Quincy High School guard Zach Forbes drives to the basket with Algonquin Jacobs' T.J. Brooks defending. Forbes scored 18 points in his season debut as the Blue Devils won 68-46. (H-W Photo/Philip Carlson)

To say Zach Forbes was excited might be an understatement.

The Quincy High School senior guard hung around after Friday morning’s shootaround to get a little extra practice. Then he arrived at Blue Devil Gym about 5:05 p.m. Friday night in anticipation of Quincy’s matchup with Algonquin Jacobs in the 39th annual Thanksgiving Tournament.

“The other teams were warming up and I was out there shooting a little, too,” Forbes said. “I was just ready to get on the court.”

Forbes had to watch Thursday night when the Blue Devils opened the season with an 81-67 victory over St. Louis Normandy. He received a yellow card with less than two minutes to go in Quincy’s regional soccer championship loss to Edwardsville, and since it was his second of the game, it meant a red card and an ejection.

Per Illinois High School Association rules, a one-game suspension follows an ejection. Since soccer season was over, it carried over to basketball.

So Forbes was nattily attired on the end of the bench.

“It was tough,” Forbes said. “There in the first two quarters when the game was neck and neck, I was just biting my nails. Then Isaiah and Vondy took over and they pulled away. I relaxed a little bit then. It’s good to know this team is deep, and no matter what the situation is, we’re going to be fine.”

With Forbes in the lineup, they’re even better. He scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds and snagged three steals in his debut as the Blue Devils zipped past Jacobs 68-46.

“He’s good and he’s another guy who can score,” Quincy coach Sean Taylor said. “We have possibly five guys who can average in doubles. That’s our goal — to get three, four, five guys in doubles every night.”

Starting strong

The Blue Devils jumped out to an 11-0 lead against Jacobs. They had a 9-2 lead on Normandy. And they’ve allowed just 16 points combined in the first quarter of their two victories.

Is it needless to say this team doesn’t like playing from behind?

“Last year, we were digging holes and then fighting back and fighting back and making a game of it late,” Taylor said. “This year, we’re dictating from the start. That has to become what we do and who we are.”

Hall of Fame bound

In April, Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle joins the best high school coaches the Land of Lincoln has seen when he is officially inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Hinkle has been at Jacobs for 14 years and is in his 35th season as a head coach, having compiled a record of 494-468. He began his career at Canton, Mo., where he coached for three years. He’s coached at five different high schools and Elgin Community College.

The boxscore

Quincy 68, Algonquin Jacobs 46
JACOBS (0-2)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
Hofman    5-10    3-6    5    0    14
Meyer    0-4    0-0    4    3    0
Ehrhardt    1-1    2-4    3    2    4
Brooks    1-3    0-0    0    1    2
Conzelman    2-2    2-2    3    2    6
Schmidt    3-7    0-0    0    0    8
Billings    1-1    0-0    1    1    2
Gehr    0-2    1-4    1    2    1
Korzec    0-1    0-1    1    1    0
B. Richman    0-1    0-0    3    0    0
Jackson    0-0    1-2    1    1    1
Nguyen    1-1    0-0    1    0    2
C. Richman    1-2    0-2    2    0    2
O’Brien    2-3    0-0    0    0    4
Wistehoff    0-1    0-0    1    0    0
Jaras    0-2    0-0    0    0    0
Ehrlich    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Qadir    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Team            7
Totals    17-41    9-21    33    13    46
QUINCY (2-0)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
Miklius    1-3    1-2    3    2    3
Johnson    7-13    0-0    5    2    14
Forbes    7-12    3-7    5    1    18
VonderHaar    4-11    2-2    5    4    10
Gay    2-7    2-4    5    2    7
Marold    2-5    2-2    2    1    6
Davis    2-2    0-0    3    2    4
Beebe    0-0    6-6    1    1    6
Behrens    0-4    0-0    3    2    0
Kendrick    0-1    0-1    2    2    0
Dean    0-2    0-0    0    0    0
Givens    0-0    0-0    0    0    0
Team            4
Totals    25-60    16-24    38    19    68
Jacobs    6    9    13    18—46
Quincy    23    11    21    13—68
3-point field goals—Jacobs 3-8 (Schmidt 2-5, Hofman 1-2, Meyer 0-1), Quincy 2-12 (Forbes 1-4, Gay 1-2, Miklius 0-2, Dean 0-2, VonderHaar 0-1, Marold 0-1). Assists—Jacobs 5 (Schmidt 2), Quincy 6 (VonderHaar 2). Steals—Jacobs 4 (Hofman 2), Quincy 17 (Miklius 4). Blocked shots—Quincy 1 (VonderHaar). Turnovers—Jacobs 31, Quincy 17. Officials—Jeff Rutledge, Sam Moran, Jude Kiah.

