Posts Tagged ‘Prep football’
Hannibal’s Williams named Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The best player in the area has been named the best player in the state. Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams recently was named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year, becoming the first player in school history to receive the nationwide recognition. The Gatorade Player of the Year award was established in…
Read MoreIHSA member schools vote against district football format, but scheduling talks will continue
QUINCY — Conference play and rivalry games will remain part of the Illinois high school football landscape for now. But for how long? Tuesday, the Illinois High School Association announced the results of the annual by-law referendum with a proposal for statewide district scheduling for football failing. Of the 727 votes cast, 379 member schools…
Read MoreSchuckman: Palmyra alum helping Texas team chase state football championship
QUINCY — Wilson Rigg has lived in Texas long enough his family can hear it in his voice. “I’m starting to get an accent and everything,” he said with a chuckle. He’s also been there long enough to finally live out a dream. An All-Clarence Cannon Conference lineman from Palmyra who was an Academic All-American…
Read MoreHannibal’s Williams caps career with fourth all-state honor, four other Pirates receive recognition
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Missouri Football Coaches Association recognized what anyone who squared off against Hannibal during the past four seasons came to know. Aneyas Williams is the most dynamic player on the field. The senior all-purpose back was named the Class 4 Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection by the…
Read MoreSouth Shelby’s Hammond headlines seven area players receiving Class 2 all-state honors
SHELBINA, Mo. — One of the most powerful running backs in Class 2 led a brigade of seven area players earning all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association. South Shelby senior Kendal Hammond, who led the Cardinals to 10 consecutive victories before losing in a shootout with Bowling Green in the district championship game,…
Read More‘Incredible’: Camp Point Central football team captures first state championship in school history
NORMAL, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football players viewed Friday’s appearance in the Class 1A state championship game as a business trip. It was more of a historic journey. “Incredible,” senior quarterback Nick Moore called it. Unforgettable, too. Behind arguably one of the most impressive defensive performances in program history and the continued postseason…
Read MoreBeyond the Boxscore: Defensive stand, Moore’s punts, Thompson’s catches play pivotal roles in Central’s state championship
NORMAL, Ill. — At times, they seem like just another play. Other times, they define a championship. Friday at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, the Camp Point Central football team made a number of plays that would be easy to overlook on a stat sheet but proved to be pivotal moments in the 14-0 victory…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Camp Point Central wins Class 1A state championship by beating Lena-Winslow
NORMAL, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team brought the first state championship trophy in school history back to Adams County on Friday. Central used a stone-solid defense and two Elijah Genenbacher touchdown runs to beat three-time defending Class 1A state champion Lena-Winslow 14-0 at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium. Photographer Mike Pritchard roamed…
Read MoreState champs: Dominant defensive effort carries Camp Point Central football team to Class 1A title
NORMAL, Ill. — A historic season deserved a historic ending. The Camp Point Central football team delivered in the most historic way. By shutting out three-time defending state champion Lena-Winslow with a 14-0 victory Friday in the Class 1A state championship game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium, Central not only capped a 14-0 season…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central’s Robert Gooding goes inside the locker room to talk about Panthers’ personalities
CAMP POINT, Ill. — On roster of more than 40 players who spend plenty of time together on and off the field, personalities and unique traits come to light. With the Camp Point Central football team headed to Normal, Ill., this week to play in the Class 1A state championship game against Lena-Winslow at Illinois…
Read More2023 Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame inductee: Jack Cornell
Editor’s Note: Quincy Notre Dame will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 2023 QND Tip-Off Tourney at The Pit. Below is the biography used by the QND Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Before Jack Cornell strolled the sidelines…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Camp Point Central football players celebrate winning Class 1A state semifinal
