Posts Tagged ‘Quincy High School’
Schuckman: Collinsville pays fitting tribute to Hummel, who loved basketball and holiday tourney as much as his alma mater
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Rick Hummel’s career as a Hall of Fame baseball writer didn’t afford the Quincy native many opportunities to be nothing more than a fan. Christmas always did. That’s when Hummel spent hours upon hours at the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic, watching some of the Metro East’s top prep basketball talent. More…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys move into tourney semifinals by shutting down Althoff
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — An eight-minute stretch spanning the final six minutes of the second quarter and the first 2 1/2 minutes of the third quarter in which the Belleville Althoff boys basketball team went scoreless enabled state-ranked Quincy High School to take control of its 61-48 victory Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Collinsville…
Read MoreBlue Devils offer each other assistance in rolling to opening-round victory at Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — One of the unique aspects of holiday tournament play — at least at the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic — is each coach is handed a sheet of halftime stats on the way to the locker room. When Quincy High School coach Andy Douglas perused how his team constructed its 30-point lead…
Read MoreFrustrated Fohey finishes with flourish, scores 1,000th career point as QHS girls win State Farm Holiday Classic opener
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Taylor Fohey admitted she was counting down the points. She also admitted that might have been why she wasn’t scoring many on Wednesday night. She started the game 14 points shy of reaching 1,000 for her career. The Quincy High School girls basketball team led Springfield 48-36 midway through the fourth quarter,…
Read MoreCollinsville notebook: Brown’s slip causes no worry, while O’Fallon guard sets steals record
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Afterward, Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas could joke about it. In the moment, it could have been cause for trepidation. With two minutes remaining in the first quarter of Wednesday’s opening-round game of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic and the Blue Devils leading Oakville (Mo.) 16-5, Quincy swingman…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS opens tourney play at Collinsville with unselfish display offensively
COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team perfectly played the role of one of the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic favorites with Wednesday’s 76-38 steamrolling of Oakville (Mo.) in the first round at Vergil Fletcher Gym. The Blue Devils piled up 23 assists in shooting 52.6 percent from the field and knocking…
Read MorePhoto Gallery: QHS girls place three in double figures in State Farm Holiday Classic debut
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Jada Brown scored 16 points, Taylor Fohey scored 14 and Myley Longcor added 11 in the Quincy High School girls basketball team’s 58-38 victory over Springfield in the first round of the large school bracket at the State Farm Holiday Classic at Bloomington High School. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of…
Read MoreAre Blue Devils, Kahoks on collision course for undefeated showdown in holiday tourney championship game?
QUINCY — It has been a quarter century since the Quincy High School boys basketball team last won a holiday tournament championship. Is this the year the drought ends? No Quincy team has gone into the Christmas break with a better record in the 26 seasons since the Blue Devils won the championship of the…
Read MoreLongcor helps Blue Devils overcome ragged start to head into holidays with unblemished record
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The fortunate thing about the Quincy High School boys basketball team’s schedule is all four of the Tuesday night games on tap the second half of the season will be played at Blue Devil Gym. The unfortunate thing is they’re still on Tuesday nights. For the second consecutive Tuesday, the Blue Devils…
Read More‘Get it done and get it done quick’: First-quarter blitz carries Blue Devils to runaway victory over Raiders in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — The mindset was simple for the Quincy High School boys basketball team entering its annual crosstown showdown against Quincy Notre Dame. “We wanted to stomp on their throats at the beginning,” senior Camden Brown said. “Get it done and get it done quick.” The state-ranked Blue Devils did just that with deft precision.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND go head-to-head on hardwood in crosstown showdown
QUINCY — The energy and intensity you’d expect when the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball teams square off was on full display Saturday night at The Pit. The Blue Devils won 77-47 in front of a raucous crowd. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman and photographer Samantha Carmean were courtside and…
Read MoreQHS’s twin towers power way past Cairo Northwest during Rumble on the River victory
