Posts Tagged ‘Prep football’
Crim: Statistical nuggets to satisfy prep football appetites heading into season openers
QUINCY — Welcome to a toasty Week 1 of the high school football season, which will feature later kickoff times, extended halftimes and multiple water breaks in efforts to beat the oppressive heat. Word to the wise: Plan accordingly for sitting on metal bleachers. Former Major League Baseball player and manager Lou Pinella once said…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Area football’s Week 1 schedule, broadcast links and did you knows
QUINCY — The first Friday of the prep football season is nearly here, although it comes with a myriad of game time adjustments due to the heat. Here is a look at the schedule for area teams and where those games can be found on the radio or via livestream: Quincy Notre Dame at Quincy…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND senior Ben Schwartz discusses football opener, being team captain
QUINCY — Ben Schwartz understands hard work. It’s engrained in you when you grow up in a farm family. Schwartz’s diligence and effort led to an opportunity to step into the starting lineup along the Quincy Notre Dame football team’s offensive line as a sophomore and he’s been an anchor ever since. Schwartz enters his…
Read MoreAthletic directors, coaches preaching caution when dealing with opening-week heat wave
QUINCY — Experience has taught Matt McClelland to always err on the side of caution. That explains why the Quincy High School boys soccer team’s season opener Tuesday night against Jacksonville was postponed. No makeup date has been set yet, but the Blue Devils and Crimsons intend to play the game once this heat wave…
Read More2023 Friday Night Lights area prep football preview section
QUINCY — Check out the Muddy River Sports 38-page preview of the upcoming high school football season with a look at all 16 teams in our coverage area, including team schedules and a list of where to find games on the radio and via livestream. Friday Night Lights is brought to you by Refreshment Services…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Hannibal’s Aneyas Williams discusses senior season, future with Fighting Irish
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Come the first weekend of December, when Missouri crowns its high school football state champions and puts a wrap on the fall season, the career of one the most dominant and electrifying athletes this area has ever seen will end as well. Luckily, all the football Friday nights and playoff games between…
Read MoreKey pieces to the puzzle: Check out five football players who will have significant impacts
QUINCY — The discussion of the best football player in the area starts and stops with Aneyas Williams. An argument could be made that the Hannibal senior running back, who has committed to the University of Notre Dame, is the top offensive talent in the state of Missouri. If you talk quarterbacks, one name tops…
Read MoreMark Twain’s Evans putting knowledge, commitment to use as leader for young squad
CENTER, Mo. — Entering his fourth season as a starter and one of only three seniors on the roster, Wyatt Evans sees himself as a de facto coach on the field for the Mark Twain football team. “I want everybody to be able to run our playbook right,” he said. “It’s not just a running…
Read MoreHealthy Byquist gives Blue Devils’ dynamic offense another gear in pursuit of deep playoff run
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,…
Read MoreAnderson, Hornets ready to flex and muscle their way into playoff picture
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Jack Anderson first ventured into the weight room with a specific purpose in mind. “I wanted to hit the gym to get stronger for basketball and football and sports in general,” he said. He rapidly found a more appealing aspect of working out. Anderson, a senior defensive end/tight end for the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hannibal football on display during Meet the Pirates event at Porter Stadium
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Saturday, the public got its first glimpse of the Hannibal football team, along with the cheerleaders and dance team during the annual “Meet the Pirates” event at Porter Stadium. Freelance photographer Mathew Kirby captured the action for this photo gallery:
Read MoreBlue Devils to find themselves front and center in WB6 football title talks
QUINCY — Rick Little better pack a zinger or two in his back pocket. A few are bound to be thrown his way. The Quincy High School football coach will join the other seven Western Big 6 Conference coaches as guest speakers at the WB6 Coaches Kickoff banquet, taking place next Wednesday at the Quad…
Read MoreRitchey ready to help Palmyra move forward and turn 2023 into memorable step in right direction
PALMYRA, Mo. — Palmyra had a football season to forget in 2022. Aaron Ritchey plans to do just that. “The main thing is to forget that last season ever happened,” the Panthers senior quarterback said. “We have new players, new coaches, a whole new offense and a whole new defense. Everything about our team this…