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The mission to return to the Class 1A state championship game is complete. Only one step remains. In the words of the Camp Point Central football players, that’s payback. Central earned its spot opposite defending state champion Lena-Winslow in the title game by flattening Greenfield-Northwestern 54-20 Saturday inb the semifinals. Afterward,…
Read MoreOpportunity awaits: Behind another dominant first quarter, Central earns rematch with Lena-Winslow in Class 1A title game
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The politically correct expression would be “unfinished business.” In football layman’s terms, Camp Point Central tight end Jack Thompson may have hit the nail on the proverbial head. “We want some revenge,” Thompson said only moments following the Panthers’ 54-20 rout of Greenfield Northwestern in the Class 1A semifinals Saturday afternoon…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Camp Point Central flattens Greenfield-Northwestern in state semifinals
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team will be playing for a Class 1A state championship once again. The Panthers steamrolled through a showdown of undefeated teams in Saturday’s state semifinal, flattening Greenfield-Northwestern 54-20. Central (13-0) will face defending state champion Lena-Winslow (13-0) at 10 a.m. Friday in the Class 1A title…
Read MoreSchuckman: Everything about state semifinal Saturday proved to be perfect
CAMP POINT, Ill. — All roads led here. From Mendon and Mount Sterling. From Pike and Calhoun counties. From near. From far. From in between. They came to see the best football teams in the Western Illinois Valley Conference collide. They came out of the deer stands and the fields to be here on time.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Kids at play make state semifinal Saturday ultimate community affair
CAMP POINT, Ill. — They tossed the football and tackled each other. They wore black and gold to celebrate their favorite team. They asked for autographs afterward. The elementary school kids turned Saturday’s Class 1A state semifinal football game into their own playground. It’s how it’s meant to be. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read MoreNever say never: Pirates trim four-touchdown deficit to one score, unable to finish comeback
ST. LOUIS — The lead seemed insurmountable. It nearly wasn’t. Trailing Lutheran North 62-33 with four minutes remaining in the third quarter of Friday night’s Class 4 state quarterfinal, the Hannibal football team refused to lay down. Three touchdowns in a nine-minute span pulled the Pirates within 62-55 with 3:55 to play in regulation. However,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hannibal football team’s season ends with loss to Lutheran North
ST. LOUIS — Two explosive offenses put together a fireworks show Friday night. The big bangs belonged to the Lutheran North football team. The Crusaders built a 29-point lead in the third quarter and held off Hannibal’s comeback, winning the Class 4 state quarterfinal 70-61. Hannibal ends its season with an 11-2 record. Freelance photographer…
Read MoreStroke of genius: Moore’s relationship with Central’s offensive mastermind creates efficient attack
CAMP POINT, Ill. — By now, Nick Moore shouldn’t be amazed or surprised. Yet, he always is. Together over the past three seasons, Camp Point Central offensive coordinator Casey Rhea and Moore, his starting quarterback, have poured over hours of game film to gain a better grasp of what opposing defenses intend to do and…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Postseason rematch pits Panthers against Tigers in Class 1A state semifinals
CAMP POINT, Ill. — It’s no secret the chance of a Camp Point Central vs. Greenfield-Northwestern postseason rematch had been on everyone’s mind throughout the regular season. It’s finally time. The Western Illinois Valley Conference division champions both sit 12-0 heading into Saturday’s Class 1A state semifinal taking place in Camp Point. Last year, the…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Hannibal heads to Gateway City for state quarterfinal matchup
HANNIBAL, Mo. — For the fourth consecutive season, the Hannibal football team has reached the Class 4 state quarterfinals. Only once in those three previous postseason trips have the Pirates advanced to the state semifinals. That was in 2021 when Hannibal went undefeated until the state championship game against Smithville. A vast number of players…
Read MoreSchuckman: Blue Devils change perception, expectations of football program
QUINCY — The fans arrived early to tailgate, stayed late to commiserate and created a sea of blue that filled Flinn Stadium. The final score of Saturday’s Class 7A state quarterfinal game against top-ranked Chicago Mount Carmel didn’t change the community-wide support for the Quincy High School football program or deter the overflowing crowd from…
Read MorePanthers’ first-quarter blitz knocks Crusaders out, sends Central to Class 1A state semifinals
