Hawks rack up most points since 2016, but defense gives up 439 yards passing

QUINCY – At first glance, Quincy University’s 59-27 victory over Iowa Wesleyan in the home opener at QU Stadium on Saturday afternoon appears to be quite impressive.

The Hawks rushed for 307 yards, an average of 7.7 yards per carry. The point total was the most since QU whipped Maysville State 64-7 in the second game of the 2016 season. The Hawks scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions, and they held the Tigers to minus-27 yards rushing.

Yet Hawks coach Gary Bass told WGEM Radio after the game he didn’t think his team played well. His quarterbacks threw three interceptions, and the Hawks’ defense missing six starters was torched for 439 yards passing. 

Starting quarterback Tionne Harris didn’t play. Freshman backup Michael Valdovinos suffered an injury and didn’t make it out of the first quarter. Valdovinos guided the Hawks (1-1) on their first two drives, finding NaKyrien Jack and Chris Poindexter for touchdown passes of 8 yards each.

Third-string quarterback Grant Hajicek didn’t miss a beat, completing 13 of 23 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns — all to Eugene Witherspoon, coming from 17, 65 and 67 yards. Witherspoon, a transfer from Southeastern (Fla.) University, caught six passes for 176 yards.

Tremayne Lee rushed for touchdowns of 32 and 58 yards. The transfer from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale rushed for 201 yards in 17 carries.

Iowa Wesleyan (0-3) entered the game as a huge underdog. It has won just eight games since 2015 and scored just 24 points in its first two games. The pesky Tigers hung close in the first half, trailing 28-21 with 3:26 to play before halftime. QU scored twice before the half to take a 42-21 halftime lead. The Hawks had 369 yards of total offense in the first half.

Melvin Brock led the Hawks on defense with 16 tackles, while Trevon Rhodes aded 13.