QUINCY — Taylor Fohey and Jada Brown are at opposite ends of their high school careers, one signed to play college basketball next season and the other about to finish the first semester of her freshman year. Yet, when they meet in the middle, they are as formidable as any twin towers around. Cairo (Mo.)…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Full slate of games on second day of Rumble on the River
QUINCY — The Rumble on the River rumbled on Saturday with eight games being played at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was there for half of the slate and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreState-ranked Blue Devils able to enjoy long road home following another WB6 victory
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The American actors’ union strike that delayed the production of television shows and movies is making it increasingly more difficult for Quincy High School boys basketball coach Andy Douglas to find new films for entertainment on long bus rides. “At least I can sleep on the bus pretty much anytime,” Douglas…
Read MoreQHS boys basketball team sits No. 3 in first Class 4A state poll
QUINCY — With success comes respect, as much as the Quincy High School boys basketball program has earned in quite some time. Andy Douglas wants the Blue Devils to embrace it, but not get consumed by it. “It’s not the outcome of these games that is important,” said Douglas, who has coached Quincy to an…
Read MoreThree area girls basketball teams crack top 10 in first Illinois state rankings
CHICAGO — Here is a look at the Illinois Associated Press girls prep basketball polls with rank, team, first-place votes, record and total points. Class 4A School W-L Pts 1. Bolingbrook (4) 9-0 71 2. Loyola (2) …
Read MoreFirst-quarter field goal drought not enough to knock Blue Devils from unbeaten ranks
QUINCY — The field goal drought lasted more than eight minutes, but it wasn’t long enough to make the Quincy High School boys basketball players fret. “Nah,” junior forward Keshaun Thomas said. “We just had to fight our way back.” They had done so before, albeit on a bigger stage facing more dire circumstances. So…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils rally from first-quarter deficit to beat Statesmen by 10
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team can’t be kept down. The Blue Devils erased a 10-point first-quarter deficit Tuesday night and led the entire second half in a 61-51 victory over Webster Groves (Mo.) at Blue Devil Gym. Quincy is 8-0 following its final home game of the 2023 portion of its…
Read MoreBlue is the better Devil: Quincy’s defense turns tide in victory over Chaminade in Norm Stewart Classic
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The environment, with the cavernous shooting backgrounds and the legendary coach for whom the Mizzou Arena court is named sitting nearby, did little to impact the Quincy High School boys basketball team. Chaminade’s physicality took care of that on its own. “The toughness level was at a level we hadn’t seen this…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys basketball team faces Chaminade in Norm Stewart Classic
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team passed its first major test of the season, beating St. Louis Chaminade 62-54 late Saturday night in the Norm Stewart Classic at Mizzou Arena. Freelance photographer J Thomas Taylor captured these images of the Blue Devils for a photo gallery from the game:
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Uppinghouse reaches century mark with championship, Newbold tops talented field
JOHNSTON, Iowa — A career milestone came with a championship and a statement. Owen Uppinghouse refuses to be beaten. The Quincy High School senior wrestler earned his 100th career victory Saturday during the Baltzley Invitational, beating two of the top three ranked Class 3A wrestlers in Iowa in the process and winning the 165-pound championship.…
Read MoreBlue Devils capitalize on Austin’s absence by overpowering Golden Warriors for WB6 victory
QUINCY — The gameplan didn’t change, even if the opposing lineup did. The Sterling boys basketball team arrived at Blue Devil Gym for Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference clash without 6-foot-7, 265-pound senior forward Lucas Austin, an all-state offensive tackle who is taking an official football recruiting visit this weekend to West Virginia. “I…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils improve to 3-0 in WB6 by outrunning Golden Warriors
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys basketball team is always in attack mode. Leading by 10 points at halftime of Friday night’s Western Big 6 Conference matchup with Sterling, the Blue Devils were relentless in the second half and ran away with a 66-41 victory at Blue Devil Gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QHS senior guard Tyler Sprick discusses upcoming weekend, playing in Blue Devil Gym
QUINCY — Tyler Sprick is a blue blood in the sense he bleeds Blue Devil blue. Having grown up playing in the Lil’ Devils program and attending games at Blue Devil Gym, the senior guard on the Quincy High School boys basketball program is well versed in the program’s tradition. So he knows how meaningful…
