Blue Devils feeling jazzy about possibilities for success with attacking style

QUINCY — The way Carter Venvertloh handled an off-the-cuff question is a sign the Quincy High School junior midfielder and his teammates can handle anything else thrown their way.

A 10-year-old sports fan hanging out at one of the Blue Devils’ practices during the preseason had the chance to interact with the players following a two-hour training session and his first question to Venvertloh was if he liked jazz.

Venvertloh smiled and answered without missing a beat.

“I do like jazz,” he said.

The follow-up question was easy to handle, too.

“How good do you think your team is going to do?” the youthful inquisitor asked.

Venvertloh again smiled.

“I think we have the potential to be the best team I’ve been on in high school so far,” he answered.

There is a reason for such optimism.

The Blue Devils won nine games in the truncated spring season, showed the ability to pounce on opposing defenses when the opportunity arose and saw carryover to the summer and fall practices with their ability to create runs.

It’s now a matter of staying consistent, together and determined.

“It’s a positive, competitive environment right now,” QHS coach Ron Bridal said. “That not only makes for good training sessions, but hopefully a good outcome on the game field.”

Despite the graduation of two solid scorers in Gavin Higgins and Andrew VanderMaiden, who tied the program’s single-game scoring record with four goals twice last season, there is a plethora of skilled strikers Bridal is confident can apply pressure.

Spencer Jenkins’ experience stands out, while Evan Sohn, Evan Altman and Boen Brockmiller all figure into the mix. Venvertloh is a solid scorer out of the midfield as well.

“The work we’ve done is really going to pay off,” Bridal said. “We have kids who are making runs behind the back line. We have combination play occurring in front of it. What we’re going to see is our kids finding the back of the net.”

It has to be a collective effort.

“One of the things we’ve talked about it the unselfishness of being OK with making a run behind the backline and not getting the ball,” Bridal said. “Knowing that unselfish run is going to open up space is important. As long as our guys are OK with being unselfish, we’re going to have more space to combine and more room to run.”

The ability of Venvertloh and senior Jackson Richmiller to play off each other in the midfield will set up the attack, and the defense behind them is loaded with experience and tenacity.

“It’s about everyone knowing their role on the field so we can work together as a team,” Venvertloh said.

Having a normal preseason that has lasted three weeks has heightened the togetherness aspect.

“It’s given us a lot of time to train together, become more of a unit and bond,” Venvertloh said. “We’re going to be ready.”

Bridal is confident that will be the case, even if the season opener was delayed. Wednesday’s scheduled game against Rock Island Alleman at Flinn Stadium had to be moved to October 11 due to contractual issues. So Quincy opens its season at 4:30 p.m. Friday against Jacksonville in the QND Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field.

“It’s time to see what we can do and how our work and our effort will pay off,” Bridal said.