QUINCY, Ill. - A 14-point, first quarter deficit was too much to overcome for the Quincy University football team on Saturday (Sep. 15).  QU fell to the University of St. Francis (Ill.) 41-26 in a non-conference matchup.  

Play by Play

First Quarter

The Fighting Saints threw the first punch of the game on their first possession.  After a Hawks punt, St. Francis used a four play, 78-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead with 11 minutes in the quarter.  

QU couldn't find its footing on its next possession and was forced to punt.  Nathan Kewney bombed a 57-yard punt that was downed at the St. Francis six-yard line.  

Several big plays and a personal foul on QU allowed for the Fighting Saints to march down the field.  On first and 10 at the QU 15-yard line, a touchdown pass gave St. Francis a 14-0 lead with just under five minutes to play in the quarter.

Second Quarter

The next QU possession ended with a punt that gave the Fighting Saints the ball at their own five-yard line.  

The Hawks defense held firm and forced a Fighting Saints punt deep in their own territory.  

A low line drive punt was fielded by Shane Barrett at the QU 49-yard line. Barrett found an opening and returned the ball to the St. Francis 30-yard line.  

A sack and a holding penalty derailed the Hawks best offensive field position and led to another punt.  

The Hawks defense stepped up near the end of the first half.  With the Saints driving, the QU defense forced a turnover on downs at their own 21-yard line.  

QU's offense took advantage of the defensive stop.  With 24 seconds remaining in the half, Tionne Harris found David Tabakovic for a three-yard score to cut the lead to 14-7.  

The Hawks went into the half trailing 14-7. 

Third Quarter

The Fighting Saints took the opening possession of the second half into the end zone to take a 21-7 lead over the Hawks.  St. Francis scored on a 12 play, 67-yard drive that used five minutes of game clock.  

QU nearly cut into the lead on its next possession.  Michael Klotz's 46-yard field goal attempt missed wide right and the Hawks continued to trail 21-7 with nine minutes to play in the third quarter.  

St. Francis padded its lead with a one-yard touchdown run to take a 27-7 lead with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.  The Fighting Saints had a 41-yard completion to set up the touchdown run.  

The Hawks would not go quietly as Tionne Harris completed four passes on the Hawks next possession.  

Harris' final completion of the drive went for a 32-yard touchdown to Gabriel Bryant.  Harris lofted a perfectly thrown ball to Bryant.  Bryant made a spectacular catch to give the Hawks their second touchdown of the game.  

The Hawks trailed the Fighting Saints 27-14 with just over two minutes to play in the quarter.  

QU's defense made another stop to give the Hawks the ball at the start of the fourth quarter.  

Fourth Quarter

The Hawks made it a one-score game on their next possession.  QU moved the ball into Fighting Saints territory after its first seven plays on the drive.  Tionne Harris took a shot downfield and connected with a diving Blake Huskey.  Huskey made the catch and the Hawks had the ball at the St. Francis three-yard line.  

Harris scored on a three-yard rush to cut the Saints lead to 27-20 with 12 minutes to play in the game.  

Just two plays later, the Fighting Saints scored on a 54-yard touchdown pass to push their lead back to 34-20 with over 11 minutes to play.  

QU moved the ball into St. Francis territory again on its next possession. The Hawks were forced to go for a fourth-down conversion facing a 14-point deficit.  Tionne Harris was sacked and QU gave the ball back to the Fighting Saints.  

The defense forced another stop and the Hawks took over with 4:44 to play in the game.  

Tionne Harris was intercepted to give the ball back to the Saints.  

St. Francis scored again to push its lead to 41-20 with over two minutes to play in the game.  

Tionne Harris would score a rushing touchdown with no time remaining to make the final score 41-26 in favor of St. Francis.

Stat Leaders

Tionne Harris: 24-34, 260 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 20 attempts, 64 yards rushing, 2 TD

Chris Brinson: 18 attempts, 106 yards

Cody Leonard: 11 Total Tackles

Sam Mock: 9 Total Tackles

Next up for QU

The Hawks host Davenport University next Saturday (Sep. 22) for homecoming.  

QU's Record

1-2