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Many of those attending Saturday’s playoff game at Camp Point Central High School likely passed a particular sign on the west side of Illinois 94. The placard reads: “Small Town. Big dreams.” Oh so true on both accounts. On paper, the Central football team faced a daunting task in its Class…
Read More‘That’s what my eyes tell me’: QHS’s magical season ends with loss to best team Blue Devils have ever faced
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Central football team reaches state semifinals after emphatic start
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team is back in the state semifinals, and the Panthers got there with a burst. Central outscored Belleville Althoff 30-0 in the first quarter of Saturday’s Class 1A state quarterfinal and rode the momentum to a 42-22 victory. Photographer Mike Pritchard put together this gallery of…
Read MorePhoto gallery: First state quarterfinal game in QHS football history draws huge crowd
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…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Phil Neally discusses QHS’s historic football season, carrying energy into wrestling season
QUINCY — Phil Neally saw the Quincy High School football team when it struggled as much as it ever has. Three decades later, he’s witnessing the greatest season in program history. As a junior offensive lineman during the 1991 season, Neally and the Blue Devils endured a winless season. The next season, Neally started at…
Read MoreFour-peat: Unstoppable offense carries Pirates to fourth consecutive district championship
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Who’s next? Hannibal continued its scorched-earth approach to postseason football with its third straight one-sided victory Friday night. The Pirates won their fourth straight Class 4 District 4 championship in record-breaking fashion, torching previously unbeaten Warrenton 55-32 before a crowd of about 1,700 at Porter Stadium. Fueled by all-purpose back Aneyas Williams’ …
Read MoreBryant, Bowling Green outrun South Shelby in epic district championship shootout
SHELBINA, Mo. — It was an offensive shootout for the ages. Bowling Green and South Shelby, two of the highest-scoring high school football teams in Missouri, combined for 16 touchdowns, 116 points and 1,035 yards of offense Friday night in the Class 2 District 7 championship game at Charles Rash Memorial Field. In the end,…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Blue Devils welcome one of Illinois’ most legendary programs to Flinn Stadium
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…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Central’s stout defense squares off with Althoff’s electric offense
CAMP POINT, Ill. — This isn’t the first time in the postseason the Camp Point Central football team has faced Belleville Althoff. In 2012, the Panthers reached the state semifinals for the first time in program history, only to lose 28-7 to Althoff in the Class 2A semis on Lindenwood-Belleville’s candy-stripe field. The Panthers have…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal football players discuss district title game, Porter Stadium crowd
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal football team is right where it is expected to be — playing for a district championship on a Friday night in November. The Pirates (10-1) will face Warrenton (11-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Porter Stadium in the Class 4 District 4 title game. Hannibal has won three straight district…
Read MoreSchuckman: Best seat in house is alongside longtime coaches who delight in QHS’s success
QUINCY — The best seat in the house doesn’t always provide the best view. Let me explain. Throughout this historic season the Quincy High School football team has engineered, I have sat in the west end zone during every home game. The spot was chosen strategically so the setting sun on Friday nights or the…
Read MorePaben puts finishing touch on Central football team’s second-round playoff victory
HARDIN, Ill. — Drew Paben’s first touchdown run was by design, but his second was more or less an accident. Paben scored twice in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon to propel Camp Point Central past Hardin Calhoun 32-14 in the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs. Paben’s two touchdowns allowed Central to pull…
Read More‘We never lost faith and we never gave in’: Resilient effort not enough to keep Raiders’ postseason run alive
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 MorePhoto gallery: QND fights to overcome first-half deficit, falls short in second-round playoff loss
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 MorePhoto gallery: Central earns quarterfinal date with Belleville Althoff after dispatching Calhoun
HARDIN, Ill. — The road doesn’t get any easier, but it does lead home. After beating Hardin Calhoun 32-14 on Saturday in the second-round of the Class 1A playoffs, the Camp Point Central draws Belleville Althoff in the state quarterfinals. The Crusaders (10-1) will face the Panthers (11-0) at 2 p.m. next Saturday in Camp…