Read MoreMonroe City’s DeGrave on right track to return as electrifying playmaker after knee injury
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The speed is not quite what it used to be and cutting through an open hole is not as crisp as he would like, but Waylon DeGrave is confident it’s only a matter of time before the work he has put in the last nine months to rehabilitate his right knee…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Action gets underway as Hannibal teams prepare for fall seasons
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A new year has begun. Award-winning freelance photographer Mathew Kirby spent Monday criss-crossing the Hannibal High School campus and venturing out to the Veterans Elementary sports complex as Hannibal teams opened fall practice. He even made it to Norwoods Golf Course for the girls golf team’s practice. Kirby put together this photo…
Read MorePalmyra hires SIU all-time hits leader as new softball coach, adds Hannibal product as assistant football coach
PALMYRA, Mo. — The Palmyra coaching staff is getting an injection of youth across the board. During its May meeting, the Palmyra R-I Board of Education approved the hiring of Jenny Jansen, a 2022 graduate of Southern Illinois University, as the new varsity softball coach and two former Culver-Stockton College football players — Dalton Huffman…
Read MoreEmbattled former Palmyra football coach tenders resignation at Salem
SALEM, Mo. — The issues that resulted in former Palmyra football coach Kevin Miles tendering his resignation as a teacher March 30 have forced him to resign from his new job. According to the Salem News, the Salem R-80 Board of Education accepted Miles’ resignation as a teacher, head football coach and assistant athletic director…
Read MoreFormer Palmyra football coach makes first public comments since resigning as teacher
PALMYRA, Mo. — Expressing regret over what has transpired within the Palmyra football program and school district within the last six months, former Panthers coach Kevin Miles made his first public comments following his resignation as a teacher last week. Miles spoke with Dave Roberts of the Salem (Mo.) News and said “All I can…
Read MoreFormer Mark Twain all-state offensive lineman becomes Palmyra’s next football coach
PALMYRA, Mo. — The when, where, why and how things transpired weren’t going to change Dalton Hill’s outlook on what being a head football coach is all about. The focus has to be on the players, first and foremost. “I’m about the kids. It’s what I do this job for,” said Hill, whose appointment as…
Read MoreRock Island Alleman will not field varsity football team next fall
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Seven of the eight Western Big 6 Conference football programs suddenly have an open date on their schedules for next fall. Wednesday, at a meeting of WB6 principals and athletic directors in Galesburg, Rock Island Alleman informed the rest of the league it will not field a varsity football team in…
Read MoreJWCC Prairie State Profile: Payson’s Dieker develops confidence as strong as his game
PAYSON, Ill. — All of those running backs who were stopped dead in their tracks the past couple of seasons by Unity-Payson linebacker Bryan Dieker might find this funny. Five years ago, he didn’t know how to tackle. Those trying to defend Dieker on the basketball court might find this funny, too. Three years ago,…
Read MoreCrim: Spending time with Tommy Joe is treasure that lasts forever
MACON, Mo. — My cellphone rang the day after Christmas. I looked at the screen to see it was Tom Sneed, or Tommy Joe as he was called growing up, a moniker some of us in the family still use. He’s a second cousin on my mother’s side. It had been a while since we…
Read MoreHannibal, Monroe City stalwarts garner all-state honors from Missouri Football Coaches Association
HANNIBAL, Mo. — One of the nation’s most coveted recruits, who is days away from revealing his college choice, received an honor fitting his impressive production. One of the best tacklers Northeast Missouri has seen in recent memory picked up another honor, too. Hannibal all-purpose back Aneyas Williams and Monroe City linebacker Ceaton Pennewell repeated…
Read MoreQND to join Central State 8 Conference for football only beginning in 2024
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football program needed a home. The Central State 8 Conference needed another member to balance its scheduling paradigm. As it turns out, they needed each other at just the right time. Notre Dame and the CS8 collaboratively announced Wednesday morning the Raiders will join the league in 2024 for…
Read MoreMonroe City excels playing ‘old-school football,’ grinds way into Class 1 state semifinals
