High five: Rice cooks Sterling with five TD’s as QHS stays unbeaten

Running back Jeraius Rice Jr. scored five touchdowns – four rushing and one receiving – on 10 offensive touches while racking up 253 all-purpose yards. — Photo by Nick Harris

QUINCY – It was a Senior Night to remember. Quincy High needed just 13 plays to score four touchdowns in the opening 7 minutes, 23 seconds and led by 50 points at halftime Friday night in rolling to an emphatic 63-6 victory over Sterling in a Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. Running…

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Three-set victory over Sterling in WB6 play continues to show QHS volleyball team’s tenacity

The Quincy High School volleyball team and its bench react to winning a crucial point in the third set of Thursday's Western Big 6 Conference victory over Sterling at the QHS gym. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Fearless. If Quincy High School volleyball coach Kate Brown had to pick one adjective to describe the way her team is playing right now, this is the one she would choose. “They’ve found that fight and the fuel to the fire,” Brown said. The Blue Devils scratched and clawed their way to a…

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Photo gallery: QHS volleyball team knocks off Sterling in three sets at QHS gym

The Quincy High School volleyball team outlasted Sterling in a three-set match Thursday night at the QHS gym, winning 26-24, 20-25, 25-19. | Shane Hulsey photo

To purchase digital downloads or prints of Muddy River Sports photos,click here to visit our SmugMug site. QUINCY — The Quincy High School volleyball team simply won’t be denied. Thursday night’s 26-24, 20-25, 25-19 victory over Sterling marked the Blue Devils’s second three-set victory in Western Big 6 Conference play this week and third in…

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Blue Devils capitalize on Austin’s absence by overpowering Golden Warriors for WB6 victory

Quincy High School's Keshaun Thomas, left, attempts to get a shot off while being defended by Sterling's Kaedon Phillips during Friday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: Blue Devils improve to 3-0 in WB6 by outrunning Golden Warriors

The energy of the student cheering section gave the Quincy High School boys basketball team a boost during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game against Sterling at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Blue Devils’ defensive dominance continues in another WB6 whitewashing

Quincy High School forward Taylor Fohey pressures a Sterling player during Saturday's Western Big 6 Conference game at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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.…

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Photo gallery: QHS girls basketball team overwhelms another WB6 foe with defense

Quincy High School freshman forward Jada Brown, left, gains position on the block during the first half of Saturday's game against Sterling at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Blue Devils outlast Golden Warriors to remain undefeated, improve to 7-0 for first time since 1935

Quincy High School linebacker Ty Douglas tackles Sterling's Kaedon Phillips during Friday night's Western Big 6 Conference game in Sterling, Ill. | Photo courtesy Alex T. Paschal, Shaw Media Photojournalist

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…

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

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

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

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Photo gallery: QHS girls soccer team steamrolls Sterling in WB6 play to remain undefeated

Quincy High School wing defender Anna Morrison, right, pushes the ball upfield against Sterling's Kassie Britt during Monday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Flinn Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bri Lannerd racked up five goals. Ava Soltwedel and Maddie O’Brien, a pair of defensive stalwarts, scored their first career goals. And the Quincy High School girls soccer team rolled to a 12-0 victory Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action Monday night at Flinn Stadium. The Blue Devils are 6-0-2 overall and…

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Competitive play in WB6 loss shows progress QHS softball team is making

Quincy High School catcher Kate Mettemeyer gets set for a pitch during Thursday's Western Big 6 Conference matchup with Sterling at the QHS field. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — From Darrell Henze’s perspective, the glass remains half full. Sure, the Quincy High softball coach watched his club drop a 15-6 Western Big 6 Conference game on a breezy Thursday afternoon to undefeated Sterling, but Henze was far from despondent.  The Blue Devils, now 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference, are working…

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Blue Devils push back after ragged start, earn WB6 road victory

STERLING, Ill. — Finally, the Quincy High School girls basketball players said enough was enough. Following Thursday night’s loss at Galesburg that dropped the Blue Devils a game out of first place in the Western Big 6 Conference standings, they allowed Sterling to open Saturday’s league game at Musgrove Fieldhouse on a 16-4 run. “They…

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Thomas, Blue Devils power way through second half to set up showdown with Maroons

Quincy High School sophomore forward Keshaun Thomas scored 18 points in the second half Friday night, guiding the Blue Devils to a 57-45 victory over Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action. | File photo courtesy Tim Vizer Photography

STERLING, Ill. — Saddled to the bench for the duration of the second quarter Friday night, Keshaun Thomas bottled his frustration and was anxious to unleash it. The Sterling boys basketball team felt the brunt of that. Thomas, Quincy High School’s 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, scored 11 of the Blue Devils’ 14 points in the third…

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Blue Devils survive less-than-Sterling effort to remain tied for first in Western Big 6

Quincy High School's Keshaun Thomas, left, and Dominque Clay, right, defend Sterling's Andre Klaver during the first half of Friday's Western Big 6 Conference game at Blue Devil Gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Andy Douglas let his ears be his guide. “If we can come out the first few possessions and our communication is great, it’s probably going to be a good night defensively,” the Quincy High School boys basketball coach said. “Tonight, it wasn’t. We didn’t talk.” So the fact Sterling opened the second half…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Harbin, Cook shut down Golden Warriors as Blue Devils earn WB6 doubleheader sweep

Quincy High School right-hander Noah Harbin tossed a one-hit shutout Friday against Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action. Matt Schuckman file photo

STERLING, Ill. — A pair of shutdown pitching performances kept the Quincy High School baseball team in the thick of the Western Big 6 Conference race. Noah Harbin authored a one-hit shutout as the Blue Devils opened Friday’s WB6 doubleheader with an 11-0 victory over Sterling. Grayson Cook followed with a three-hitter as the Blue…

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Defensive-minded Devils shut down Golden Warriors, increase lead in WB6 title chase

Quincy High School sophomore point guard Ralph Wires scored five points Friday night against Sterling and was dynamic defensively in the 60-32 victory. File Photo

STERLING, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys basketball team’s effort last weekend against United Township resulted in a victory, but it was anything but perfect. Blue Devils coach Andy Douglas might describe it as imperfect. “There wasn’t a defensive possession in the first quarter where we didn’t make a mistake,” Douglas said. So he…

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Blue 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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