Hawks’ effort in loss to Mustangs shows progress is being made

QUINCY — Four years ago, in Gary Bass’ first game as the interim head coach of the Quincy University football program, the Hawks were humbled and pummeled in a 50-point loss at Midwestern State.

Saturday, with Bass entrenched as the Hawks coach and a roster fully recruited by him and his staff, the return engagement with the Mustangs occurred at QU Stadium.

The difference?

“Night and day,” Bass said.

The Hawks went toe-to-toe with the Mustangs for nearly three quarters, but injuries took a toll as Midwestern State outscored QU 27-7 in the second half and headed home to Wichita Falls, Texas, with a 48-27 victory.

And instead of we’ll-get-better-from-this takeaway and a turn-the-page vibe from the Hawks, there was palpable disappointment.

“They were mad,” Bass said. “They played for three quarters with the best there is in the country, did some really, really good things and showed a lot of growth. They were right there with an opportunity to do something big and it didn’t happen.”

Injuries and maturity played a role there.

Neither first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference linebacker Peyten Chappel nor starting defensive back Lazerick Hill were in the lineup, and defensive end Marcel Scott was lost to injury on the first series of the game.

Sophomore quarterback Tionne Harris suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and sophomore tailback Jalen Griffin went down with a rib injury in the third quarter.

The inexperience behind them — freshman quarterback Michael Valdovinos and sophomore running back Tremayne Lee saw their first action — robbed the Hawks of some consistency. Meanwhile, a couple of fourth-quarter penalties for personal fouls thwarted any rally.

“We have to handle adversity better,” Bass said.

The Hawks handled it all right at the start.

Midwestern State went 73 yards in just four plays and scored on a 43-yard touchdown reception by preseason All-American wide receiver Kylan Harrison on the game’s opening possession. Quincy answered with a 10-play 75-yard drive culminating with Harris’ 29-yard touchdown pass to AJ HArdin to tie the game.

Such an answer is why Bass chose to let Midwestern State have the ball first.

“I like deferring and putting our defense on the field,” Bass said. “I think it’s easier dealing with a 7-0 hole and the offense hasn’t touched the ball yet than to go three and out, give up a touchdown and now all of a sudden you’re down 7-0 and dealing with all the other stuff that’s going on.”

The Hawks and Mustangs traded touchdowns on their next possessions before Quincy took a 20-14 lead 37 seconds into the second quarter when Hardin hauled in a 44-yard scoring pass.

The Mustangs took the lead for good with less than six minutes remaining in the second quarter when Harris fumbled while being sacked and lost the ball at the Hawks’ 38-yard line. Midwestern State capitalized by scoring in two plays for a 21-20 edge.

Harris did not return.

He completed 15 of 23 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns but was sacked three times and fumbled twice. The final sack knocked him out with issues in his throwing shoulder.

“He did not have the strength in his arm he did before,” Bass said.

Valdovinos entered and went 10 of 23 for 105 yards and a touchdown, but he tossed two interceptions including a pick-six in the third quarter that gave Midwestern State a two-touchdown lead for the first time.

The Hawks finished with 394 yards passing with Eugene Witherspoon catching five passes for 118 yards and two scores. But the running game managed just 2.5 yards per carry.

That’s something that will be addressed, but Bass is confident this team took a huge step forward and is on the right track.

“There were a lot of things we can build upon,” Bass said.