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The bottom line? “Now we’ve got the chance to play 48 more minutes,” said Monroe City running back Ceaton Pennewell, only moments after his club had survived a grueling Class 1 quarterfinal test Saturday afternoon against Lincoln. Monroe City’s 26-12 victory at Lankford Field did not come easy. If nothing else,…
Read MoreHumphrey, Pirates grind up Jays with potent rushing attack in district title victory
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal football team outscored Jefferson City — and the thermometer — on a frosty Friday night at E.A. Porter Stadium. The Pirates’ potent run-first-and-foremost offense eventually wore down the Jays on an evening when the temperature never broke 30 degrees and ended with a 42-21 Class 4 District 5 championship victory.…
Read MoreNeither temperatures nor Cardinals can derail Panthers’ pursuit of district championship
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Monroe City senior Ceaton Pennewell channeled his inner Luke Kuechly on Friday night. With temperatures in the high 20s and a wind chill in the teens, Pennewell wasn’t about to let South Shelby think he was cold. While some of his teammates were a little more dressed for the conditions, Pennewell,…
Read MorePalmyra football team forfeits six games after self-reporting violation of quarters played rule
PALMYRA, Mo. — A self-reported violation has led to the Palmyra football team officially forfeiting the final six games of its regular season, which included the Panthers’ lone victory against Highland in Week 8. Palmyra athletic director Brian Wosman confirmed the school submitted information to the Missouri State High School Activities Association showing a handful…
Read MoreThird-quarter blues: Lemont scores 21 straight points after halftime, knocks QHS out of playoffs
QUINCY — Coming out of the halftime locker room, Quincy High School football coach Rick Little and his counterpart at Lemont, Bret Kooi, had to play a bit of a chess game. Kooi’s squad led 17-10. Little had first choice and elected to receive the second half kickoff. Kooi was left to decide whether he…
Read MoreStick to what you know: Central rushes for more than 300 yards once again, reaches state quarterfinals
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Don’t kid yourself, that well-grounded approach to offense employed by Central’s football team is by no means an accident or simple happenstance. Yep, there’s a specific method to the successful madness on those wind-swept plains just outside of Camp Point. “We’ve always been a running team here,” junior two-way lineman Reese…
Read MoreSchuckman: Playoff loss doesn’t change legacy of Bombers, who made Friday night football an event
MACOMB, Ill. — Emily Horrell better get used to this if she hasn’t already. A few days before the Macomb football team played host to Murphysboro in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs, the wife of Bombers coach Tanner Horrell happened to be at a local retail store when two retirement-age women began…
Read MoreNext man up is next man to shine in Hannibal football team’s district semifinal romp
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Not even in his wildest dreams could Aaron Daughtery have ever envisioned what would unfold Friday night. Never, ever, ever. Daughtery, a sophomore defensive back making his first start in the Hannibal secondary, intercepted three passes — returning one for a touchdown — to help the Pirates overwhelm Warrenton 62-7 in the…
Read MoreMonroe City pounds ground to beat weather and Westran in Class 1 district semifinals
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The Monroe City football team can outrun almost anything or anyone. That includes the weather. With the start of the Class 1 District 6 semifinal against fourth-seeded Westran moved up 90 minutes in order to avoid impending storms, the top-seeded Panthers ran roughshod before the first raindrops fell, churning out 434…
Read MoreSchuckman: Empathy and respect create viral video moment between QHS, Glenwood football players
QUINCY — Cole Wagy saw beyond the jersey, the helmet and the foe and took note of a fellow football player’s heartache. At that moment, the Quincy High School offensive lineman walked over, knelt down and put his right arm around his ailing adversary. “I didn’t even know his name,” Wagy said. Names aren’t necessary…
Read MoreBombers outlast Raiders in Class 4A opening-round playoff game, earn another shot at redemption
MACOMB, Ill. — Macomb football coach Tanner Horrell could only shake his head Saturday night. “That’s a pretty good 5-4 team, huh?” Horrell asked, referring to a Quincy Notre Dame team that gave his undefeated Bombers all could they handle before coming away with a 28-14 victory over the Raiders in an opening-round Class 4A…
Read MoreCentral football team makes quick work of Dupo to start Class 1A playoff run
Camp Point was up 38-0 early in the second quarter and their second scoop-and-score defensive touchdown of the first half made it 54-0 going into halftime. The running clock made the second half a little less painful for Dupo before the 66-0 final.