Read MoreSilver Streaks’ perimeter game leads to critical WB6 victory over Blue Devils
GALESBURG, Ill. — It didn’t matter what defense the Quincy High School girls basketball team employed. Galesburg found a way to beat it. The Silver Streaks were able to get into gaps and knock down perimeter jumpers, burying nine 3-pointers while securing the top spot in the Western Big 6 Conference with a 55-41 victory…
Read MoreRamage’s victory in season debut pushes Pirates past Blue Devils in competitive dual
QUINCY — The shoulder brace Hannibal wrestling coach Jake Borgmeyer helped senior Koen Ramage strap into and adjust prior to Tuesday night’s dual looks cumbersome and uncomfortable. Ramage shrugs off the inconvenience. “I’m getting used to it,” he said. “I’ll get comfortable and I’ll get there.” His first step was clearly a step in that…
Read MoreBlue Devils focus on task at hand, pummel Silver Streaks for another WB6 road victory
GALESBURG, Ill. — Remaining ever-present can be a challenge when you know what lies ahead. The Quincy High School boys basketball players are meeting that challenge head on. Fully aware a pivotal Western Big 6 Conference showdown looms Friday night against Sterling at Blue Devil Gym, the Blue Devils didn’t overlook having to take care…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, Hannibal wrestlers battle in front of large crowd
QUINCY — The strengths showed. The Quincy High School wrestling team is blessed with an abundance of talented grapplers at the heavier weights, while Hannibal is loaded with technical, aggressive wrestlers at the lower weights. Put those two head-to-head and you’re left with an entertaining dual. Hannibal edged Quincy 35-33 in front a packed house…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils power past Silver Streaks with crisp, clean effort
GALESBURG, Ill. — Andy Douglas couldn’t find fault with the Quincy High School boys basketball’s effort, focus or finish. The coach liked pretty much everything about Tuesday night’s 86-34 victory over Galesburg at John Thiel Gym. Freelance photographer Steve Davis was courtside at Thiel Gym and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreBlue Devils’ defensive dominance continues in another WB6 whitewashing
QUINCY — There is no quantitative goal the Quincy High School girls basketball players set for what they hope to accomplish defensively each game. However, there is an emotional response they look to achieve. “I guess the goal would be to kind of embarrass the opponent in a sense,” senior point guard Leila Dade said.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS girls basketball team overwhelms another WB6 foe with defense
QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls basketball team limited Sterling to five points in the first quarter and 11 overall in the first half, rolling to a 21-point lead by halftime and cruising to a 52-29 victory in Western Big 6 Conference action Saturday at the QHS gym. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read MoreDefensive-minded Blue Devils rake up WB6 victory by blowing past Maple Leafs
GENESEO, Ill. — The last thing Andy Douglas wanted to see was the Quincy High School boys basketball players begin developing bad habits. To the Blue Devils’ credit, they avoided that trap. Able to disrupt defensively everything Geneseo tried to do, the Blue Devils closed the first half on a 16-0 run and led by…
Read MoreThree individual titles, third-place team finish make for solid opening tourney for QHS wrestlers
ANTIOCH, Ill. — The Quincy High School wrestling team made a strong statement during its first tournament of the season. The Blue Devils finished third in the 24-team Ted DeRousse Invitational on Saturday, capturing three individual championships. QHS racked up 356.5 points to finish behind Elmhurst IC Catholic and Marmion Academy. IC Catholic has produced…
Read MoreTourney title showcases Blue Devils’ ability to share basketball, credit and trust
QUINCY — Playing with an edge isn’t the same as playing with an ego. The Quincy High School boys basketball players are discovering the difference. The Blue Devils’ edge is their aggressive approach defensively, which creates turnovers and opportunities to score in transition, and their belief they can score on any opponent at any time.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils win QHS Thanksgiving Tournament championship for 37th time
QUINCY — Led by a strong start from Camden Brown and a strong finish from Keshaun Thomas, the Quincy High School boys basketball team beat Springfield Lanphier 64-51 on Saturday night at Blue Devil Gym to win the championship of the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament. It is the Blue Devils’ fourth consecutive tournament title and…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ defense ensures lead is quite safe in dispatching Titans
QUINCY — There was no letting a big lead slip away this time. One night after nearly squandering a seemingly insurmountable 24-point cushion in the second half, the Quincy High School boys basketball team limited Tinley Park to just five field goals over the final three quarters to cruise to a 69-29 victory Friday in…
Read More2023 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Tony Carnivale
