‘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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Photo gallery: First state quarterfinal game in QHS football history draws huge crowd

Quincy High School senior offensive lineman Owen Zanger, left, and Cole Wagy pump each other up during pregame warmups Saturday ahead of the Class 7A state quarterfinal against Chicago Mount Carmel at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School football program brought out the best in its fanbase. Quincy fans packed the Flinn Stadium grandstand — shoulder to shoulder is how QHS defensive lineman Ryan Mast described it — for Saturday’s Class 7A state quarterfinal matchup with Chicago Mount Carmel. It was the first state quarterfinal appearance for…

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Photo gallery: QHS football team invokes running clock in Class 7A first-round playoff game

Quincy High School wide receiver Caeden Johannessen flips the ball back to the official after making a catch at the 1-yard line during Saturday's 44-14 victory over West Chicago in the Class 7A playoffs at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team’s first home playoff victory ever featured a little of everything that has made the Blue Devils so successful this season — the Bradyn Little-to-Tykell Hammers connection, dominance of the offensive line and a hard-hitting defense. The end result was a 44-14 victory over West Chicago in the…

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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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Zeroed in on history: Blue Devils cap first perfect regular season in 88 years with dominant fourth-quarter finish

Quincy High School's Adon Byquist reacts to scoring on a punt return in the third quarter of Frdiay night's 56-33 victory over Mahomet-Seymour at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A season’s worth of build-up and an unblemished record carried the Quincy High School football team to the doorstep of history Friday night. All that remained was one final step. It may have been the most arduous and gratifying step these Blue Devils have taken. Leading state-ranked Mahomet-Seymour by just two points at…

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Photo gallery: QHS caps undefeated regular season by beating Mahomet-Seymour

The Quincy High School senior football players lined their helmets up in the end zone during the Senior Night festivities prior to Friday night's game against Mahomet-Seymour at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — For the first time since 1935, the Quincy High School football team finished the regular season undefeated, capping a 9-0 run with Friday night’s 56-33 victory over Mahomet-Seymour at Flinn Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some of the images of the victory for this photo gallery:

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Crowning glory: Blue Devils cap undefeated run through WB6 with league championship

The Quincy High School football team's defense stacks up Geneseo's Jackson Reade during the first quarter of Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The crown fits perfectly. Favored to win the Western Big 6 Conference championship and never shying away from those expectations, the Quincy High School football players finished off an undefeated run to a league title Friday night, beating Geneseo 35-7 at Flinn Stadium. It is the Blue Devils’ first WB6 championship since 2016,…

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Yo, Adrian: Sommers’ goal, stronger second-half play helps Blue Devils win home finale

Quincy High School's Trace Routh uses his head to redirect a corner kick toward the goal during the first half of Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Geneseo at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — At every turn Tuesday night, the Quincy High School boys soccer players caught a glimpse of the program’s storied past. From Dev Reeves, arguably the most significant player in program history, to Donivan Bradshaw, one of the Blue Devils’ greatest scorers, to Jay Ray and his son, J.D., the first father-son combo to…

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Blue Devils pick right time to make defensive stand, intercept Maroons’ plan for last-minute rally

Quincy High School junior cornerback Rico Clay, left, returns an interception up the sideline in front of the QHS bench to seal a 34-27 victory over Moline in Western Big 6 Conference action Friday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Rico Clay heeded the warnings the Quincy High School football coaches blared. Moline quarterback Drew Phelps needed a warning not to throw Clay’s way. With the Maroons facing third and 15 from the Blue Devils’ 25-yard line and trailing by seven points with 39.7 seconds remaining in regulation Friday night, Phelps threw a…

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Blue Devils suffer third straight loss, fall to Maroons in key WB6 matchup

Moline defender Karinton Djikpe, left, and Quincy High School forward Josh Stupavsky battle to win a ball in the air during the first half of Tuesday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — So often in the wake of a loss, it becomes easy to play a game of “what if.” For example, what if Josh Stupavsky’s shot 36 seconds into Tuesday night’s Western Big 6 Conference boys soccer game had hit the inside of the left post and kicked into the goal? Instead, it hit…

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Photo gallery: QHS, QND boys soccer teams collide at Flinn Stadium

Quincy High School defender Nolan Dede goes airborne as QHS goalkeeper Lucas Shepherd covers a loose ball during Thursday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The rivalry continues to be as strong as ever, and the passionate play proved that. The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams met for the 103rd time in their intra-city rivalry on Thursday night at Flinn Stadium, with the Raiders scoring three second-half goals to earn a 4-2 victory.…