Read MorePhoto gallery: Central football team rolls past Dupo 66-0 in Class 1A first-round playoff game
CAMP POINT, Ill. — One of the best defenses throughout the state in Class 1A lived up to that billing Saturday as the Central football team steamrolled Dupo 66-0 in a first-round playoff matchup. Check out this photo gallery of images from Central photographer Mike Pritchard:
Read MorePressure-packed situation: Blue Devils need to harass Titans quarterback to gain upper hand
QUINCY — The pressure to get pressure lies squarely on the Quincy High School football team’s defensive front. “And we have to pressure all night,” defensive lineman Caron Banks said. Otherwise, Chatham Glenwood quarterback Jack Knudson gains the edge. “We know he’s really good in the pocket and doesn’t scramble much,” QHS linebacker Ty Douglas…
Read MoreQND, Macomb to renew rivalry in opening round of Class 4A football playoffs
QUINCY — When the team bus rolled into the Quincy Notre Dame parking lot at around 7 p.m. Saturday, Raiders football coach Jack Cornell didn’t know which road his team would be taking in the postseason. As soon as Cornell knew, he told the players he’d spread the word. But there was a more important…
Read MoreExplosive finish to regular season ensures QND football team returns to state playoffs
LADUE, Mo. — Explosive is how senior running back Jackson Stratton labeled the Quincy Notre Dame football team’s offensive performance Saturday afternoon. “This is,” Stratton said, “the best we’ve been all season.” The Raiders picked the ideal time to peak. With its offense dominating the line of scrimmage and constructing big plays, QND was able…
Read More‘What if magic happens?’: Senior linebacker’s INT critical to helping QHS football team navigate epic comeback
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…
Read MoreSchuckman: Bombers finish one historic chapter, ready themselves to chase more benchmarks
CARTHAGE, Ill. — On a field where history grows with every blade of grass, the Illini West football team was intent on keeping history from happening. For nearly eight minutes, that seemed possible. Then in a blink, it became clear history wouldn’t be denied. Facing undefeated, state-ranked Macomb in the regular-season finale Friday night at…
Read MorePanthers punctuate perfect regular season by hammering Warriors as playoff prelude
CAMP POINT, Ill. — At Central High School, the postseason has become an annual rite of passage once the calendar reaches deep into October. And it’s time — for the 14th straight year — for the Panthers to turn their attention to another playoff pursuit. Central, No. 4 in the latest Class 1A rankings, punctuated…
Read MoreHumphrey carries load for Hannibal football team after Williams exits with injury
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Markahl Humphrey ran for a career-high 193 yards and scored three touchdowns Friday night, triggering the Hannibal football team’s hard-fought 27-21 victory over Columbia Battle at Porter Stadium. The spotlight was thrust on Humphrey, a senior running back, following a first-quarter injury to junior all-purpose back Aneyas Williams, a major NCAA Division…
Read MoreBall-control offense, opportunistic defense carry Monroe City to undefeated run through CCC
MONROE CITY, Mo. — For all of the big-play capabilities Class 1’s top-ranked team possesses, the ability to grind out a drive and control the clock could be what separates the Monroe City football team from the rest of the field. It separated the Panthers from the rest of the Clarence Cannon Conference. Monroe City…
Read More‘Really, it’s all of them’: Limitless trust in wide receivers allows QHS quarterback to break passing record
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…
Read MoreBlue Devils score 51 points in first quarter, rout Pioneers to guarantee themselves playoff berth
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Quincy High School football coach Rick Little wants to see the Blue Devils play with an edge — no matter the opponent. If not, he knows it can prove costly. That will be a point of emphasis this week in preparation for the regular-season finale at home against Rock Island following…
Read MoreFlash and crash: Monroe City uses lightning-and-thunder backfield to overrun Macon in CCC battle
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Waylon DeGrave and Ceaton Pennewell give the Monroe City football team two entirely different looks in the backfield. DeGrave, a junior, provides the flash, while Pennewell, a senior, counters as the Panthers’ punisher. Both proved to be hard to stop on Friday night at Lankford Field. DeGrave broke off two long…
Read MoreHannibal football team’s defense sets tone for finishing NCMC campaign undefeated
MARSHALL, Mo. — The defense gave the offense a rest Friday night, all while putting the finishing touches on another undefeated run through the North Central Missouri Conference for the Hannibal football team. Owen Andrews returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession, and following a safety, Jack Parker returned the…
Read MoreTrench gang: Stout offensive line paving QHS football team’s path to playoffs
