QUINCY, Ill. - The Quincy University sprint football team will return to the road on Saturday, October 17, as the Hawks travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to face Bellarmine University at 11:00 AM.

The matchup marks the second meeting between the programs this season, giving Quincy an opportunity to build on its season-opening victory over the Knights and get back on track in Midwest Sprint Football League play.

MSFL Standings 

The league standings continue to take shape as the season moves toward its final weeks. Midway currently leads the league with a 4-0 record, followed by Calumet College of St. Joseph at 3-1.

Quincy sits third at 1-3, while Bellarmine is fourth at 0-4. With the Hawks and Knights set to meet for the second time this season, the matchup gives both programs an opportunity to improve their conference standing.

Players Making an Impact

The Hawks have shown their potential in several areas, particularly through the performances of key veterans on both sides of the ball. 

Senior linebacker Donnell Packer continues to be one of the Hawks' most important defensive contributors. After recording 85 tackles during the 2025 season, Packer has continued to produce in his senior campaign.

He finished the season opener against Bellarmine with 12 tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one. More recently, Packer led Quincy with 17 tackles and added two tackles for loss against Calumet on October 10th. His ability to make plays around the field and create opportunities for the defense makes him a key contributor for the Hawks.

Quarterback Kiet Truong has also demonstrated the potential of Quincy's passing attack. In the season-opening win, he connected with Gregory Quince, Nasir Carson and Evan Lopez for touchdowns as Quincy scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to take control of the game.

Truong's performance showed how effective the Hawks can be when they establish their passing game and find opportunities to attack downfield.

Carson and Lopez have demonstrated their ability to generate yardage and create scoring opportunities, and their involvement will be important as Quincy looks to regain its offensive rhythm against Bellarmine.

The Hawks have also received valuable contributions from their rushing attack. Drew Paben carried the ball against Bellarmine and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Travon Hegler-Wright added 93 rushing yards and helped Quincy finish with 137 net rushing yards as a team. Their ability to produce on the ground gives the Hawks another option for moving the football and can help take pressure off the passing game.

Defensively, Quincy will also look for continued contributions from Jeremiah Almendarez-Poyser and Gedeon Mbenga. Almendarez-Poyser recorded eight tackles and two pass breakups against Calumet, while Mbenga finished with five tackles and two pass breakups.

Their recent performances provide additional support alongside Packer as Quincy prepares to face a Bellarmine offense that recorded 361 total yards in its most recent game against Midway.

Game One Against Bellarmine

The Hawks opened their 2026 campaign with a 28-21 victory over Bellarmine at QU Stadium.

Quincy built a 21-7 halftime advantage before the Knights battled back to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The Hawks responded with the decisive touchdown, securing a seven-point victory in the first of two meetings between the teams this season.

In that season opener, quarterback Truong completed 18 of 30 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Carson led the receiving corps with six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Lopez added four receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Quince also found the end zone on a nine-yard reception, giving Truong three touchdown passes to three different receivers.

On the ground, Hegler-Wright carried the ball 11 times, averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. Paben added 58 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Quincy finished with 405 total yards of offense, including 268 through the air and 137 on the ground, compared with Bellarmine's 175 total yards.

The Hawks' defense also played a significant role in the win. Packer recorded 12 total tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered one, while Thomas Murray Jr. intercepted a Bellarmine pass and returned it 21 yards.

Mbenga recovered another fumble, helping Quincy create opportunities that proved important in a closely contested game.

The opening quarter belonged to Bellarmine, which took a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Quincy was unable to capitalize on its first offensive possession, but the Hawks found their rhythm in the second quarter.

Truong connected with Quince for a nine-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. After Murray's interception gave Quincy favorable field position, Truong found Carson for a 37-yard touchdown, putting the Hawks ahead 14-7.

Packer then forced a fumble that Mbenga recovered, setting up another scoring opportunity. Truong and Lopez connected for a 19-yard touchdown, completing a three-touchdown second quarter and sending Quincy into halftime with a 21-7 lead.

Bellarmine controlled much of the third quarter, putting together a 16-play, 58-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes and ended with a five-yard Horvath touchdown run.

The Knights added another score early in the fourth quarter when Horvath connected with Cam Nichols for a seven-yard touchdown, tying the game at 21-21.

Quincy answered with its most important drive of the afternoon. Hegler-Wright broke off a 22-yard run, and Paben followed with a 25-yard gain before taking the ball into the end zone from 17 yards out.

Jensen Laughlin converted the extra point to give the Hawks a 28-21 lead. Quincy held Bellarmine without another score to close out the victory.

Saturday's Matchup

The Hawks now look to recapture that offensive production in the rematch while limiting the turnovers and penalties that can swing a game.

Their season-opening performance demonstrated the team's ability to create explosive plays through both the passing and rushing games, and the return of that balance will be important against a Bellarmine team seeking its first victory of the season.

Quincy will also need to account for Bellarmine's recent offensive production. The Knights are coming off an 81-27 loss to undefeated Midway on October 10th, a game in which they showed their ability to generate points early before Midway pulled away.

Bellarmine trailed 10-3 after the first quarter but scored 17 points in the second to keep the game competitive at halftime. Midway then dominated the second half, outscoring the Knights 50-7.

Freshman quarterback Jamie Jones provided a spark for Bellarmine, rushing for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Aiden Bratcher added a 39-yard touchdown reception, and kicker Ryan Bowen made a 49-yard field goal that established a new Bellarmine program record.

The Knights finished with 361 total yards, including 212 passing yards and 149 rushing yards. Jones also contributed to the team's passing production, while Bratcher's touchdown highlighted Bellarmine's ability to create big plays through the air.

Bellarmine Seeking First Season Win

The Knights' earlier meeting with Midway also ended in a loss, 55-14, on September 19th. Bellarmine's offense has shown flashes of production throughout the season, but limiting turnovers and sustaining that production across four quarters will be important against Quincy.

For the Hawks, the key will be returning to the offensive form they displayed against Bellarmine in September.

Truong's connection with Carson and Lopez, combined with Hegler-Wright's rushing ability and Paben's performance in the backfield, gives Quincy several options to challenge the Knights' defense.

Defensively, Packer and the Hawks' tackling unit will look to create stops and turnovers to help control the pace of the game.

Saturday's contest is the second of two regular-season meetings between Quincy and Bellarmine. The Hawks won the first matchup by seven points, and both teams enter this rematch looking to improve their position in the MSFL standings.

With the postseason approaching, Quincy will aim to turn its season-opening success against the Knights into another important conference result.

Kickoff is set for 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 17th.