QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University football team came within one play of a Senior Day victory Saturday, but Upper Iowa survived a wild triple-overtime battle to defeat the Hawks 41-39 at QU Stadium. Quincy led by 17 points entering the final stages of the third quarter before the Peacocks forced overtime and eventually prevailed on a successful two-point conversion in the third extra period. The loss dropped the Hawks to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in GLVC play and marked Upper Iowa's third consecutive victory in the series.
The opening quarter featured a defensive battle before Quincy broke through late. The Hawks put together an 11-play, 49-yard drive before Joe Reif connected on a 23-yard field goal to give QU a 3-0 lead with 2:45 remaining.
Upper Iowa answered on its next possession, moving 60 yards in five plays before Zamar Wise found Jayden Gordon for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Peacocks ahead 7-3.
Quincy reclaimed the lead midway through the second quarter with an explosive play from the passing game. After Collin Parsons helped move the Hawks out of their own territory, Bradyn Little found Derrick Miller down the middle for a 54-yard touchdown, giving Quincy a 10-7 advantage.
The Hawk special teams unit then created another opportunity. Tyler Meziere forced a fumble on an Upper Iowa punt return, and Miller recovered before returning the loose ball 34 yards to the Peacock two-yard line.
Two plays later, Little found Greg Menne for a two-yard touchdown, the first receiving score of Menne's collegiate career, extending the Quincy advantage to 17-7 with 6:58 remaining in the half.
Upper Iowa threatened before halftime, driving to the Quincy 16, but a 33-yard field goal attempt missed with 24 seconds remaining to keep the Hawks ahead by 10 at the break.
Quincy added to its lead midway through the third quarter after the defense created another takeaway. Jordan Elmore recovered a Wise fumble at the Hawk 25, and QU responded with a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
Parsons opened the possession with a 17-yard run, while Little later converted third-and-14 with a 26-yard completion to Elijah Genenbacher. Little finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Miller, pushing the Quincy lead to 24-7 with 4:59 remaining in the third quarter.
Upper Iowa began its comeback on the ensuing possession. Starting from its own seven, the Peacocks drove 93 yards and scored on a two-yard Gordon run just 47 seconds into the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to 24-14.
The Peacocks added a 21-yard Nathan Behne field goal with 5:42 remaining to pull within seven. After Quincy went three-and-out, Upper Iowa took over at its own 45 with 4:05 to play and converted a key fourth down before moving inside the Hawk five. August Stock finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 24-24 with 1:30 remaining.
Neither team could break the tie in the final 90 seconds, sending the game to overtime.
Quincy needed only one play to score in the first extra period. Little found Miller for a 25-yard touchdown, Miller's third score of the afternoon, and Reif's extra point gave the Hawks a 31-24 advantage.
Upper Iowa answered in four plays, with Wise connecting with Logan Rosauer for a 10-yard touchdown before Behne's extra point tied the game again at 31-31.
The Peacocks struck immediately to open the second overtime, as Wise found Saxson Va'a for a 25-yard touchdown on the first play. Camden Hungerholt then converted the two-point attempt to give Upper Iowa a 39-31 lead.
Quincy refused to go away.
Parsons carried the ball on three of the first four plays of the ensuing possession before Little found him for 17 yards down to the Upper Iowa two. Two plays later, Little connected with Menne from one yard out for Menne's second touchdown of the game. Genenbacher then powered in the two-point conversion to tie the score once again at 39-39.
With NCAA overtime rules moving both teams directly to two-point attempts in the third overtime, Quincy went first. Little's pass attempt was unsuccessful, giving Upper Iowa a chance to win with a conversion of its own.
Va'a took the ball on the Peacocks' attempt and crossed the goal line, giving Upper Iowa the 41-39 triple-overtime victory.
Despite the loss, several Hawks reached significant milestones.
Parsons rushed 28 times for 101 yards, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He became the first Quincy running back to reach the 1,000-yard mark in a season since the Hawks joined the GLVC. Parsons also caught seven passes for 28 yards.
Little completed 23-of-41 passes for 216 yards and a career-high five touchdowns without an interception. It marked the first five-touchdown passing performance of his Quincy career.
Miller delivered one of the best performances of his career, catching seven passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns. It marked his first career multi-touchdown receiving game, while the senior also surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards during the afternoon.
Menne made both of his receptions count, catching his first two career touchdown passes, including the one-yard score in the second overtime. Genenbacher added 21 receiving yards and the game-tying two-point conversion.
Defensively, Elmore led the Hawks with 11 tackles, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and fumble recovery. It marked his eighth double-digit tackle performance of the season. Taylin Scott followed with nine stops, while Brevin Jackson recorded eight.
Janeal Conner finished with five tackles and recorded the first sack of his collegiate career, bringing down Wise during the second quarter.
The Hawks will conclude the 2026 season on the road next weekend, traveling to Bolivar, Missouri, to face Southwest Baptist University on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1:00 PM from Plaster Stadium.