QUINCY — Conner Cox seemed almost apologetic for not being overly elated when the Quincy High School football team scores a touchdown these days. As the junior offensive lineman sees it, scoring isn’t a rarity. It’s an expectation. “Every game, it feels almost routine to score a touchdown,” said Cox, a 6-foot, 250-pound right tackle.…
Read MoreBlue Devils exploit Maple Leafs’ pass defense, become playoff eligible with WB6 victory
GENESEO, Ill. — Film study doesn’t lie. In preparation for Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup, the Quincy High School football coaching staff noticed a way to attack the Geneseo defense with its passing game if the Maple Leafs ran the same schemes. “We’re at that point of the season where we wonder how…
Read MoreSophomore QB engineers another NCMC blowout as Hannibal closes in on league crown
HANNIBAL, Mo. — When those early autumn breezes began to turn cold, the Hannibal Pirates were something to behold. Especially quarterback Waylon Anders. The sophomore enjoyed his finest game to date, accenting what had already been a breakout season. Anders led high-scoring Hannibal to another one-sided victory, this one a 53-7 dismantling of Moberly in…
Read MoreRaiders to face win-to-be-in scenario in final two weeks following Homecoming loss to Wildcats
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell didn’t need to be told that it’s do-or-die time for his Raiders. If the Raiders are to continue their season into the IHSA playoffs, they’ll need to win their final two regular-season games after suffering a 17-0 Homecoming loss to Normal West on Friday night at…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Week 7 prep football schedule with radio and livestream links
Here is a look at this week’s slate of high school football games and where those games will be broadcast on the radio or via livestream: Friday’s games Quincy High School (4-2) at Geneseo (4-2), 7:30 p.m. • WTAD 930 AM, 103.3 FM • NFHS Network stream Normal West (5-1) at Quincy Notre Dame (3-3)),…
Read MoreMonroe City captures another Mayor’s Cup, setting tone with touchdown on first play
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Sure, Monroe City and Palmyra are long-standing football rivals. It’s always a game where emotions run high. Talent and execution, probably in that order, often take emotion out of any such equation. Such was the case Friday night at Lankford Field. Monroe City’s talent and execution, most certainly in that order,…
Read MoreMahomet-Seymour clamps down on QND, despite Raiders’ ability to create turnovers
MAHOMET, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame football team’s initial offensive possession Friday night ended with Deakon Schuette’s 37-yard field goal, but it showed the Raiders could move the ball against state-ranked Mahomet-Seymour. That was a fleeting feeling. Despite a defensive effort that forced five turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown, the Raiders weren’t able…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Week 6 prep football schedule with radio and livestream links
Here is a look at this week’s slate of high school football games and where those games will be broadcast on the radio or via livestream: Friday’s games Sterling (4-1) at Quincy High School (4-1), 7:30 p.m. • WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM • WTAD 930 AM, 103.3 FM • NFHS Network stream Quincy Notre…
Read MoreCrim: Cappel’s three-year stint coaching QHS football created memories he still treasures
SHOREWOOD, Ill. — Dean Cappel and his wife, Connie, live in an active 55-and-older community west of Joliet. When they’re not traveling or doting on their six grandchildren, they like to spend time playing water volleyball and bocce ball and riding bicycles. “I just came back from the weight room,” Cappel said as we began…
Read MoreSchuckman: Undefeated start generating enthusiasm for Macomb football program
MACOMB, Ill. — If rainfall and lightning strikes can’t put a damper on the enthusiasm surrounding the Macomb football program, what can? Right now, nothing. Friday night’s crowd was asked to leave the stadium complex to wait out a thunderstorm cell that passed over the area just before Friday night’s kickoff against Farmington. It delayed…
Read MoreSecond-half defensive effort gets QND football team back on track with victory over Mater Dei
QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Wilson Henning has sensed a trend so far this season. “We’ve played well in the first half, but in the second half, we are just gassed out,” the Raiders offensive lineman said. Friday night’s rivalry game with Breese Mater Dei looked as if it might go down the same…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Where to find Week 5 prep football games on radio, livestream
Here is a look at this week’s slate of high school football games and where those games will be broadcast on the radio or via livestream: Friday’s games Quincy High School (3-1) at Galesburg (1-3), 7:30 p.m. • WGIL 93.7 FM, 1400 AM • NFHS Network stream Breese Mater Dei (2-2) at Quincy Notre Dame…
Read MoreSchuckman: Brown County, Central show how electric, energetic healthy rivalries can be
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Nest deserved a little TLC. The Brown County football team hadn’t played at home since its Week 1 victory over Calhoun when it was one of the first teams in the state to take the field, opening on a Thursday night. In the three weeks since, the Hornets’ all-natural grass…