Sean Taylor sat in his office with the scorebook unfolded on his desk, scanning the numbers the Quincy High School boys basketball team posted in its 81-67 victory over St. Louis Normandy in Thursday’s opening-round game of the 39th annual QHS Thanksgiving Tournament.

One number stood out.

Thirty.

That’s the number of times the Blue Devils went to the free-throw line. They made only 13, a 43.3-percent clip which Taylor didn’t try gloss over. He was as frustrated as anyone by the Blue Devils inability to take advantage of charity, but he was also encouraged by the fact the opportunities are there.

“We got there,” the seventh-year QHS coach said. “That’s going to put pressure on the other team. That’s going to make them play a little more tentative on defense. Obviously, I think we’ll shoot better as the season progresses. Getting there 30 times is a great start for the year.”

Offensive-minded

The Blue Devils outrebounded the Vikings 48-32 and owned the offensive glass. QHS pulled down 19 offensive boards, resulting in nine second-chance points.

“We have guys who are hard to box out,” Taylor said. “They are going to get second chances.”

Rebounds were the only stat the Blue Devils were curious about in the locker room.

“I’m proud that we ran to the glass and crashed the boards,” point guard Isaiah Johnson said.

State ranking

The Blue Devils haven’t entered a season as high as No. 5 since … well, it’s been long enough that it’s tough to recall off the top of your head. You have to go back to the 1994-95 season when the Blue Devils were No. 5 in the first poll.

Quincy went on to reach the super-sectional that season, finishing 24-6.

The Blue Devils don’t want to get ahead of themselves and make too much of the ranking, so they are taking it in stride.

“We were happy about it,” Johnson said. “We’re going to try to live up to that.”

The boxscore

Quincy 81, St. Louis Normandy 67
NORMANDY (0-1)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
Ballard    4-18    3-3    6    2    11
Bizzell    3-11    0-0    2    1    6
Caldwell    1-1    0-0    1    2    2
Smith    6-19    0-0    7    1    13
Townsend    6-8    10-12    5    5    22
Porter    0-0    0-0    1    1    0
Hunt    2-5    0-2    5    4    5
McAtee    2-3    1-2    0    1    5
West    0-0    0-0    0    2    0
Brooks    1-1    0-0    0    1    3
Thompson    0-1    0-0    2    1    0
Roberts    0-0    0-0    0    1    0
Moore    0-0    0-0    1    0    0
Team            2
Totals    25-67    14-19    32    22    67
QUINCY (1-0)
Player    fg-fga    ft-fta    reb    pf    pts
Miklius    5-9    1-3    7    1    11
Johnson    10-12    1-6    8    2    21
VonderHaar    8-11    0-0    6    1    18
Marold    4-8    2-2    4    3    11
Gay    0-7    0-2    5    2    0
Beebe    2-4    4-7    4    1    8
Davis    1-5    4-6    3    3    6
Behrens    1-2    0-0    2    2    2
Kendrick    0-1    1-4    4    2    1
Givens    0-1    0-0    1    0    0
Dean    1-1    0-0    0    0    3
Team            4
Totals    32-61    13-30    48    17    81
Normandy    10    17    17    23—67
Quincy    15    20    23    23—81
3-point field goals—Normandy 3-15 (Smith 1-7, Hunt 1-3, Brooks 1-1, Ballard 0-4), Quincy 4-15 (VonderHaar 2-4, Marold 1-4, Dean 1-1, Gay 0-4, Miklius 0-1, Beebe 0-1). Assists—Normandy 6 (Bizzell, Townsend 2), Quincy 13 (Beebe 5). Steals—Normandy 12 (Ballard 4), Quincy 8 (Johnson 4). Blocked shots—Normandy 1 (Thompson), Quincy 1 (Gay). Turnovers—Normandy 24, Quincy 27. Officials—Marc Briney, John Dearing, Henry Votsmier.