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‘Go left no matter what’: Fohey’s save on final PK attempt lifts Blue Devils to regional semifinal win

The Quincy High School girls soccer players celebrate beating Granite City 2-1 in a penalty-kick shootout to win the Class 3A regional semifinal Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With a choice to make — left or right — Taylor Fohey kept hearing what Quincy High School assistant girls soccer coach Chad Struck had to say.  “He said, ‘Go left no matter what,’” Fohey said. “I trusted him.” So left she went. The QHS junior goalkeeper looked at how Granite City’s Peyton…

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Blue Devils don’t stop believing comeback is possible, rally to forge tie with Bruins

Quincy High School midfielder Sydney Welsh, left, fights off Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge's Kendall Watson to maintain possession during Monday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The moment “Sweet Caroline” began playing over the Flinn Stadium sound system, Bri Lannerd’s excitement enveloped her teammates. “That’s our song,” she blurted out. The next thing you know, the Quincy High School girls soccer players were singing and dancing to the Neil Diamond tune. Although the song released more than 50 years…

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Photo gallery: QHS girls soccer forges tie with Rock Bridge to remain unbeaten

Quincy High School defender Hope Lenz, right, applies pressure to Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge's Lia Metz during the second half of Monday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It took a little from everyone to hold the rope. After surrendering three goals in the game’s first 22 minutes, the Quincy High School girls soccer team’s defense stonewalled Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge the final 58 minutes. Two goals in the final three minutes of the first half by Taylor Routh turned the…

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Gauntlet of tough tests awaits Blue Devils after finishing shutout of Crimsons

Quincy High School midfielder Bri Lannerd drives a free kick toward the goal during Saturday's game against Jacksonville at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Ten games without a loss is a quality stretch, one of the best to open a season in the history of the Quincy High School girls soccer program. Yet, the Blue Devils know what comes next will better define their postseason potential. “This week is our week to prove ourselves,” junior midfielder Rian…

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Lopsided WB6 victory helps prep Blue Devils for upcoming gauntlet of tough tests

Quincy High School forward Kenzie O'Brien, left, attacks Sterling defender Maria Garcia during the first half of Monday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The lopsided nature of Monday’s Western Big 6 Conference game suggested there wasn’t much for the Quincy High School girls soccer team to gain from its effort. Reality proved otherwise. The 12-0 victory over Sterling at Flinn Stadium kept the Blue Devils undefeated through eight games, a significant fact when it comes time…

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Second-half surge carries Blue Devils to three-goal victory in crosstown showdown

The Quincy High School girls soccer players celebrate Taylor Routh's goal in the 47th minute Monday night in the crosstown showdown against Quincy Notre Dame at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Travis Dinkheller is saving his fire-and-brimstone speech for another day, but the passionate plea the Quincy High School girls soccer coach made at halftime Monday night resonated with his players. “His message was very clear,” junior midfielder Bri Lannerd said. “We needed to show up in the second half.” The Blue Devils did…

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Photo gallery: QHS beats QND in first of two girls soccer crosstown showdowns

Quincy High School forward Kenzie O'Brien, left, and Quincy Notre Dame goalkeeper Aly Young collide on a ball played into the box during the opening minutes of the second half Monday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — For the first time in a quarter century, the Quincy High School girls soccer team will have the chance to sweep its crosstown rival, beating Quincy Notre Dame 4-1 in Monday night’s matchup at Flinn Stadium. The teams square off again next Monday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…

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Fit to be tied: Blue Devils play to pair of scoreless draws, Raiders end tourney with stalemate

Quincy High School defender Ava Soltwedel, right, pokes the ball away from Ladue Horton Watkins forward Darci Levinson during Saturday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Noticeably irked after allowing a goal in the final two minutes Friday night against Hannibal, the Quincy High School girls soccer team’s defenders vowed it wouldn’t happen again. A spirited effort Saturday ensured it didn’t. The Blue Devils withstood a late push from Ladue Horton Watkins to finish off the second of two…

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Blue Devils get tough stretch started right, grind out one-goal victory against Pirates

Quincy High School's Taylor Routh, center, and Sydney Welsh, right, react to Welsh scoring the first goal against Hannibal on Friday night in the QHS Tournament at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Knowing how taxing a five-games-in-five-days stretch will be, especially when two of those are rivalry games, the Quincy High School girls soccer team couldn’t afford to start things on the wrong foot. Sydney Welsh didn’t let that happen. The sophomore midfielder put herself in the right spot at the right time to redirect…

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Photo gallery: QHS girls soccer team opens own tournament with victory over Hannibal

Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller talks with forward Taylor Routh on the sideline during Friday night's game against Hannibal at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team finished off the first night of its two-day tournament with a 2-1 victory over Hannibal at Flinn Stadium. Ladue Horton Watkins beat Quincy Notre Dame 3-0 and Cape Girardeau Notre Dame beat Springfield 2-0 in the other games. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the…

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Raiders suffer first loss of season, unable to find energy against Rams in QHS Tournament opener

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Longo decided to give his players an opportunity to recharge Thursday, holding a meeting instead of a light practice after playing back-to-back days. “Even at that meeting, I could tell they were tired,” he said. Friday, little changed. The Raiders were outhustled and outplayed in a…

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‘What if magic happens?’: Senior linebacker’s INT critical to helping QHS football team navigate epic comeback

Quincy High School's Ty Douglas, right, and Jett Noble, left, take down a Rock Island ballcarrier during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — Down 28-0 to Rock Island on Senior Night at Flinn Stadium, Quincy High School senior linebacker Kory Fletcher tried to keep a good attitude. “I kept thinking, ‘What if magic happens?’ ” Fletcher said. “And magic happened.” The Blue Devils rallied from that first-half deficit to pull out a thrilling 47-42 Western Big…

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‘Really, it’s all of them’: Limitless trust in wide receivers allows QHS quarterback to break passing record

Quincy High School’s Caeden Johannessen, right, makes a tough catch during a Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Bradyn Little deliberated before answering, and even then the Quincy High School sophomore quarterback struggled to give a single response. So which one of his wide receivers is the best at making the tough catches? “Caeden (Johannessen) has had a few tough catches. And Jack (Mettemeyer). And Tykell (Hammers),” Little said. “Really, it’s…

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Hannibal boys soccer team grinds out one-goal victory over QHS

Hannibal's Thomas Janes, left, and Kevin Westhoff are all smiles after finishing off a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Eric Hill doesn’t mind the pressure and stress of a one-goal game. “It’s something that gets us prepared for where we need to be come postseason time and the type of game we’re going to be in,” the Hannibal boys soccer coach said. “That’s kind of a dogfight.” Friday night, the Pirates proved…

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Fit to be tied: QHS, QND dig in defensively as boys soccer showdown ends in scoreless draw

Quincy High School defender Biruk Rosen, left, tries to keep Quincy Notre Dame's Leo Cann from getting a good angle on a shot during the first half of Wednesday's game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In a sport where the standard dimensions of the goal are sizable — 24 feet wide and 8 feet high — every inch still matters. Wednesday night, the diameter of the goal posts mattered most. A little more than six minutes into the second half of the boys soccer crosstown showdown at Flinn…

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Overtime loss stings as QHS football players realize how oh-so-close to victory they were

Quincy High School linebacker Ty Douglas, center, and defensive lineman Todd Smith, right, look to pounce on a fumble during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling at Flinn Stadium. | Photo courtesy Libby Phelps

QUINCY — As Bradyn Little’s pass barely sailed over Jack Mettemeyer’s outstretched arm and fell to the turf Friday night, Kael Ryan and his Sterling teammates could finally exhale. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life,” said Ryan, Sterling’s do-it-all senior, moments after the Golden Warriors’ 34-28 overtime victory Friday night at…

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Brown’s header off Brockmiller’s corner jumpstarts QHS soccer team’s offensive outburst

Quincy High School's Andrew Brown gets his head on Boen Brockmiller's corner kick and drives it into the net for the first goal in the Blue Devils' 7-1 victory over Sterling on Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The moment he said it, Boen Brockmiller sensed his critique of his own corner kick sounded braggadocious. So he smiled and paused. When he continued, Brockmiller’s genuine joy for how the play turned out showed. “I know I’m biased,” said the senior forward on the Quincy High School boys soccer team. “But it…

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Playground bullies: Blue Devils dominate Redbirds up front to open season with back-to-back victories

The Quincy High School football team breaks through the cheerleaders' banner during pregame ceremonies Friday night at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy High School senior Gregory Quince wasn’t too surprised to see the Blue Devils bully Alton on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. “We watched film and our defensive line and offensive line were really looking forward to the game,” the QHS wide receiver/defensive back said. The big guys up front on both sides…

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Support system: QHS runners put chemistry, camaraderie on display during Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School's Sadiya Hodges, right, and Unity's Delanee Schulte, left, race in the 100-meter dash during the 71st Quincy Invitational at Flinn Stadium on Wednesday. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With each pass of the baton, a sprint ensued. The final two events of the 71st Quincy Invitational, held Wednesday at Flinn Stadium, were the boys and girls 4×400-meter relays, and collectively, the Quincy High School track and field athletes wanted to lend support and encouragement to their teammates. So on each of…