Read MorePirates bury Hornets with overwhelming first-quarter surge in NCMC opener
FULTON, Mo. — An ominous start didn’t translate to an oh-no-that-just-happened finish. Actually, a fumble on the Hannibal football team’s first possession Friday night against Fulton was merely a blip during an otherwise rock-solid performance in the North Central Missouri Conference opener. The Pirates followed the lost fumble by scoring on four consecutive possessions before…
Read MoreMonroe City proves it belongs at top of Class 1 and CCC heaps after thwarting South Shelby
MONROE CITY, Mo. — The top-ranked team in Missouri Class 1 reminded a team clawing its way toward statewide recognition why it sits at the top of the heap. Monroe City is intent on staying there, too. The Panthers scored on five of their six first-half possessions Friday night — the sixth ended with time…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Prep football’s weekend slate with links for radio and livestream broadcasts
Here is a look at this week’s slate of high school football games and where those games will be broadcast on the radio or via livestream: Friday’s games United Township (0-3) at Quincy High School (2-1), 7 p.m. • WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM • WTAD 930 AM, 103.3 FM Hannibal (1-2) at Fulton (0-3),…
Read MoreQND searching for replacement after Hayti forfeits Saturday’s scheduled football game
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football players were engaged in their pre-practice team meeting and watching game film when Raiders coach Jack Cornell interrupted everything with some disheartening news. Saturday’s opponent — Hayti, a Class 1 school from the Missouri bootheel with an enrollment of 260 students — was forfeiting. “Silent,” senior running back…
Read MoreJWCC Prairie State Profile: Brown County’s Wort relishes experiencing memorable moments
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The roar of the Harley Davidsons. The swaying of the crowd. The green and white banners everywhere. How could a Brown County football player not be energized coming out of the locker room and running into such an environment? “It is the greatest thing ever,” said Colby Wort, the Hornets’ senior…
Read MoreLand of missed opportunity: QND football team squanders scoring chances, falls to Chicago Hope
QUINCY — A progression of missed opportunities Saturday afternoon left the Quincy Notre Dame football players equally perturbed and perplexed by their mistakes. The best explanation the Raiders could summon was a failure to execute. “In all phases of the game, it really just comes down to execution, effort and technique,” said Dalton Miller, the…
Read MorePirates unable to erase entire deficit despite valiant second-half effort in loss to Trojans
TROY, Mo. — Aneyas Williams was too upset to be tired Saturday night as he walked off the field following Hannibal’s 42-40 loss to Troy Buchanan. Williams, the Pirates’ all-everything junior star, did his part, rushing for 247 yards, scoring four touchdowns, making seven tackles and forcing a fumble. He came off the field for…
Read MoreFeeling blue defensively: QHS unable to slow Moline’s ground attack in dropping WB6 opener
MOLINE, Ill. — Riley Fuller knows the Moline football team isn’t going to get many style points for how it runs its triple option offense. “Once we get rolling, we just don’t get stopped,” the Maroons senior running back said. Quincy High School found that out the hard way. Moline rushed for more than 500…
Read MoreTop-ranked Monroe City runs roughshod in winning conference opener
EWING, Mo. — Friday night in the Clarence Cannon Conference opener, the Monroe City football team showcased three reasons why it has elevated itself to the top of the Class 1 state rankings. Speed, power and playmaking. Cameron Jones scored on a 67-yard run on the Panthers’ first offense play and they never slowed down,…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Prep football’s weekend slate with links for radio and livestream broadcasts
Here is a look at this week’s slate of high school football games and where those games will be broadcast on the radio or via livestream: Friday’s games Quincy High School (2-0) at Moline (1-1), 7 p.m. • WGEM 1440 AM, 98.9 FM • WTAD 930 AM, 103.3 FM Unity-Payson (1-1) at Central (2-0), 7…
Read MorePlayground bullies: Blue Devils dominate Redbirds up front to open season with back-to-back victories
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…
Read MoreCentral’s Dixon reaches coaching milestone as sixth-ranked Panthers overwhelm Wolves
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Central football coach Brad Dixon preferred to deflect the post-game attention toward his team. But, hey, a coach only wins his 100th game one time, and Friday night it was Dixon’s turn. Central’s 46-0 victory over Pleasant Hill provided Dixon with that milestone, one that makes him just the 10th coach…
Read MoreRaiders demonstrate ability to play physical, shut out Pioneers for first victory
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell wasn’t pleased with his team’s physical level of play in last week’s loss to Quincy High School. His concern was addressed on Friday night when his team rushed for 277 yards in a 38-0 victory over Rock Island Alleman at Lundberg Field on the…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Road trips galore for area football teams in Week 2