The most noticeable thing about the Algonquin Jacobs boys basketball team’s roster is what’s missing.

There are no more Morans.

After seven consecutive seasons with one of the four Moran brothers on the roster, the Golden Eagles come to Quincy for the 39th annual Quincy High School Thanksgiving Tournament with the last of the lot having graduated.

Tim Moran helped Jacobs beat Quincy for just the second time in six tournament appearances last year — the Golden Eagles won 67-55 — and he and classmate Conrad Krutwig were the only two Jacobs players to beat QHS twice in their career.

None of the other Morans did that.

None of the Morans, Tim included, came to this tournament as underdogs, either.

The graduation of Moran and Krutwig, who is playing as a true freshman at the University of South Dakota, and some off-the-court issues have reduced the number of experienced players on Jacobs’ roster dramatically. Two returnees — Mike Barch, an Arlington Heights Daily Herald all-area forward, and Shane Slawek, a co-captain — were dismissed during the summer for code violations, while Mike Peterson, who will be in his third season as the starting point guard, is serving a five-game suspension to start the season.

“All I can say is it’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for a lot of kids,” Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle told the Daily Herald. “Hopefully, this will make us stronger later in the year because maybe somebody I wasn’t counting on will step up. Every now and then you need a challenge.”

To read more about the Golden Eagles, click here for a season preview from the Elgin Courier-News.

Quincy High School coach Sean Taylor kept it lively during the Western Big Six Conference boys basketball coaches tip-off banquet.

When you take a few days off to chase deer through the woods, you miss out on a few things. One of those such things took place last Wednesday night when the Western Big Six Conference boys basketball coaches gathered at the QC Botanical Gardens for the annual tip-off banquet.

And has become tradition, Quincy High School coach Sean Taylor stole the spotlight with his quick wit and one-liners.

Here’s what the Moline Dispatch’s Steve Tappa wrote about the event …

As the dean of Western Big Six Conference boys basketball coaches, Rock Island’s Thom Sigel again had the misfortune of following a killer opening act.

“You’ve heard of the ‘Blue Collar Comedy Tour?’ This is the ‘Blue Devil Comedy Tour,’” an exasperated Sigel said Wednesday night during the league’s annual tip-off banquet.

Yep, for the sixth season in as many tries, the stand-up act of Quincy head coach Sean Taylor stole the show at the QC Botanical Center.

Now, Sigel and the rest of the WB6 are hoping the same can’t be said on the court, where Taylor’s Blue Devils are hardly a joke, returning seven players with starting experience just a year removed from figuring in back-to-back league titles.

“My kids are starting to get into it a little bit where you’re able to talk a little basketball with them,” Taylor said while assessing a conference race that begins Dec. 4.

“Last night, we’re at the dinner table, so I asked my son, ‘Who do you think is going to win the league this year?’ And he looks at me and says, ‘(Dang) it, dad, I think Rocky is going to win.’ So I spanked him and sent him to his room. I don’t know if I was more mad that he cussed or picked Rocky.

“So I looked at my daughter and said, ‘Who do you think is going to win?’ And she said, ‘Well, dad, you can bet your (butt) I don’t think Rocky will win.’ She’s in second grade, so I’m like, ‘Where are you kids learning to talk like this?’ And she said, ‘Well, dad, we did have to sit behind Galesburg’s bench last year.’ ”

And on the night went, with the laughter of the fans on hand serving as the rim-shots punctuating the poking and prodding between coaches.

