playoff primer: QHS takes on Chicago Catholic League power St. Rita

Quincy High School defensive coordinator Eric Gauer, left, and head coach Rick Little, center, will lead the Blue Devils against Chicago St. Rita on Saturday. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Here is a closer look at the Quincy High School football team’s matchup with Chicago St. Rita: When: 3 p.m. Saturday What: Class 7A state quarterfinal Where: Doyle Stadium, Chicago Records: Quincy High School — 11-0 (6-0, first in the Western Big 6 Conference). St. Rita — 9-2 (2-1, tied for first in…

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‘Every drive is a touchdown’: Blue Devils bury Maroons with offensive onslaught late in first half

Quincy High School running back Jeraius Rice Jr. looks to make a move to get to the edge during Friday night's Class 7A second-round playoff game against Moline at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — All Bradyn Little and the Quincy High School football team’s offense could do was wait. Five minutes into the second quarter of Friday night’s Class 7A second-round playoff game, 15th-seeded Moline had chewed up more than 13 minutes of possession and limited second-seeded Quincy to one possession in a game tied at 7…

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Blue Devils lock down Argonauts, roll into second round of Class 7A playoffs with matchup against WB6 foe Moline looming

Quincy High School's Ben Schelp, left, Kolton Smith, top, and Kamryn Flachs-Hill, right, swallow up Summit Argo quarterback Javoris Cotton during the first half of Saturday's Class 7A first-round playoff game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In what proved to be another record-setting day for the Quincy High School football team’s offense, it was the defense that stood tall. Summit Argo was able to muster only one first down and was held to a minus-15 yards of total offense against the Blue Devils’ swarming and smothering defense through the…

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Photo gallery: QHS stays undefeated with first-round whitewashing of Summit Argo

Quincy High School wide receiver Tykell Hammers, right, stares down Summt Argo's Christian Zubek before making a move that freed him up to scoee a touchdown during the first half of Saturday's Class 7A first-round playoff game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team improved to 10-0 with Saturday’s 49-7 victory over Summit Argo in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs at Flinn Stadium. The Blue Devils will play host to Western…

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‘That’s what my eyes tell me’: QHS’s magical season ends with loss to best team Blue Devils have ever faced

Chicago Mount Carmel running back Alonzo Manning Jr. eludes the Quincy High School defense to score on a 11-yard run in the second quarter of Saturday's Class 7A state quarterfinal at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It took the best team the Quincy High School football program has ever faced to end the best season the Blue Devils have ever enjoyed. “And hopefully they go win the state title,” Quincy senior defensive lineman Ryan Mast said. The odds favor Chicago Mount Carmel doing just that. The Caravan shackled the…

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‘Every week is a business trip’: Caravan stay focused on title pursuit in dismantling Blue Devils

Chicago Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott prepares to take a snap during the first half of Saturday's Class 7A state quarterfinal matchup with Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Traveling to Quincy to play a quarterfinal-round playoff football game was just another business trip for Chicago Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott. It was just longer than most. “Every week is a business trip, whether we’re home or away,” the 6-foot junior said. “This one was five hours. It’s a long way, but…

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Playoff primer: Blue Devils welcome one of Illinois’ most legendary programs to Flinn Stadium

From left, Quincy High School captains Chris Flachs, Adon Byquist, Drennan Carver and Bradyn Little lead the team out of the locker room for the first-round playoff game against West Chicago at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A historic season continues with a historic opponent. That should make for an entertaining and lively Saturday at Flinn Stadium. The Quincy High School football team reached the Class 7A state quarterfinals with last Saturday’s 33-14 victory at Wheaton North — the first time the Blue Devils have ever won a second-round playoff…

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‘Mentally tough’ Blue Devils overcome early deficit to reach state quarterfinals for first time ever

Quincy High School junior defensive back Rico Clay, left, and junior wide receiver Tykell Hammers celebrate after the Blue Devils' 33-14 victory over Wheaton North on Saturday in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs in Wheaton, Ill. | Submitted photo

WHEATON, Ill. — Twelve minutes into Saturday’s Class 7A second-round playoff game, the chances of Quincy High School extending its best-ever football season looked bleak. The undefeated Blue Devils trailed Wheaton North 14-0. Their vaunted offense was stuck in neutra,l and their stout defense was having trouble slowing the Falcons’ attack. Yet, there was no…

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Taking care of business: Blue Devils open Class 7A playoffs with resounding victory over Wildcats

Quincy High School cornerback Rico Clay, second from left, and his teammates react to his hit on West Chicago's Louis Zeitler during the first half of the Blue Devils' 44-14 victory in the Class 7A playoffs Saturday at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The one thing the Quincy High School football team couldn’t do was get caught expecting to win instead of playing to win. “Monday, when we watched film, we talked about that,” senior offensive lineman Chris Flachs said. “We knew we were better than (West Chicago). You can say that as much as you…

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Check another historic mark off QHS football team’s list of accomplishments

Quincy High School offensive lineman Chris Flachs reacts to the Blue Devils scoring their final touchdown in a 44-14 victory over West Chicago in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Making history wasn’t the goal. Playing better football was. During the 2021 spring season — the 2020 fall prep season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic — Quincy High School went 1-5. A 3-6 campaign followed that fall, but the returnees truly believed better days lie ahead. “Last year, we kind of…

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