QUINCY — Week 2 of the high school football season kicked off Thursday night with Unity-Payson suffering a 17-16 loss at Calhoun when the Warriors kicked a field goal late in the fourth quarter. Here is the remainder of the slate for this weekend: Friday’s games Alton (0-1) at Quincy High School (1-0), 7 p.m.…
Read MorePrep football scoreboard
Week 1 of the high school football season is rolling. Check out the schedule and scoreboard below: Thursday’s games Brown County 40, Calhoun 22 Athens 40, Pittsfield 0 Friday’s games Quincy High School 21, Quincy Notre Dame 13 Jefferson City Helias 31 Hannibal 21 Central 43, Carrollton 0 Macomb 36, Rushville-Industry 6 Monroe City 48,…
Read MoreTwice is nice for Rice: Sophomore tailback scores two TDs to lead QHS past QND in season opener
QUINCY — Jeraius Rice plopped himself down at midfield Friday night, looking as happy as someone seeing their first snow. Rice and several of his Quincy High School football teammates made “snow angels” at Advanced Physical Therapy Field to celebrate the Blue Devils’ 21-13 victory over crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame. Rice, a sophomore tailback,…
Read MoreHelias’ ability to control clock, possessions keeps Hannibal’s offense on sidelines
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Jefferson City Helias’ systematic control of Friday night’s season-opening football game against Hannibal was no accident. And it might be a harbinger of how future opponents will try to silence the Pirates, who were beaten 31-21 in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 2,500-plus at Porter Stadium. The best chance to derail…
Read MoreQuestion of the Week: What does ‘Friday Night Lights’ mean to you?
QUINCY — What does “Friday Night Lights” mean to you? That was the question we posed to several area football players and coaches during the week leading up to the season opener. Here are some of the responses: “When I think of Friday Night Lights, I get excited inside. Thinking of the cheers, the pads…
Read MoreGame Night Guide: Week 1 prep football matchups, radio and livestream links plus the debut of Gamenight Grub
Week 1 of the high school football season got off to an early start with Brown County and Pittsfield playing host to opening-week games on Thursday night. The rest of the slate is split over Friday and Saturday as the official shortage across Illinois is forcing teams to make adjustments. Here is the schedule for…
Read MoreHornets hit stride on opening drive, capture unique season opener with dominant effort
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The oddity of starting the high school football season one night earlier than nearly every other team in the state seemed to fade once kickoff neared. “It was a little bit weird,” Brown County senior wingback Cole Behymer said. “Overall, it kind of felt the same to me whenever I was…
Read MorePalmyra’s Miles will miss season opener as school district imposes one-game disciplinary sanction
PALMYRA, Mo. — Long before practices began this week, Palmyra football coach Kevin Miles preached trust needed to be the Panthers’ battle cry. Trust the process. Trust each other. Trust the work will lead to the right outcome. Add trust in overcoming adversity to the list of mantras. Before Wednesday morning’s practice, Miles informed his…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Rising Raiders Friday Night Lights football camp at Quincy Notre Dame
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame football program brought 151 elementary and junior high students to Advance Physical Therapy Field on Friday night for the Rising Raiders Friday Night Lights camp. Here are some of the images Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured after the sun went down and the lights went on:
Read MoreMonroe City’s Pennewell named Class 1’s Defensive Player of the Year by MOFBCA
MONROE CITY, Mo. — Ceaton Pennewell was named the Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association and led a collection of area players receiving all-state honors at the small-school level. The Monroe City junior linebacker was a first-team all-state selection and one of five Panthers to receive plaudits. Overall,…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, December 3
Prep Football Class 4 state championship At Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo. Smithville 31, Hannibal 0: Click here for the story and photo gallery. Boys Basketball At the Panther Den, East Moline, Ill. Quincy High School 70, United Township 39. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At the Pit, Quincy Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 66,…
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, November 20
Prep Football Class 1 state quarterfinals At Hayti, Mo. Hayti 26, Monroe City 22. Click here to read the story and see a photo gallery. Women’s Volleyball GLVC Tournament At Eastside Centre, East Peoria, Ill. Lewis d. Quincy University: The fifth-seeded Hawks’ postseason run came to an end as the top-seeded Flyers rattled off a…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, November 19