Taylor gave as good as he was getting, of course, especially after hearing all about the sideline antics game officials have failed to find funny, ejecting the Quincy coach in each of his last two trips to United Township.

“I prayed before I came up here. I said, ‘I hope I win something good,’ ” said Taylor, the winner of a bottle of liquor from the hosting Rock Island/Milan Booster Club, during a door-prize session where seemingly everyone in attendance won something.

“And the good Lord does look after me. I won that bottle, and I’m going to keep it right here in the Quad Cities, because I know when I come to UT, I’m going to have at least a quarter to drink it.”

Ba-Dum-Dum.

Taylor rarely spares a target, but did stick up for Alleman’s rookie head coach Bob Szorc, who noted his transition has been tough because none of the QC’s major roads run through all of the cities.

“I understand you got some groans in here because you commented that if you need something, you go to Iowa,” Taylor said. “Well, I understand that because when I went to Augie I was 19, and I didn’t want to do anything illegal, so if I wanted something to drink, I went across the river to Iowa.”

And then, quick as a whip the Quincy coach built on those laughs by noting, “In Quincy, the motto is, ‘If you need anything, you go to Croatia.”’

Taylor, of course, was referencing Quincy being outed for illegaly recruiting Europeans not so long ago before his watch started. But the history of the WB6 and this event wasn’t lost on him, or the other coaches.

“Six years ago, I probably wasn’t, but I felt like a young coach,” Taylor said. “I mean, I had to my left that year, Frank Dexter, Steve Yount and Larry Schulte. All great, veteran coaches. Now I look at these guys and I’m starting to feel old.”

Szorc joins a league that welcomed three under-33 young guns just last season — Orion grad Mike Reynolds at Galesburg, United Township great Marc Polite at his alma mater and Galesburg standout Ryan Webber at Moline.

Webber and the Maroons surprised everybody by winning it all, too.

“It’s definitely a priviledge to be part of this conference,” Webber said. “It’s without a doubt the best league in the state in terms of class, and atmosphere, and the people sitting out in this audience. Without everybody involved it wouldn’t be the exciting Friday nights we have during the season.”

Or the hilarious Wednesday nights to tip-off the campaign.

It’s difficult to get an entire row of reporters or broadcasters to all utter the same phrase, but Sean Robinson did it.

During last Saturday’s Class 4A state quarterfinal game against Quincy Notre Dame, the Rochester senior quarterback had nearly every person in the press box at Rocket Booster Stadium using one simple word.

Wow.

As good as he was delivering the ball with pinpoint accuracy and eluding the rush on the select times the Raiders were able to pressure him, it wasn’t his athleticism that impressed people. Don’t get me wrong, the QB is athletic, quick and mobile.

More importantly, he’s poised. Robinson, who has verbally committed to Purdue and plans to sign with the Boilermakers during the February signing period, is comfortable in the pocket. He doesn’t get rattled. He doesn’t have any knee-jerk reactions. He’s in control at all times. He surveys the field, picks his spot and makes plays happen.

As I replayed bits and pieces of the Rockets’ 45-26 victory, I knew I had to put Robinson on the short list of the best high school football players I have covered since I started doing this on a full-time basis in 1993.

Where does he rank? Right near the top.

Who else does? Well, here you go …

Grant Wistrom, Webb City (Mo.)

In the 1993 state championship game against Columbia Rock Bridge, Wistrom played tight end and defensive end for the Cardinals and had one of those wide-eyed moments in the first half on offense. Taking the handoff on an end around, Wistrom outran the Bruins cornerback Skyler Graves down the sideline. Right then, it was easy to see why he was one of the most recruited players in the state. Wistrom went on to star at Nebraska and for the St. Louis Rams.