Read MoreStandalone: QND’s Klauser attempts to make reception despite pass interference
Full-time return to backfield for Williams catapults Pirates into district championship game
WENTZVILLE, Mo. — This was Aneyas Williams at his absolute best. Williams, the all-purpose wunderkind whose marvelous four-year football career at Hannibal is rapidly winding down, proved Friday night he may be saving the best for last. Williams’ performance in the third-seeded Pirates’ 48-27 defeat of second-seeded Wentzville Holt in the Class 4 District 4…
Read MoreFirst-quarter onslaught enables Bowling Green to bury Monroe City in district semifinals
BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — Eight was enough. Bowling Green produced 254 yards and four touchdowns on its eight offensive plays in the first quarter Friday night to bolt to a 30-0 lead and cruise to a 51-6 victory over Monroe City in the semifinals of the Class 2 District 7 playoffs. Behind the quick-strike capabilities…
Read MoreQuick-strike drive gives Cardinals complete control of momentum in district semifinal victory
SHELBINA, Mo. — Chase Moellering looked like he’d been there before. When the Clark County football team turned the ball over on downs st South Shelby’s 34-yard line with 2 minutes, 4 seconds remaining in the first half Friday night, the Cardinals realized there was plenty of time to score. Moellering’s ability to engineer a…
Read MoreSomething truly special: Blue Devils use kicking game, special teams to their advantage
QUINCY — Justin Beaver understands what matters most. Although the Quincy High School football team’s senior placekicker remains ready to kick a field goal if need be, he hasn’t been called on to do so once this season. When your offense averages more than six touchdowns per game, field goals aren’t really necessary. “I like…
Read MoreReaching second round of playoffs doesn’t change Raiders’ approach to practice and prep
QUINCY — Jack Brenner noticed one significant difference when it came to practicing in November for the first time. “It’s a little cold,” the Quincy Notre Dame junior defensive back said as temperatures dipped to 40 degrees on Wednesday night. There was another significant difference, too. “It’s the playoffs,” Brenner said. “Everything is a little…
Read MoreFour Pirates earn all-conference football honors on both sides of ball
HANNIBAL, Mo. — To no one’s surprise, the North Central Missouri Conference’s best football team dominated the all-league selections. Hannibal, which went 5-0 and outscored its opponents 275-28 in league play, landed seven players on the first-team offense and six players on the first-team defense. The Pirates had five others earn second-team plaudits. Four players…
Read MoreCrim: High school football postseason games offering intriguing storylines
QUINCY — High school playoff potpourri: • Quincy Notre Dame is nothing if not resilient. The Raiders easily could have played out the string after losing back-to-back winnable games against Southern Boone and Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton to fall to 1-5, seemingly extinguishing their postseason chances. Instead, they won their final three games in convincing…
Read MoreTaking care of business: Blue Devils open Class 7A playoffs with resounding victory over Wildcats
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…
Read MoreCarrying the right tune: Raiders’ resiliency leads to comeback, first-round upset of Knights
ARTHUR, Ill. — From his seat at the front of the charter bus, as it worked its way across county roads in search of a four-lane highway, Jack Cornell could hear the music blaring and the Quincy Notre Dame football players singing loudly behind him. He sat there and smiled. “This is what you do…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS football team invokes running clock in Class 7A first-round playoff game
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…
Read MoreCheck another historic mark off QHS football team’s list of accomplishments
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Camp Point Central runs roughshod to victory in Class 1A first-round playoff game
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Once the Camp Point Central football team’s offense took the field, a spot in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs seemed secure. Elijah Genenbacher scored on a 68-yard run on the Panthers’ first play and they rolled to a 54-0 victory over Bridgeport Red Hill on Saturday. Next up…
Read MoreStandalone: QHS defenders react to Clay leveling West Chicago running back
Pirates, Williams make quick work of another opponent, waltz into district semifinals
HANNIBAL, Mo. — On the surface, Hannibal’s most recent blowout football victory was little more than another Friday night stroll on the plastic grass of Porter Stadium. The potent Pirates’ steamroller-like offense was its usual productive self, and so was Hannibal’s stifling defense. By midway through the second quarter, an overmatched St. Charles team was…