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Corner kick connection pushes Blue Devils another victory closer to WB6 championship

Quincy High School sophomore midfielder Bri Lannerd, center, and her teammates celebrate after she headed in Rian Moore's corner kick for the game-winning goal in Tuesday night's 2-1 victory over Geneseo at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bri Lannerd called Rian Moore’s corner kick the perfect ball. “You can’t get better than that,” Lannerd said. Moore had a pretty good idea what the end result of it would be. “I can tell when Bri has her eyes on a ball,” Moore said. “She saw it, it was right at her…

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No longer fit to be tied, Raiders sweep season series from Blue Devils with Quintero’s late goal

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer players celebrate Lia Quintero's goal with 6:06 remaining in regulation that pushed the Raiders to a 1-0 victory over Quincy High School on Monday night at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The thought of playing to another draw became increasingly aggravating. “We just knew we couldn’t tie again, not after tying in each of our past three games,” said Grace Bertram, a junior defender on the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team. “We just couldn’t.” Yet, through 73 minutes of Monday night’s crosstown showdown…

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Lannerd drives free kick over Pirates’ defense, carries Blue Devils to victory at Flinn Stadium

Quincy High School's Bri Lannerd gets hugged by teammate Rian Moore after scoring on a free kick with 21:30 remaining in the second half of Friday night's game against Hannibal. Quincy's Anna Morrison, right, joins in the celebration. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Quincy High School girls soccer coach Travis Dinkheller’s preachings in practice rattled around in Bri Lannerd’s head as she stood over a 30-yard free kick. “I knew if I put it on frame it had a chance,” Lannerd said. “I tried to just give it a chance.” She might have to do that…

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Blue Devils score equalizer, lock down defensively to forge tie with Raiders

From left to right, Quincy High School's Jensen Stiles, Carter Venvertloh, Boen Brockmiller and Jackson Richmiller celebrate after Venvertloh set up Brockmiller's game-tying goal in the 65th minute. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — For a team desperately trying to hold its rival at bay and make amends for the batterings of recent past, Boen Brockmiller’s game-tying goal gave the Quincy High School boys soccer team the belief any and everything was possible. The Blue Devils’ defense latched on to that. “It gives us a blanket of…

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Maroons’ physical play in second half negates Blue Devils’ strong first half

Quincy High School's Brian Douglas, left, gets knocked out of bounds by Moline's Chase Stephens on a kick return during Friday's game at Flinn Stadium. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Moline football coach Mike Morrisey’s postgame huddle lasted a brief moment, but it came with a poignant message. “Nice show of character in the second half,” he told the Maroons. “That’s the type of football we want to play.” Quincy High School coach Rick Little’s huddle lasted a touch longer, but it provided…

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Ability to get back in fight allows Blue Devils to post back-to-back victories

Hannibal goalkeeper Parker Terrill, left, slides to knock the ball away from Quincy High School’s Spencer Jenkins during Wednesday's game at Flinn Stadium. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

QUINCY — Quincy High School boys soccer coach Ron Bridal wasn’t about to allow fatigued legs from games on back-to-back nights morph into an excuse for sloppy, uninspired play. Learning to handle such a scenario is vital in the long run. “To come back tonight was a challenge,” Bridal said Wednesday night at Flinn Stadium…

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Crosstown showdown notebook: Lavery solid in debut as Raiders’ quarterback

The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame football teams opened their seasons against each other for the first time since 1985 on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Brendan Saak photo

QUINCY — Calvin Lavery started to squat before realizing his muscles wouldn’t allow it. So the Quincy Notre Dame quarterback stayed standing as he talked about dealing with cramps throughout the Raiders’ 40-20 victory Friday night against Quincy High School in the crosstown showdown at Flinn Stadium. Temperatures topping out at 93 degrees with heat…

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Something special happening here: Raiders turn tide with big plays in kicking game against Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell, left, celebrates with senior wide receiver Zach Friedersdorf after a 6-yard touchdown reception gave the Raiders a 24-0 lead over Quincy High School on Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Brendan Saak photo

QUINCY — Ben Kasparie needed just 17 seconds to put plans into motion to erase 37 years of longing. On the opening kickoff of Friday night’s season-opening crosstown showdown at Flinn Stadium, the Quincy Notre Dame senior glanced to his left after fielding the kick and thought there was a seam opening toward the sideline.…

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