Corby Jones, Columbia (Mo.) Hickman

I actually covered Jones more during his college career for the University of Missouri, but watching him his senior season at Hickman was special, especially when I saw him throw a pass to Shaundale Coleman, a fleet-footed receiver, that carried more than 50 yards in the air. Jones was known more as an option quarterback, but his arm was as strong as any high school quarterback I’ve seen.

Trevor Frericks, Quincy Notre Dame

Frericks is wrapping up his career at Eastern Illinois University this fall, but he earned his spot with similar qualities as two others on this list. He’s was surprisingly quick and bullishly strong. He dominated games up front, too quick for big burly tackles and too strong for undersized guards and centers. His quickness off the ball allowed him to be in attack mode before offensive linemen sometimes got a hand on him.

Justin Smith, Jefferson City (Mo.)

One of the most respected and most successful programs in Missouri produced one of the finest defensive linemen in Mizzou history. But before he played for the Tigers and was selected as the fourth pick in the NFL Draft by the Bengals, Smith overwhelmed offensive linemen with speed and strength. He was truly a man among boys playing for the Jays.

It’s been five years since the Quincy Notre Dame football team last walked onto the field at Rochester’s Rocket Booster Stadium and left a lasting impression.

QND’s 47-0 victory was filled with spine-tingling hits, some harsh words and plenty of ill feelings.

Courtesy Illinois Helmet Project

A lot has changed since then. Specifically, the Rockets are now coached by Derek Leonard, the son of Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin coach Ken Leonard.

Success seems to run in the bloodlines. So does personality. I enjoyed my conversation, albeit somewhat brief because Leonard was teaching, when he had the chance to speak earlier this week. Leonard also joined WGEM SportsCenter on ESPN 1440 this week, breaking down what figures to be one of the top games in the state this week.

His presence, attitude and demeanor makes you believe this could be a healthy rivalry, not one with animosity like there was the last time these two teams met.

Even so, one thing hasn’t changed. These teams will knock heads and deliver crushing blows, just as you would expect from teams that pride themselves on physical play.

So for QND to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2004 — the same year is last played at Rochester — here are three keys to success:

1. Under pressure

Rochester quarterback Sean Robinson is legit in every respect. He has a big-time arm, mobile feet and the kind of savvy you would expect from a player headed to a Big Ten school. But how does he handle pressure? You would expect him to be cool and confident.

But can QND rattle him? That’s the Raiders’ hope. They want to knock Robinson off his game, forcing him to dust himself off and show he can take a hit as well as deliver one. The more pressure they put on him in the backfield, the more likely he is to make a mistake.

He hasn’t made many miscues, so it’s going to be tough to get him off his game. If the Raiders do, they gain an edge.

2. Be special, extra special

The last time these teams met in the playoffs, QND returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, something QND coach Bill Connell envisioned the entire week and even told his returner, Nick Paul, how they’d celebrate.

As far as I know, Connell hasn’t tried to be prophetic this time, but he has emphasized the need to make plays on special teams. Andrew Juette, Daniel Weiman and Brandon Ley all have the capabilities of taking a kick or punt and returning it deep into Rochester territory.

Plus, QND has a legitimate kicker, who hasn’t made a mistake yet this season. Blake Doane is 56 of 57 on PATs and 2 of 2 on field goals. If it’s a close game, he becomes the X-factor.

3. The full arsenal

QND has had a tendency to lock up offensively in the playoffs. The second against Breese Mater Dei in 2007. The second half against Bloomington Central Catholic last year. The second half against Effingham last week.

The Raiders have too much talent on offense to get complacent. If QND can get a lead, it needs to keep extending the lead, not sit on it and protect it. The spread offense QND has used this season is perfect for such a situation. It keeps multiple players involved, a defense back on its heels and can be effective either running or passing.

Using every available weapon will make QND effective for 48 minutes, something the coaching staff has stressed.

Although football continues to create headlines, basketball season is rapidly approaching. With high school teams on both sides of the river now practicing, I’ll offer some initial thoughts on teams I see in practice as we put together our annual prep basketball preview section, which will be published Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Today’s stop: Quincy High School boys basketball

Blue Devil Gym has a slightly new feel to it with new bleachers adorning the gym’s lower bowl. What hasn’t changed are the expectations of a team blessed with experience, talent and an understanding of the game.