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Tony Carnivale is in select…
Read MoreReality check: Blue Devils react to Wildcats’ second-half run with strong closing kick
QUINCY — A quick glance at the scoreboard told the Quincy High School boys basketball players all they needed to know. A boat race had become a dogfight. “It woke us up to reality,” junior forward Keshaun Thomas said. The Blue Devils had nearly doubled up Chicago Phillips three minutes into the second half Thursday…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils open season by beating Wildcats in QHS Thanksgiving Tournament
QUINCY — A strong start and a strong finish and a victory. That made for an enjoyable Thanksgiving for the Quincy High School boys basketball team. The Blue Devils opened their season with a 69-58 victory over Chicago Phillips on Thursday night at Blue Devil Gym as they finished with a 12-4 run after the…
Read More2023 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Chris Adams
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — Speed set Chris Adams apart.…
Read MorePace of play, quality backcourts of tourney teams will test Blue Devils’ maturity and growth
QUINCY — Andy Douglas is looking for a test. Pass or fail, it’s what the Quincy High School boys basketball team needs. The Blue Devils return five starters, the first two players off the bench and a wealth of talent and experience. It was a fruitful offseason as they embraced the need to be more…
Read More2023 Quincy High School Hall of Fame inductee: Chris O’Connell
Editor’s Note: Quincy High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday between games of the 52nd QHS Thanksgiving Tournament at Blue Devil Gym. Below is the biography used by the QHS Hall of Fame committee to honor one of this year’s inductees. QUINCY — The last name alone makes…
Read MoreDefense takes center stage for Blue Devils as curtain rises on home opener
QUINCY — The curtain splitting the Quincy High School gym into two distinct segments slowly started to rise when Wednesday night’s junior varsity girls basketball game ended. Behind it sat the QHS pep band, ready to belt out the school fight song, among other tunes. “I love our band,” QHS senior forward Taylor Fohey said.…
Read MoreFour Illinois prep football standouts receive first-team all-state honors from coaches association
QUINCY — A quarterback who helped his team make history, a linebacker who tackled everything in sight and a pair of all-purpose performers who have pushed their team into the state semifinals share one thing in common. They have been named first-team all-staters. The Illinois High School Football Coaches Association released its all-state teams Tuesday…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Seniors on QHS girls basketball team discuss upcoming season
QUINCY — They started as a group of freshmen with plenty of potential and now they are seniors coming off a 20-win season and looking to make a statement with postseason success. For Quincy High School’s Leah Chevalier, Leila Dade and Taylor Fohey, the upcoming basketball season is their chance to leave a legacy. The…
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 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 More‘Every week is a business trip’: Caravan stay focused on title pursuit in dismantling Blue Devils
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…
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 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 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 More‘Mentally tough’ Blue Devils overcome early deficit to reach state quarterfinals for first time ever
WHEATON, Ill. — Twelve minutes into Saturday’s Class 7A second-round playoff game, the chances of Quincy High School extending its best-ever football season looked bleak. The undefeated Blue Devils trailed Wheaton North 14-0. Their vaunted offense was stuck in neutra,l and their stout defense was having trouble slowing the Falcons’ attack. Yet, there was no…
Read MorePlayoff primer: Undefeated teams hit road for second-round games, QND comes home with momentum
QUINCY — The second round of the Illinois football playoffs means a five-hour road trip for Quincy High School, a rematch for Camp Point Central and the return to Advance Physical Therapy Field for Quincy Notre Dame. Here’s a look at what Saturday’s slate looks like: Quincy High School (10-0) at Wheaton North (7-3), 2…
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 MoreRaiders’ Cann gives QND boys soccer program 10 straight seasons with all-state honoree
QUINCY — Leo Cann makes it a perfect 10. The senior forward on the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team received all-state honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association, marking the 10th straight season a QND player has earned all-state plaudits. “That’s a pretty good run,” QND coach Greg Reis said. Cann led…
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 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 MoreStandalone: QHS defenders react to Clay leveling West Chicago running back
Playoff primer: Inside look at all Illinois postseason football games involving area teams
