LIBERTY, Mo. – The "Battle of the Birds" lived up to its name, as the Quincy University football team pulled out a heart-stopping 34-33 overtime victory over William Jewell on Saturday afternoon at Greene Stadium. With the win, the Hawks (4-2, 2-1 GLVC) not only notched their seventh consecutive road victory over the Cardinals, but also claimed their second straight GLVC road win and kept the symbolic "Bird Cage" trophy in Quincy.

Jewell opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 12-yard touchdown strike, but Quincy wasted no time with an answer. Freshman quarterback Bradyn Little orchestrated a 65-yard march, capped with a short two-yard touchdown pass to Owen Hampton, tying things at 7-7.

The Hawks surged ahead when Kamrin Cox sprinted in from 23 yards out for his sixth score of the season, but the Cardinals responded immediately with a 75-yard bomb on the ensuing play to make it 14-14. A late Cardinal drive set up at the QU 37 led to a one-yard touchdown run just before halftime, sending Quincy into the break trailing 21-14.

The defenses traded stops throughout the third, with Quincy's front applying pressure and Jewell's secondary breaking up passes. Both teams punted multiple times, keeping the score frozen at 21-14 entering the fourth.

Quincy opened the final quarter with a breakthrough. After stalling in Jewell territory, freshman kicker Conor McAneney was called on for a long attempt. He drilled a 44-yard field goal, his first collegiate make, cutting the deficit to 21-17.

Moments later, the game flipped. Jewell's quarterback was hit mid-throw and defensive lineman Damian Wilson hauled in his first career interception, rumbling 27 yards for a pick-six and a 24-21 Hawk lead early in the fourth.

Jewell answered with a 41-yard field goal to tie it at 24-24, but McAneney showed nerves of steel once more, burying a 45-yarder with 1:01 left to play. But Jewell managed one last gasp, driving quickly down the field once again before hitting a 49-yard field goal as time expired, sending the contest into overtime knotted at 27. 

Jewell had the ball first and struck on the first play of overtime with a 25-yard touchdown pass on third down. However, the Quincy special teams unit came up big once again, as the extra point attempt was blocked by Kendrick Adimado, keeping the margin at 33-27 and the door wide open for the Hawks.

The Hawks then took over on offense. Little found Blake Walls for 15 yards to set up first-and-goal. Facing fourth-and-eight moments later, a pass interference flag bailed Quincy out, moving the ball to the two. On the very next snap, Cox powered in for his second touchdown of the game, and Kiko Moreno drilled the game-winning extra point, sealing the 34-33 triumph.

Quincy posted 339 yards of total offense and held the ball for nearly 35 minutes. Little finished 20-for-38 for 190 yards and a touchdown, while Cox carried 17 times for 61 yards and 2 TDs, also leading the receivers with five catches for 47 yards. Hampton added 28 yards and a score through the air, and Harvey chipped in 53 total yards of offense.

Defensively, Quincy forced two interceptions and recorded five tackles for loss. Caleb Aungst paced the unit with nine tackles, while Kolbey Ballowe and Brock Inman each had seven stops. Wilson's pick-six was the highlight, while Myles Smith added the other interception, which was also the first of his career.

The Hawks' special teams was highlighted by McAneney, as he was perfect on his two field goal attempts, both from beyond 40 yards, and his poise in crunch time proved critical in Quincy's comeback.

The Hawks will be back in action on Saturday, October 18th at 1:30 PM, staying on the road for another GLVC clash against the Truman State Bulldogs from Stokes Field.