Sean Taylor, now in his seventh season at QHS, looked as comfortable and calm as he’s ever been three practices into a season. Much of that has to do with the fact he isn’t teaching as much as he is refining with a group of eight players, most of whom are three-year varsity members.

And they all seem to be in impeccable shape. None better than Robert Gay, a 6-foot-3 senior, who has added a little mass to an already chiseled physique. His strengths have always been his leaping ability and athleticism, but the face he can muscle up in the post gives him an edge even when he gives up a couples inches in height.

This is a team that will score, but don’t expect it to light the nets on fire from 3-point range. Returning Zach Forbes and Alex VonderHaar, who are dynamite in transition and solid from the 15-foot range, the Blue Devils more than likely will bury teams with mid-range jumpers.

Isaiah Johnson and Mitch Marold are quick off the dribble and always look to attack the basket, while Nick Doellman is a space-eater inside who needs to do a better job of finishing. In practice is any indication, Doellman wants to control the block and give Quincy a physical presence inside.

Keep your eye on sophomore Michael Davis. He’s a raw kid with a huge upside as a power forward who could help the varsity in limited minutes as a rebounder and defender.

During a phone conversation Tuesday, I asked Rochester football coach Derek Leonard what impressed him most or what he liked the most about the Rockets. He pause, not just because there are so many things to like about his undefeated, top-ranked team.

The pause allowed him time to think and not give a cliched answer.

“They come prepared for every game,” said Leonard, now in his fifth season at Rochester. “No matter how big or small the opponent is, they are ready. You don’t have to motivate them too much. They play hard no matter what.”

Sounds a lot like another Leonard-coached team. And it should.

Derek Leonard is the son of Ken Leonard, the long-time Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin coach and member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Ken Leonard has led SHG to state championships in three of the previous four seasons.

Since taking over the SHG program in 1988, Ken Leonard has won more than 240 games and led the Cyclones to the state quarterfinals nine times, including this season. SHG (11-0) is at Peoria Richwoods (10-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday, and Derek Leonard expects his father and the rest of his family should make it to Rochester by the second half.

To read more about the Leonards and their relationship, click here for a story written by Todd Engle of the Springfield State Journal-Register.

The Quincy Notre Dame football team will travel to Rochester for Saturday’s Class 4A state quarterfinal matchup with kickoff officially set for 4 p.m., QND head coach and athletic director Bill Connell confirmed Sunday afternoon.

This will be the Raiders’ third trip to Rochester for a playoff game.

In 2001, QND lost 13-6 in the Class 4A opening round when Rochester defensive back Chris Katzmark intercepted a D.J. Venvertloh pass at the goal line with two-tenths of a second remaining in regulation. Venvertloh had spotted Vy Nguyen open in the end zone, but Katzmark read the play for his second interception of the game. He also caught a 19-yard TD pass.

“The feeling on the sideline was we were going to score,” Connell said after that game. “That was the good feeling. Now that we’re sitting here, I can’t believe we didn’t score.”

In the second round of the 2004 playoffs, QND kickstarted a 47-0 rout of Rochester with an 85-yard game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown by Nick Paul. QND’s defense did the rest, limiting the Rockets to 17 yards rushing and creating five turnovers.

Luke Stamerjohn caught four passes for 90 yards, including TD receptions of 30 and 36 yards, in the Class 4A playoff victory over Effingham. (H-W Photo/Michael Kipley)

Hands team

Zach Marquess was in uniform and on the sideline Saturday, but the Quincy Notre Dame coaching staff planned to use the junior defensive end sparingly as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered last week against Harrisburg.

That meant finding a replacement for him on the kick return team.

They choose junior wide receiver Mark Grawe.

Good choice.

Effingham opened Saturday’s Class 4A second-round playoff game with an onside kick, catching most of the Raiders by surprise. Not Grawe. He stepped up, grabbed the bouncing ball and returned it to the Effingham 35-yard line.

