Friday Night Lights rewind: Cougars mount another rally, Pleasant Hill field vandalized, Panthers score four defensive TDs

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | September 4, 2023
The Highland football team is 2-0 heading into Clarence Cannon Conference play after beating Scotland County 14-6. | Photo courtesy Payton Miller

QUINCY — Call them the Comeback Cougars. Two weeks in a row, the Highland football team has needed to erase a deficit to be able to head into Clarence Cannon Conference play with an unblemished record. Both times, the Cougars have figured out a way to get into the end zone. Last Friday night, the…

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Friday Night Lights: Week 1 offers lopsided scores, Campen’s big run and bolts of lightning

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | August 28, 2023
Hannibal senior lineman Noah Young walks off the field after the coin toss prior to Friday night’s game against Jefferson City Helias at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. Photo courtesy Maya Bell, Jefferson City News Tribune

QUINCY — The opening week of the high school football season didn’t offer many surprises or alter many opinions, except for one head-scratching result. That happened at Ray Hentges Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. Hannibal expected to be challenged by Jefferson City Helias, but the third-quarter breakdowns that resulted in the Crusaders scoring three touchdowns…

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Healthy Byquist gives Blue Devils’ dynamic offense another gear in pursuit of deep playoff run

By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor | August 16, 2023
Quincy High School senior wingback Adon Byquist is 100-percent healthy after suffering a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in the season opener a year ago. | Photo courtesy Samantha Carmean

QUINCY — At first, Adon Byquist didn’t worry much about the severity of his injury. In fact, no one seemed overly concerned. The Quincy High School football team’s starting wingback went to the sideline during the season opener against Quincy Notre Dame last August with pain in his right knee. He said, at the time,…

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O captain, my captain: Muegge’s leadership will be critical in Mustangs’ pursuit of playoff berth

By Don Crim, Senior Columnist | August 14, 2023
Unity-Payson defensive tackle Brady Muegge flatens a Beardstown ball carrier during a game last fall in Mendon, Ill. | Photo courtesy Sarah Vest Donley

MENDON, Ill. — Brady Muegge admits he was a little surprised as a junior last fall to be voted a captain for the Unity-Payson football team, an honor often reserved for seniors. His coach, Matt Woodworth, wasn’t. “He’s a leader on our team,” Woodworth said of the offense and defensive lineman who has started since…

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