After a strong showing to close out it's inaugural season in 2022 with three-straight wins to finish 4-3, Head Coach, Conner McLaughlin and company kept the ball rolling in season two.
An uptick in scoring highlighted by a big step forward in the rushing attack paired with advances in many major defensive statistical categories helped pave the way to another winning season, finishing 5-3 overall in the 2023 campaign along with another MSFL playoff berth.
The Hawks offense flourished in the run game this past season, more than doubling the yardage total from the inaugural season with 1392 rushing yards to finish second in the league in total rushing yards. QU's top rusher, CJ Jackson, gained nearly as many yards as the Hawks did in total last season on the ground as the Starkville, MS native totaled 614 yards in 2023 compared to 675 total rushing yards from the season before.
In addition, both average yards per carry and average rushing yards per game both nearly doubled going from 2.6 to 4.4 yards and 96.4 to 174 yards, respectively, along with seven more scores than the prior season for a total of 12 rushing touchdowns.
The first team All-Conference offensive line tandem of Andrew Huizar and Landen Lopez helped spearhead the Quincy ground game, turning away pressure from the quarterback and opening holes to create opportunities for the potent QU run game as two of the 11 All-Conference nods the Hawks earned during the 2023 season.
Through the air, the Hawks lowered their interceptions, upped the passing yards and equaled the touchdown total from the season prior to compliment the lively rushing game.
Deuce Allaway and Nick Manzo were the lead signal callers for the Hawks as Manzo led the quarterback room in completions, completion percentage and tied for touchdowns while Allaway totaled the most total and average yards while matching Manzo with four TD passes.
Three Quincy receivers scored two or more touchdowns and four totaled over 150 yards in receiving led by Nasir Carson in yards with 340 and Camden Pye in touchdowns with three. The Hawks averaged over 10-yards per catch and upped their total receiving yards by nearly 200 with 1253 yards in the 2023 season.
The QU offensive unit was especially sharp in the first quarter, finding the end zone within the first 15 minutes of all eight games on the year while scoring on its opening drive in six of those eight contests.
Defensively, Quincy was a well oiled machine, raising its numbers in interceptions, tackles for loss, total tackles, forced fumbles and fumble returns. Nine forced fumbles tripled the total from the prior season while also reaching double digits in fumble returns with 12 and interceptions with 10.
Ray Lingard was a nightmare for opposing defenses as the outside linebacker led the team in tackles, pass breakups and fumble returns with 51, 10 and three, respectively. The junior also added a forced fumble and eight tackles for loss.
Quincy opened the year with a tough loss to Fontbonne before rattling off three-straight victories over Walsh, Calumet College of St. Joseph and Midway to move to 3-1 before a showdown with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College on October 21, saw the Hawks suffer their second loss of the campaign.
QU bounced back with a win over Oakland City to move to 4-2 before hosting the undefeated Knights of Bellarmine for the regular season finale. Quincy dispatched the top-ranked Knights, scoring in every quarter to deal BU its first loss of the season heading into the MSFL playoffs.
The Hawks drew Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in the opening round of the MSFL playoffs a week later, but were unable to avenge the loss the to Pomeroys earlier in the season as SMWC defeated QU 23-13 in MSFL playoff semifinal action.
Just two years into the programs history, SMWC is the only MSFL member the Hawks have yet to beat, going 0-3 so far. Quincy will get another crack at the Pomeroys this upcoming season on September 21, in Quincy.
With another winning season and playoff appearance under their belt, Coach McLaughlin praised the efforts and improvements his team has made this season, "Our players have truly embraced what we are trying to build here. Their efforts on and off the field have resulted in the success we have had." With the 2024 campaign looming in the coming months, McLaughlin is excited to build even further upon the programs hot start, " We have made great improvements each year and I know they are ready to take another leap forward in 2024."
Quincy opens the 2024 campaign on the road at Bellarmine to take on the Knights on September 4, in Louisville, Ky.