The Raiders scored four plays later, setting the tone for a 35-0 victory that sends QND to the state quarterfinals for the second time in as many years and the fifth time in school history.

“That’s a heck of a play,” QND coach Bill Connell said. “He came up in there, caught that ball, wiggled and got us about 5 or 10 more yards. If he doesn’t go get it, it’s a 50-50 ball laying there. That set the tone.”

Tone setter II

After Kramer Barnes scored on an 11-yard run to put QND up 7-0 just 1 minute, 25 seconds into the game, it became the QND defense’s turn to deliver a message.

Few deliver it better than junior linebacker Ian Hinkamper.

On Effingham’s first play, the Flaming Hearts handed the ball to Kyle Garland, who was the wing back in motion. Hinkamper read the play, split a gap in the offensive line and drove Garland to the ground for a 7-yard loss.

“Those type of plays, that’s just getting the job done for us,” Connell said.

Tell me what to do

Effingham’s decision to minimize the effectiveness of QND’s running game gave Barnes plenty of options in the passing game. He tried to use them all, completing 11 of 19 passes for 165 yards.

“They were putting so many people in the box, they were giving you the pass,” Connell said. “When they are putting eight or nine guys in the box, they are telling you that you can throw the football.”

Barnes also completed two touchdown passes on seam routes to Luke Stamerjohn, connecting on a 30-yarder on second and 11 and then hitting him on a 36-yard on third and 10.

“Barnes did a good job of reading and finding out who the deep receiver was that would be open,” Connell said.

Doing their job

Barnes did not get sacked, let alone touched, while in the pocket. Only once did he have to throw a pass away, but he was out of the pocket and moving toward the sideline when he felt the pressure.

Why was he so secure? His bodyguards made sure of it.

The offensive line — left tackle Matt Hugenberg, left guard Connor Miller, center Dalton Emery, right guard Zach Reichert and right tackle James Aschemann — paved the way for another 300-yard effort as the Raiders finished with 309 total yards.

“If the offensive line doesn’t block the way they block, Barnes doesn’t stand back there and Barnes doesn’t make these plays,” Connell said.

The boxscore

Class 4A Second Round
QND 35, Effingham 0
EFF QND
7 First downs 16
34-71 Rushes-yards 36-122
46 Passing yards 187
117 Total yards 309
7-22-3 Comp-Att-Int 12-20-2
3-42 Penalties-yards 5-45
0-0 Fumbles-lost 3-2
Effingham 0 0 0 0—0
QND 21 14 0 0—35
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
Q—Kramer Barnes 11 run (Blake Doane kick), 10:35
Q—Ryan Terstriep 80 interception return (Doane kick), 5:56
Q—Luke Stamerjohn 30 pass from Barnes (Doane kick), 2:05
Second Quarter
Q—Stamerjohn 36 pass from Barnes (Doane kick), 8:24
Q—Daniel Weiman 20 run (Doane kick), 4:57
Individual Statistics
RUSHING—Effingham, Alex Steppe 12-43, Sean Dammerman 3-12, Jaron Allred 8-9, Ethan Fulk 5-8, Grant Johnson 2-3, Kyle Garland 4-(minus 4). QND, D. Weiman 13-79, Barnes 9-39, Ian Hinkamper 3-6, Nick Weiman 3-2, Terstriep 2-2, Stamerjohn 6-(minus 6).
PASSING—Effingham, Steppe 6-21-57-3, Allred 1-1-(minus 11)-0. QND, Barnes 11-19-165-2, Stamerjohn 1-1-22-0.
RECEIVING—Effingham, Jordan Tate 3-9, Brian Meyers 1-21, Brad Reedy 1-19, Johnson 1-8, Cole Morrow 1-(minus 11). QND, Stamerjohn 4-90, Quenton Keating 2-31, Brandon Ley 2-29, Anthony Bruns 2-23, Mark Grawe 1-17, Terstriep 1-7.