Read MoreMonroe City pounds ground with dominant running game in earning district victory
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City football team needed a fourth-quarter rally to fend off Highland when the teams first met this season. No comeback was necessary the second time around. Sophomores Quincy Mayfield and Jayden Holland combined for 244 rushing yards and four touchdowns to enable the Panthers to post a 34-0 victory…
Read MoreWB6 coaches select QHS quarterback as MVP, nine Blue Devils make first-team all-conference
QUINCY — Bradyn Little’s success quarterbacking the Quincy High School football team is more than just a passing fancy. It’s a full orchestra of talent. The junior quarterback led the Blue Devils to a 6-0 record in the Western Big 6 Conference and a 9-0 overall regular-season mark, earning first-team all-conference honors and league MVP.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS football coach Rick Little takes control of segment, becomes interviewer
QUINCY — The latest episode of “Schuck on a Truck” comes with a twist. Quincy High School football coach Rick Little turned the tables on Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and took over the interview, dubbing it “Schuck held hostage on his truck.” Movie lines, cinderella stories, influential coaches became the topics of conversation.…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Central football seniors discuss playoff atmosphere and tradition
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Playoff week is in full swing, which brings a new intensity and vibe to the Camp Point Central football team’s weekly preparations. The Panthers open the Class 1A playoffs at 2 p.m. Saturday at home against Bridgeport Red Hill. Central finished the regular season 9-0 and is the No. 1-seeded team…
Read MoreSchuckman: WB6 showcase event would help league deal with potential scheduling void
QUINCY — Quincy High School football coach Rick Little’s biggest chore and most constant worry isn’t prepping the Blue Devils for the playoffs. It’s filling a potential open week on the 2024 schedule. Last January, Rock Island Alleman informed Western Big 6 Conference principals and officials it would not field a varsity football team during…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Mettemeyer discusses QHS football team’s historic regular season following Blue Devils’ ninth victory
QUINCY — Jack Mettemeyer found the end zone in his final regular-season game at Flinn Stadium, helping the Quincy High School football team put a stamp on a dominant fourth quarter and a 56-33 victory over Mahomet-Seymour on Friday night. The victory pushed QHS’s record to 9-0, marking just the second undefeated regular season in…
Read MoreZeroed in on history: Blue Devils cap first perfect regular season in 88 years with dominant fourth-quarter finish
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS caps undefeated regular season by beating Mahomet-Seymour
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:
Read MoreRaiders hold on to hope playoff bid materializes after finishing season with three straight victories
QUINCY — As Collin Altgilbers paraded through the picture line, chatted with friends and family members, and soaked in the final moments following likely the last game on his home field, the Quincy Notre Dame senior lineman tried to find the words to explain what the next 24 hours will be like as the Raiders…
Read MorePirates win eighth consecutive game with another dominant effort spearheaded by Anders
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Hannibal football team looks primed for a postseason run. The Pirates, ranked sixth in the Class 4 state poll, finished off the regular season Friday night with their consecutive victory, beating Columbia Battle 42-7. Hannibal scored 34 points in the first half and put it on cruise control in the second…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Second-ranked Central caps another undefeated regular season
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Camp Point Central football team finds itself in a familiar position — riding high heading into the postseason. The Panthers finished their fifth undefeated run through the regular season in the last 13 seasons with Friday night’s 59-13 victory over Winchester West Central. The second-ranked team in Class 1A will…
Read More‘I’ll be grateful forever’: QND seniors relish opportunity to be part of football program
QUINCY — While there is a miniscule chance it could sneak into the Illinois high school playoffs with a 4-5 record by beating John Burroughs at home Friday night, the Quincy Notre Dame football team is treating the game as if it will be the last. “We’re all aware it could be our last game…
Read MoreCrowning glory: Blue Devils cap undefeated run through WB6 with league championship
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,…
Read MoreSplish, splash: Little avoids full bath of ice water, but Blue Devils improvise to celebrate WB6 title
