Hawks Go West To Take On GLVC Leaders

Quincy University Hawks (4-3, 2-2 GLVC) at William Jewell College Cardinals (4-3, 4-0 GLVC)
Oct. 25, 2014 | 1 p.m.
Greene Stadium - Liberty, Mo.

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QUINCY GAME NOTES (.pdf)

GO WEST YOUNG MEN: The Hawks hit the road for the Kansas City area as they take on GLVC-leading William Jewell in Liberty, Mo. on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals are the surprising team tied atop the GLVC standings with Indianapolis after being picked to finish ninth in the preseason coaches poll. William Jewell has won three straight games, including back-to-back road wins at Truman State and Missouri S&T. All four of the Cardinals' wins have been decided by one possession.

VS. THE CARDS: The Hawks are 1-1 all-time against William Jewell in a series that started with the inaugural season of GLVC play in 2012. The Hawks won in Liberty, 21-14, in the season finale in 2012 as they ran for 216 yards on the ground. Last season, the Cardinals came to Flinn Stadium and claimed a 19-17 win. The Hawks took a lead with under 90 seconds to play, but Warren Fervert's 46-yard field goal after a long kickoff return gave the Cardinals the late win.

LAST LOOK AT LAST WEEK: For the second straight week, the Hawks came back to beat a conference opponent, toppling Saint Joseph's, 17-7, in Rensselaer, Ind. The Pumas scored on their opening drive in less than two minutes, but the Hawks kept them scoreless for the final 58 minutes and scored all 17 of their points in the fourth quarter for the win.

LONERGAN ALL-TIME LEADER: Redshirt-junior quarterback Nick Lonergan (Jacksonville, Ill.) last week became Quincy's all-time leader in passing yardage with 5,148 yards, surpassing Shane DeSherlia (1999-2002). Lonergan's 24-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Eric Poindexter (Newport News, Va./Warwick) on a crucial fourth down play in the fourth quarter gave Lonergan the record. He had 257 yards last week, despite bad weather and sloppy field conditions. Lonergan also ranks in the top three in other statistical categories at QU (see tables on Page 3).

DEFENSIVE 11: The Quincy defensive unit was outstanding last week in shutting out the Pumas over the last 58 minutes, 40 seconds of gameplay. The Hawks allowed just 232 yards after the opening drive and allowed just 11 completions and 145 yards overall by the Saint Joseph's passing attack. SJC entered the game ranked second in the GLVC in total offense, averaging 415 yards per game. The QU run defense is tops in the GLVC, allowing just 105.3 yards per game and 3.1 yards per rush.

TARGETING POINDEXTER: Poindexter continues to emerge as the top deep target for Lonergan. He recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season last week and pulled in a career-best nine receptions. His 4-yard, one-handed touchdown catch on third down with 9:41 remaining tied the game at 7-7. He also had the 24-yard catch on fourth down later in the game that set up Quincy's go-ahead field goal by redshirt-sophomore Blake Allison (Decatur, Ill./St. Teresa). Poindexter leads the Hawks with 30 catches for 484 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

GRINDING IT OUT: Quincy's ground game was effective, if unspectacular in Saturday's win. The Hawks churned out 114 yards on the muddy playing surface and got first downs when they needed them. Six of Quincy's first downs came via the rush. Redshirt-freshman Chris Harris (Springfield, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin) led the backfield with 88 yards and a 20-yard touchdown that sealed the win. Harris has now scored in all but one of QU's seven games and is just two touchdowns shy of matching the school's all-time single season mark.

O-LINE CONSISTENCY: Barring a pregame injury, when the offensive starters take the field on Saturday it will be the first time in the three-year tenure of offensive line coach Gary Bass that his unit will start the same five players in four straight weeks. The offensive line was ravaged by injuries in his first two seasons (and haven't been without the injury bug this season as well), but all five players will play next to the same teammate for the fourth straight week on Saturday.

BACK-TO-BACK INTs: The Hawks sealed last week's win with interceptions on back-to-back possessions as redshirt-sophomore corner Jasus Harkins (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and redshirt-freshman linebacker Nate Rueckemann (McHenry, Ill.) each picked off passes to secure the victory. The Hawks are tied for second in the GLVC in turnover margin (+3).

NEXT UP: The Hawks return to Flinn Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 1) to take on Missouri S&T (3-4, 2-2 GLVC). The Miners travel to McKendree this weekend.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Blake Allison: K; 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore

#12 Jasus Harkins: CB; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

#28 Chris Harris: RB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#5 Nick Lonergan: QB; 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior

#17 Nate Rueckemann: LB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

#13 Eric Poindexter: WR; 5' 11"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#6 Blake Allison
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Sophomore
: K

#12 Jasus Harkins
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: CB

#28 Chris Harris
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#5 Nick Lonergan
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Junior
: QB

#17 Nate Rueckemann
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman
: LB

#13 Eric Poindexter
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: WR