QUINCY — Saturday, four area football teams kickstart their pursuit of a trip to Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend for the chance to play for a state championship. Here is a closer look at each of those matchups: West Chicago (5-4) at Quincy High School (9-0), 2 p.m. • Class 7A first-round…
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 MoreSecond-set fight not enough for Blue Devils to knock off top-seeded Tigers in regional opener
GODFREY, Ill. — Shelby Lee’s second block of the night came at the right time for the Edwardsville volleyball team. The junior hitter rose high for a block to break a tie between top-seeded Edwardsville and seventh-seeded Quincy late in the second set Tuesday. On the next point, the Tigers wrapped up a 25-17, 25-23…
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 MoreQND receives final spot in Illinois football playoff field, while QHS, Central, Unity-Payson also learn postseason paths
QUINCY — An answered prayer, a unique draw and a top spot on the bracket. The revealing of the Illinois High School Association’s football playoff pairings had some of the intrigue teams crave and an intriguing twist with the final team to qualify for the 256-team field spread over eight classes. Quincy Notre Dame, which…
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 MoreIllinois prep football rankings: Blue Devils climb to No. 5, Panthers hold steady at No. 2
CHICAGO — Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (10) (8-0) 109 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (1) (8-0) 100 2 3. Barrington (8-0) 88 3 4. Maine South (7-1) 74 4 5.…
Read MoreSchuckman: Rule keeping Illinois prep soccer team from playing in postseason needs to change
QUINCY — A 3-0 loss to Collinsville in the Class 3A regional semifinals Tuesday night brought the Quincy High School boys soccer team’s season to an end one game into the postseason. If only Mundelein Carmel could have been so lucky. The Corsairs are watching the postseason unfold instead of playing in it. Had things…
Read MoreEmotional end to home slate comes with Raiders finishing off perfect season at The Pit
QUINCY — The Pit provided the perfect atmosphere to goodbye, even if it had Emma Hoing shedding tears. “I was so emotional tonight,” Hoing said. “I cried.” She also delivered. A senior outside hitter on the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team, Hoing threw down a team-leading eight kills to power the Raiders to a 25-19,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND volleyball teams square off in front of raucous crowd at The Pit
QUINCY — Two rambunctious student sections, splashes of pink throughout the gym and lively play on both sides of the net made for an entertaining crosstown showdown Monday night at The Pit. The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team capped an undefeated regular season at home with a 25-19, 25-15 victory over Quincy High School on…
Read MoreVideo highlights: QHS, QND square off on volleyball court on ‘Pink Night’ at The Pit
QUINCY — Videographer Frank Cann put together a highlight package from Monday night’s crosstown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame volleyball teams at The Pit. The Raiders won 25-19, 25-15.
Read MoreQHS, QND each sending doubles team to state tennis tournament
QUINCY — A pair of doubles teams will represent Quincy at the girls state tennis tournaments this weekend in the Chicago suburbs. In Class 2A, the Quincy High School senior tandem of Lily and Phoebe Hayes finished fourth at the Belleville West Sectional, while the Quincy Notre Dame duo of Morgan Zanger and Kaitlyn Brown…
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 MorePhoto gallery: QHS football team’s defense shuts down Geneseo in WB6 matchup
QUINCY — The defense didn’t allow a point, and the offense continued to overwhelm an opponent. That’s the right recipe for success for the Quincy High School football team. The Blue Devils finished off their undefeated run to the Western Big 6 Conference championship Friday night by beating Geneseo 35-7 at Flinn Stadium. The Maple…
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 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 MoreQHS sophomore is Reddy to tackle sectional tennis field, fight for spot in state tournament
QUINCY — Anika Reddy talks about her game in the same manner she handles forehands and backhands. Steady and straight. “If you get overconfident, you start missing shots and hitting shots out that could have been winners,” said Reddy, the No. 1 singles player in the Quincy High School girls tennis team’s lineup. “If you…
Read MoreIllinois state football rankings: Camp Point Central moves to No. 2 in Class 1A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (11) (7-0) 119 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (1) (7-0) 109 2 3. Barrington (7-0) 94 4 4. Maine South (6-1) 81 5 5.…
Read MoreSix area teams still in Illinois prep football playoff picture with two games remaining
QUINCY — The Illinois prep football playoff picture is starting to gain some clarity. Six teams in our area have qualified, should qualify or could qualify depending on what happens over the final two weeks of the regular season. Around the state, some coaches and other prognosticators are updating and changing brackets, opinions and thoughts…
Read MoreYo, Adrian: Sommers’ goal, stronger second-half play helps Blue Devils win home finale