Prep Football Class 4 state quarterfinals At Porter Stadium, Hannibal, Mo. Hannibal 35, West Plains 26. Click here for the story and photo gallery. Women’s Volleyball GLVC Tournament At Eastside Centre, East Peoria, Ill. Quincy University d. Missouri S&T: The fifth-seeded Hawks won their opening-round match in straight sets, eliminating the fourth-seeded Miners in a…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, October 29
Prep Football At Lankford Field, Monroe City, Mo. Monroe City 76, Van-Far 16: The top-seeded team in Class 1 District 3 had no trouble dispatching the winless Indians. The Panthers built a 24-0 lead in the game’s first four minutes and led 64-0 at halftime. Monroe City (9-1) will face fourth-seeded Brentwood (6-4) in next…
Read More‘The minute they take him away, you’re scared as hell’: Cranial surgery as infant doesn’t keep QND’s Lavery from game he loves
QUINCY — Calvin Lavery didn’t realize the mistake soon enough. Having walked into a styling center for a haircut, he requested the stylist use an electric razor guard that would take off enough for a stylish look but not too much that he appeared to have shaved his head. The wrong guard was applied, and…
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, October 16
Girls Tennis At Cooper Tennis Complex, Springfield, Mo. Class 1 state tournament: After suffering a second-round loss, the Palmyra doubles team of Katy Rindom and Maura Gottman won three straight matches to finish in fifth place. The Panthers rebounded from the straight-set loss to beat Cape Girardeau’s Megan Guellete and Amina Hussein 5-7, 6-4, 10-5.…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, October 15
Prep Football At Brookfield, Mo. Highland 24, Brookfield 18: The Cougars positioned themselves to challenge for the Clarence Cannon Conference title by running out the clock after the Bulldogs made it a one-possession game. Brookfield scored on a 93-yard drive with 3:31 to play to make it a six-point game, but Highland picked up two…
Read MoreRaiders overwhelm Warriors to end three-game skid, become eligible for playoffs
QUINCY — Troy Cornell is off the schneid. The Quincy Notre Dame football team is, too. For the first time since his birth on September 22, the infant son of Raiders coach Jack Cornell witnessed QND set the tone with takeaways on special teams and defense, buckle down offensively in the second half and end…
Read MoreExample to follow: Raiders’ Kasparie provides blueprint for teammates on how to become playmaker
QUINCY — Ben Kasparie has been in every younger teammate’s shoes. It’s why he is cognizant of how his actions are perceived. “There’s a lot more pressure on me,” said Kasparie, the Quincy Notre Dame senior running back/linebacker who is a four-year starter and a mentor for players like Ben Schwartz, a sophomore starting on…
Read MoreByquist, Blue Devils grind out victory over Maple Leafs to continue chasing playoffs
QUINCY — During Rick Little’s tenure as Quincy High School football coach, the Blue Devils have been known as a pretty tough team to beat at Flinn Stadium. This fall, winning at Flinn has been anything but easy for the Blue Devils. On Friday night, the Blue Devils finally found the right combination, mixing heavy…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, October 8
Prep Football At Camp Point, Ill. Central 60, Beardstown 28: Isaac Genenbacher ripped off a 31-yard touchdown run on his first touch and helped power the Panthers to the Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division championship with a 4-1 league mark. Garrett Williams scored on 39- and 27-yard runs to give the Panthers an edge,…
Read MoreIllinois prep football rankings: QND falls out of Class 4A top 10, Class 1A stays strong
Here are the state rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class heading into Week 7, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters. They were released on Oct. 5, 2021. Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Wilmette Loyola (11) (6-0) 110 1 2. Naperville Neuqua Valley (6-0) 96 2 3. Gurnee…
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, October 2
Prep Cross Country At Bob Mays Park, Quincy Tom Oakley Invitational: Anna Schuering, Alexandria Meyers and Olivia Schuering finished 1-2-3 in the individual standings as the Quincy High School girls won their home event. Only two of the nine teams had enough runners to qualify for the team event. The Blue Devils finished with 16…
Read MoreScoreboard for Friday, October 1
Prep Football At Concord, Ill. Central 58, Triopia 20: Issac Genenbacher rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns as the second-ranked Panthers scored 30 or more points for the fifth time in six games. Central (5-1) is now tied for the Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division lead with Beardstown at 3-1. At Beardstown, Ill.…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ miscues ruin any chance to sustain early momentum against Golden Warriors
STERLING, Ill. — A near-perfect start for the Quincy High School football team offered hope of beating Sterling for the first time as Western Big 6 Conference counterparts. A series of miscues dashed all hope. The Golden Warriors answered the Blue Devils’ game-opening touchdown drive by scoring 44 straight points and securing a 50-18 victory…
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