QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University sprint football team opened the 2023 MSFL campaign against the Griffons of Fontbonne University for Week One action at QU Stadium on Thursday evening (Sept. 14). The Hawks put a score of points on the board but fell to FBU 25-20 for the first loss of the season.
 
First Quarter:
 
Quincy was unsuccessful in scoring on its first drive of the season giving way to a Fontbonne drive that finished in the end zone to make it 7-0 Griffons. The Hawks answered with a lengthy 11 play drive to the end zone ending with a two-yard rush from CJ Jackson and PAT from Kaden Kaimann to make it 7-7 and end the scoring in the first quarter of play.
 
Second Quarter:
 
FBU took back the advantage early in the second quarter at 13-7. The Griffons threatened once again on their next drive reaching first and goal from the QU six-yard line after a fourth and 20 conversion. The Hawks defense buckled down for an eventual goal line stop on their own one to force a Fontbonne turnover on downs. Exavier Hinton, Kaden Buchholz and Ray Lingard delivered the hits to end the threat.
 
Fontbonne used an interception for great field position to find pay dirt once again, pushing their advantage to 19-7 after the made point after attempt to take a 12-point lead into halftime.
 
Third Quarter:
 
The dry spell continued through the third frame as QU couldn't find its way into the scoring column.
 
On the other side of the ball, the defense began to return to its form after surrendering two scores in the second, only allowing a single score late in the third at the 1:17 mark to make it 25-7.
 
Fourth Quarter:
 
The Quincy offense got it rolling in the fourth quarter, using two more scores from Jackson to fuel the comeback effort. Jackson scored for a second time on a five-yard scamper at the 6:14 mark to make it 25-14. The scored capped off another long drive for a touchdown for the Hawks taking 13 plays and almost eight and a half minutes.
 
Jackson scored his hat trick to finish off a 10-play drive for 80 yards finding the Hawks down 25-20. A failed two-point conversion to draw within a field goal forced Quincy to attempt an onside kick during the next kickoff. The kick was unsuccessful and FBU ran out the clock to end the game.
 
The Hawks will be back in action next Saturday (Sept. 23) for a date with Walsh University in North Canton, OH. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM EST 6:00 PM CST.
 
Notable Performances:
CJ Jackson: 139 rsh yds, 2 rec. - 15 yds, 3 TD's
Nick Manzo: 18-32 for 202 yds
Exavier Hinton: 2 rec. – 49 yds, 3 tack, .5 sack
Ray Lingard: 5 tack, 2 brkup, 1 blk
Kaden Buchholz: 5 tack, 1 TFL, .5 sack