QUINCY — The Quincy High School football players proved they can be resourceful. Late in the fourth quarter Friday night at Flinn Stadium and the starters on the sidelines with a 35-7 lead over Geneseo, a plan was hatched to dump a cooler of water on Blue Devils coach Rick Little at game’s end to…
Read MoreQND continues to finish season with flourish, buries Soldan with first-quarter TD flurry
QUINCY — The playoff hopes might be slim and the likelihood of the season ending in one week may be setting in, but the Quincy Notre Dame football team continues to play as if there’s plenty more at stake. For the second consecutive week, the Raiders dominated the opponent in front of them. QND scored…
Read MoreAnother overwhelming victory allows Pirates to put finishing touches on NCMC championship
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The football script was quite familiar. Hannibal scored early, often and in the second half there was a running clock. The Pirates’ 56-7 North Central Missouri Conference blowout of Marshall was the latest in a lengthening line of one-sided victories. This particular win, played before a crowd of about 1,200 at Porter…
Read MoreSchuckman: Pursuit of perfection helps Blue Devils develop trust, respect in each other
QUINCY — From a movie made before any of the Quincy High School football players were born comes a line that resonates with what the Blue Devils are trying to achieve. They are chasing perfection, the same way the T.C. Williams Titans were. In the closing sequence of “Remember the Titans,” a movie released in…
Read MoreBlue Devils outlast Golden Warriors to remain undefeated, improve to 7-0 for first time since 1935
STERLING, Ill. — Inevitably, it happens. A clunker. A stinker. A misstep. Being able to endure one of those and still find a way to succeed separates good teams from championship teams. Friday night, the state-ranked Quincy High School football team found a way to navigate past its mistakes and beat Sterling 35-33 in a…
Read MoreWilliams helps Pirates remain NCMC’s top team after smothering Spartans in state-ranked battle
MOBERLY, Mo. — Aneyas Williams enjoys the spotlight, but he’s happy to share it. “That’s what I want to do, do anything I can to help the team win,” the Hannibal senior running back and University of Notre Dame commit said. If the Hannibal football team can replicate the balance it displayed Friday night, the…
Read MoreRaiders dominate Bulldogs from start to finish as Hun, special teams make big plays
DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame football team made sure this game didn’t slip away. After back-to-back near misses that dashed their playoff hopes, the Raiders put together their finest overall performance of the season Friday night to swamp defending Class 2A state champion Decatur St. Teresa 55-6. QND dominated from start to finish…
Read MoreIn their own words: QHS wide receivers break down best parts of their record-setting unit
QUINCY — Four weeks into the Western Big 6 Conference football slate and nothing has changed. The Quincy High School wide receivers still top the statistical charts. Adon Byquist, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior, leads the WB6 in receptions (20), receiving yards (407) and receiving touchdowns (5) in conference games. Tykell Hammers, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior,…
Read MoreCrim: Raiders’ near misses mean playing for pride instead of playoffs over final three games
QUINCY— The Quincy Notre Dame football team can only think of what might have been. The Raiders were eliminated from playoff consideration Friday night with a 35-28 loss to Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton at Advance Physical Therapy Field, a game in which they held a 12-point lead five minutes into the second half and seemed…
Read MoreHave mercy: Blue Devils bury Silver Streaks with first-half onslaught, Little throws seven TD passes
QUINCY — The halftime instructions were simple and succinct. Don’t be lollygaggers. Having built a 56-5 lead over Galesburg by intermission Friday night, the Quincy High School football team’s starters were told they wouldn’t be taking a snap in the second half. Although this was the fourth time in six games the Blue Devils have…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS football team improves to 6-0 with homecoming whalloping of Galesburg
QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team piled up 56 points in the first half Friday night and rolled to a 56-19 victory over Galesburg in Western Big 6 Conference play at Flinn Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at Flinn Stadium and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreAnother one-possession loss sinks QND, eliminates any chance of playoff push
QUINCY — Mistakes and missed opportunities will haunt the Quincy Notre Dame football team. The Raiders saw their playoff hopes evaporate Friday night when Columbia (Mo.) Father Tolton scored three touchdowns in a six-minute stretch overlapping the third and fourth quarters to erase a 12-point deficit and post a 35-28 victory at Advance Physical Therapy…
Read MorePirates rumble toward showdown with Spartans by dismantling another NCMC foe