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…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS boys soccer team beats Geneseo in final home game of regular season
QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys soccer team ran its win streak to four consecutive games in its final home game of the regular season, beating Geneseo 3-1 in Western Big 6 Conference action Tuesday night at Flinn Stadium. The Blue Devils (8-10-1) wrap up their season on the road Thursday against Springfield. Muddy…
Read MoreQHS All-Time Starting XI: Jumping around, getting dirty enables Bridal to be Blue Devils’ stonewall
This is the 11th and final installment in a series highlighting the Quincy High School boys soccer players the Muddy River Sports staff has named to the program’s all-time starting 11 in conjunction with the Blue Devils’ 50th season. Ron Bridal, Goalkeeper, Class of 1995 QUINCY — The opportunity to coach not only the Quincy…
Read MoreQHS’s Reddy wins WB6 singles championship, Hayes twins take second in doubles
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Quincy High School girls tennis team gave the rest of the teams in the Class 2A Belleville West Sectional something to be leery about. That’s top-flight competitors coming into the postseason event riding high. QHS sophomore Anika Reddy knocked off the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds as she won the…
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 MoreQHS-QND highlights: Watch video of memorable moments from Thursday’s city soccer clash
QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams engaged in another intense chapter of the city rivalry Thursday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field with the Blue Devils winning 3-2 for their first victory over the Raiders since 2019. Videographer Frank Cann put together this highlight video from the Gem…
Read MoreNo cramping his style: Dede scores game-winner as Blue Devils fend off Raiders in city rivalry game
QUINCY — Nolan Dede wanted to join the celebration, but that required getting to his feet and ignoring his cramping right calf. “It was such a conflict of emotions,” he said. “There was the pain and there was the excitement.” And there was the magnitude of the moment. Dede’s header off an Evan Sohn restart…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, QND boys soccer teams split city series
QUINCY — The seniors on the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams had different goals in mind Thursday night. The Blue Devils sought their first victory in the city series during the seniors’ four-year careers, while the Raiders’ Class of 2024 was looking to stay undefeated. Nolan Dede’s second-half goal tipped…
Read MoreQHS All-Time Starting XI: Buying in early put Forbes on path to becoming dynamite defender
This is the 10th installment in a series highlighting the Quincy High School boys soccer players the Muddy River Sports staff has named to the program’s all-time starting 11 in conjunction with the Blue Devils’ 50th season. Zach Forbes, Defender, Class of 2010 QUINCY — Three years before Zach Forbes reached high school, the evolution…
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 MoreIllinois prep football rankings: Blue Devils move to No. 6 in Class 7A, Panthers hold at No. 3 in Class 1A
CHICAGO — Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School W-L Pts Prv 1. Loyola (11) (6-0) 128 1 2. Lincoln-Way East (2) (6-0) 119 2 3. York (6-0) 104 3 4. Barrington (6-0) 84 4 5. Maine…
Read MoreQHS softball program to hold ‘A Night Under the Lights’ fundraiser this Friday
QUINCY — The Quincy High School softball team is going to put on a show once the sun sets. The Blue Devils are holding a fundraiser from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday at the QHS softball field. The event, dubbed “A Night Under the Lights,” will benefit the QHS and QJHS softball programs with proceeds going to…
Read MoreBlue Devils’ Gold fights into playoff, narrowly misses chance to make state tourney field
PEKIN, Ill. — A tough three-hole stretch on his closing nine holes Monday put Quincy High School senior golfer Gabriel Gold in a precarious position. He was one of eight golfers who tied for 14th in Monday’s Class 3A Pekin Sectional at Lick Creek Golf Course, and only one was advancing to the state tournament…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Doubles victories give QHS girls tennis team head-to-head edge against QND
QUINCY — A week after sweeping its crosstown rival in a dual match, the Quincy High School girls tennis team had to fight for a pair of doubles victories to finish off a victory against Quincy Notre Dame on Monday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. The No. 1 doubles team of Lily…
Read MoreQHS All-Time Starting XI: Absorbing coaching enables Evans to elevate himself, teammates
This is the ninth installment in a series highlighting the Quincy High School boys soccer players the Muddy River Sports staff has named to the program’s all-time starting 11 in conjunction with the Blue Devils’ 50th season. Jerrod Evans, Defender, Class of 1991 QUINCY — Matt Longo sensed there was something unique about Jerrod Evans’…
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 More