QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University football team continued its winning ways Saturday (Sept. 26), piling up a season-high 56 points in a 56-35 victory over Wayne State University (Mich.) at QU Stadium. The Hawks scored touchdowns on eight possessions, built a 42-14 halftime advantage, and improved to 2-2 on the season with their second consecutive victory.
The victory was also Quincy's second straight over Wayne State. QU finished with 490 yards of total offense, its highest output since recording 515 yards in a 46-5 victory over Lincoln on Sept. 7, 2024. The Hawks averaged 7.2 yards per play Saturday while finishing with 286 yards through the air and 204 on the ground.
Quincy wasted little time getting started. After forcing Wayne State to punt on its opening possession, the Hawks marched 82 yards in 10 plays.
Bradyn Little capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to give QU a 7-0 advantage with 9:08 remaining in the first quarter.
The Hawk defense then stopped Wayne State on fourth down at the Warrior 32, giving the offense a short field.
Collin Parsons opened the possession with a 13-yard run before Little found
Derrick Miller for nine yards and
Elijah Genenbacher for an eight-yard touchdown. Genenbacher's score marked his third consecutive game with a touchdown reception, his third of the season and seventh of his career.
Wayne State answered with a 29-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter, but Parsons needed just seconds of the second period to restore the two-score advantage. The junior broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the possession, putting Quincy ahead 21-7.
Brevin Jackson recorded his first interception in a Quincy uniform on Wayne State's ensuing possession, but the Warriors eventually cut the QU lead to 21-14 midway through the quarter.
The Hawks responded with another explosive scoring drive. Little completed passes to
Zach Mally and Miller before connecting with Miller again for gains of 14 and 31 yards on consecutive plays. Parsons finished the 75-yard march with a nine-yard touchdown run, his second score of the afternoon, to make it 28-14.
Quincy's defense created another short field moments later when
Ryan Capps recovered a Wayne State fumble at the Warrior 33. The Hawks turned the takeaway into points with an eight-play drive, as
Aaron Harvey powered in from one yard out for the first touchdown of his collegiate career and a 35-14 lead.
The turnovers continued before halftime.
Eddie Johnson intercepted a pass near midfield for his second interception in as many weeks, and Quincy needed only 29 seconds to cash in. Little completed passes to Miller and Mally before scrambling 19 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the game, sending the Hawks into halftime with a commanding 42-14 advantage. It marked the second time in Little's career that he has rushed for two touchdowns in a game.
Quincy kept its foot on the gas after the break.
Following a Wayne State punt, the Hawks drove 77 yards in nine plays. Little converted a third-and-six with an 11-yard pass to Parsons before finding
Jackson Burnett for a 30-yard touchdown on third-and-10. The score was Burnett's sixth career touchdown reception and extended the advantage to 49-14.
After another defensive stop, Parsons put the finishing touches on his career afternoon. Quincy drove 89 yards from its own 11, highlighted by a 41-yard Little completion to Miller. Parsons capped the possession with a 15-yard touchdown run, his third score of the game, to give QU a 56-14 lead with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter.
Wayne State scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to produce the final 56-35 margin, but the Hawks had already done their damage with 56 points over the opening three periods.
Parsons turned in the best rushing performance of his Quincy career, carrying the ball 19 times for a career-high 158 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 8.3 yards per attempt. It marked the first three-touchdown game of his career. Harvey added 29 yards and his first career touchdown as the Hawks rushed for 204 yards and six scores as a team.
Little delivered another efficient performance under center, completing 18-of-26 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added two more touchdowns on the ground, accounting for four of Quincy's eight scores.
Miller was Little's top target, hauling in seven passes for a career-high 138 yards, including a game-long 41-yard reception. Hammers added 36 yards on two catches, while Burnett's lone reception went for a 30-yard touchdown. Genenbacher caught two passes for 23 yards and his third touchdown in as many games.
The Hawk defense helped fuel the offensive outburst by forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions. Jackson recorded the first two interceptions of his Quincy career, marking his first collegiate game with multiple picks, while Johnson intercepted a pass for the second consecutive week.
Taylin Scott paced the defense with a team-high 11 tackles, his second 11-tackle performance of the season.
Aneas Smith and
Aidan Malone followed with six stops apiece.
Jeremy Woods recorded his first career sack, dropping the Wayne State quarterback for a five-yard loss on the opening possession.
With non-conference play complete, Quincy returns to GLVC action for the remainder of the regular season. The Hawks will travel to Lebanon, Illinois, on Saturday, Oct. 3 to face in-state rival McKendree University in the Battle for the Land of Lincoln. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM at Leemon Field.