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Another Friday night, another one-sided Hannibal football victory. The Pirates’ latest win, a 53-0 shellacking of Kirksville, was Hannibal’s fifth straight and played out in front of about 1,200 fans at Porter Stadium. Hannibal has outscored its last three opponents 191-13. All three games have been finished with a running clock in…
Read MoreCrim: Four decades later, QND football team’s remarkable turnaround remains impressive
QUINCY — It has been 40 years since the Quincy Notre Dame football team engineered one of the biggest one-season turnarounds in school history. The Raiders were coming off back-to-back 2-8 seasons in 1983 and had lost 19 of their previous 23 games, dating to the tail end of the 1980 campaign. It had been…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Wives of Central football coaches discuss family, Friday nights together
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The wives of the Camp Point Central football coaches are a staff unto themselves. Each week, prior to Friday night, they game plan how to wrangle kids, pack enough juice boxes and gear to survive a three hours and make arrangements for postgame festivities. It’s done to allow their husbands to…
Read MoreBlue Devils capitalize on tide-turning moments, beat Panthers yet again with offensive onslaught
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Three plays changed everything for the Quincy High School football team. Sure the final score ended up 63-27 with the final 14 minutes played with a running clock, but the Blue Devils needed the tide-turning moments to shoot down United Township in Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup at the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: State-ranked Central makes homecoming memorable with victory
CAMP POINT, Ill. — A homecoming crowd, a rival coming to town and a victory. Life is pretty good if you’re the state-ranked Camp Point Central football team. The Panthers took care of business Friday night, beating Brown County 45-0 in a Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division game. Central, ranked third in Class 1A,…
Read MoreWilliams, Pirates uses efficient approach to overwhelm Bulldogs in first half of NCMC victory
MEXICO, Mo. — Aneyas Williams’ play gets described in a variety of ways, often with adjectives such as electric or dazzling. Friday night, a new one was added to the list. Efficient. Williams had only four touches offensively during the Hannibal football team’s 61-7 victory over Mexico in North Central Missouri Conference play, but the…
Read MoreRaiders’ chance to snare pivotal road victory kicked aside as Eagles rally in final minute
ASHLAND, Mo. — The kind of victory the Quincy Notre Dame football team desperately needed, the kind that alleviates the pressure to be perfect, was within the Raiders’ grasp. In fact, it was only 72 seconds away. That’s when disaster devastated QND. Southern Boone’s Brady Dapkus returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and…
Read MoreCardinals continue to churn out yards, TDs and victories with dominant running game
KAHOKA, Mo. — Kendal Hammond can’t forget his freshman football season at South Shelby. Nor would he want to, because it regularly serves as a reminder about how far the Cardinals program has come since 2020. “We didn’t win a game,” said Hammond, wincing at the mere thought of that season. “We went 0-9.” Fast…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Monroe City, Centralia engage in CCC slugfest at Lankford Field
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Attempting to bounce back from a humbling loss at South Shelby a week ago, the Monroe City football team put forth a spirited comeback in the second half Friday night at Lankford field, but Centralia remained undefeated with a 27-24 victory. Monroe City quarterback Trey Smyser threw a pair of touchdown…
Read MoreFriday Night Lights rewind: First victory shows Palmyra continues to ‘do simple better’
QUINCY — Emotions ran the gamut during Week 4 of the high school football season, from elation over first victories to relief courtesy fourth-quarter survival to grief born of losing a teammate and friend. Add a sense of pride to that list for Palmyra coach Dalton Hill, who is watching the Panthers mature week by…
Read MoreCrim: QHS defense answers when tested, continues to make plays in winning fashion
QUINCY — There’s no questioning the offensive firepower the Quincy High School football team possesses. Coming off a record-setting sophomore season, quarterback Bradyn Little already has thrown for 1,105 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing nearly 73 percent of his passes through four games. Tykell Hammers is averaging 16.3 yards per catch and has scored…
Read MoreComplimentary football enables Raiders to earn first victory by shutting out Hawks in second half
QUINCY — The situation was less than ideal. The response to it was more than fitting. Now, the Quincy Notre Dame football players can exhale and breathe a little easier. A dominant defensive effort Saturday in which the Raiders forced three turnovers and blocked a punt propelled QND to a 20-6 victory over state-ranked Lift…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND football team beats rain, Lift for Life Academy to enjoy first victory
QUINCY — Nothing could wash away the good vibes the Quincy Notre Dame football team generated Saturday, not even a postgame thunderstorm. The Raiders finished off a 20-6 victory over Lift for Life Academy on Saturday afternoon at Advance Physical Therapy Field before the rain fell, giving QND its first victory of the season and…
Read MoreEffective Panthers continue to play with confidence, pick up another WIVC North victory
MENDON, Ill. — There is a quiet effectiveness about the Camp Point Central football team. And it’s obvious. The Panthers go about their duty on game nights with a business-like approach, and they fully expect to win. Most of the time, they do just that. “We go into every game confident,” said Nick Moore, the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS football team improves to 4-0 with WB6 victory against Moline
QUINCY — The Quincy High School football team is 4-0 for the first time since 2007 after holding off Moline 34-27 for a Western Big 6 Conference victory Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Muddy River Sports editor Matt Schuckman spent the evening at the venerable facility and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreFire up the grill: Hammond, Cardinals barbecue Panthers’ defense with dominant running game
SHELBINA, Mo. — When Kendal Hammond raced to the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the first half Friday night, he had a little more pep to his step. Credit Hammond’s dad for providing some extra motivation for his son and the South Shelby football team’s offensive line. “He made me a deal. If…
Read MorePirates keep improving, keep rolling through NCMC opponents with high-powered attack
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal quarterback Waylon Anders shrugged off the final margin of victory, preferring to break down the bigger picture. “We know we have to stay focused, no matter who we are playing or what the score is,” Anders said. The junior insists maintaining that kind of mindset is imperative, regardless of how easy…
Read MoreSchuckman: Family means everything to Bombers as support in tragic time comes from near and far
MACOMB, Ill. — Nothing is easy about saying goodbye. Tanner Horrell needed the Macomb football players to understand that. So the Bombers coach made it known if the grief associated with losing a teammate — freshman Landon Cromer died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident — interrupted practice, it was OK. Step away.…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Prepping for full weekend slate of Illinois and Missouri high school football games
QUINCY — Here is a look at the area football games scheduled to be played Friday and Saturday with links to radio broadcasts and livestreams: Friday’s games Moline (1-2) at Quincy High School (3-0), 7 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM • WGEM streaming app Did you know?: Moline had a string of 15 consecutive Western…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS offensive linemen discuss life in trenches for WB6 title contender
QUINCY — Want to know which of the five starting offensive linemen for the Quincy High School football team is the strongest? What about the cleanest? Or maybe you’re curious where they like to eat as a group, considering their camaraderie extends beyond the gridiron? They’ll tell you. They’ll smile and laugh while doing it,…
Read MoreMissouri state football rankings: Monroe City, South Shelby in Class 2 poll ahead of showdown
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Here are the Missouri statewide high school football rankings, as compiled by a 9-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. First-place votes in parenthesis. Panel is made up of Dion Clisso, PrepsKC; Cole Young, PrepsKC; Tom Rackers, Jefferson City News-Tribune; Chris Parker, Ozone Sports; Joe Andrews, Warrensburg Star Journal; Tommy Rezac, KFEQ…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS football team opens WB6 play by crushing Rock Island
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Quincy High School football team set the appropriate tone for its pursuit of a Western Big 6 Conference championship, opening league play last Friday night with a 41-7 victory over Rock Island at Almquist Field. Bridgett Zanger put together this photo gallery from the Blue Devils’ victory and shared it…
Read MoreSchuckman: Weekend filled with football is reminder connections and people matter most
QUINCY — Waking up Monday morning, I realized there is one undeniable truth in life. The world is a better place when there is a weekend filled with football. Here’s why: Football is about connections more than it is collisions. Friday night, with my pickup truck parked next to the fence wrapped around the Airstrip…
Read More