QC High School Football: Week 2 Playoff Preview Capsules

Playoff preview capsules

Class 7A

Moline (8-2) at Quincy (10-0)

Basics:

Last time (2024): Quincy 43, Moline 21

Overview: The Western Big 6 Conference foes, which finished 1-2 in the standings, meet again in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs on Friday night. ... Quincy, for the 10th time this season, scored 40+ points in a 49-7 rout of Argo (5-5) in a first-round game, showcasing WB6 MVP Bradyn Little throwing for six touchdown passes, two to WB6 all-first team wideout Rico Clay Jr., who finished with 96 receiving yards. ... Little has completed 211 of 287 passes this season, for 3,506 yards, with a 44:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. ... Six Blue Devils were named to the WB6 all-first team, including juniors Todd Smith and Ben Schelp; seniors Nathan Konrad, Jeraius Rice Jr., Tykell Hammers, Kamryn Flachs-Hill; plus Little and Clay Jr. ... Clay Jr. made all-first team at both wide receiver and linebacker, for his exceptional play on both sides of the ball. He had 52 catches (second on Quincy) for 831 yards (second) and 11 touchdowns (tied for second), and had two interceptions on defense. ... The Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 157 to 29 in first quarters (an average of 15.7 to 3) this season. ... The Maroons are fresh off a 38-13 Class 7A first round win over Addison Trail (7-3) – their sixth straight victory. The Maroons rushed for over 400 yards. ... Senior offensive linemen Jenaro Sepada and Kayden Banker were named to the WB6 all-first team offense. Junior DeAnthony Simpson and senior linebackers Adrian Cooper and Corbin Schnell were named to the WB6 all-first team defense. ... Cooper was also on the WB6 all-second team offense for his team-high nine touchdowns during the regular season. He joined fellow sophomore running backs in Elijah Warren and Marc Cary with that honor.

Class 4A

Geneseo (6-4) at DePaul (7-3)

Basics:

Overview: Geneseo is coming off a surprising 42-0 shutout win in the Class 4A first round of the playoffs over top-seeded Sullivan (9-1). ... The Maple Leafs started the scoring with a Kye Weinzierl 25-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-16 and scored 21 points in both the first and second quarters in the rout. ... Weinzierl was named to the WB6 all-first team on defense with his team-high 82 tackles and two sacks. ... Other Maple Leafs honorees were senior offensive lineman Will Baum and senior running back Kolten Schmoll-Burton, as both made the WB6 all-second team on offense. ... The Geneseo offense is a run-dominant, double wing attack, totaling 2,526 rushing yards. ... Schmoll-Burton (916 yards) and Weinzierl (726 yards) have accounted for 65 percent of the yards, with 16 of the Maple Leafs' 30 rushing touchdowns. ... The Rams had their own first-round rout last weekend, taking care of business against eighth-seeded Dyett Eagles (7-3), 48-8 on Saturday. ... The Rams, like the Maple Leafs, led 42-0 at halftime, allowing negative-17 yards of total offense on the Eagles' first two drives and forced two fumbles. ... Rams' senior Nicholas Hathcoat, who only had 186 rushing yards and two rushing scores on the season, rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the win. ... The Rams are a pass-happy team, throwing for 228.4 yards per game versus 125.2 rushing yards, yet had a season-high 202 rushing yards against Dyett last week. ... DePaul is led by senior Fernando Rodriguez, who has completed 152 of 259 passes (58.7 percent) for 2,239 yards and a 26:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio. ... Rodriguez's go-to wide receiver is senior Braden Peevy – they have connected 56 times for 920 yards and 10 touchdowns. ... Defensively, sophomore lineman Hunter Wahtola and senior Aidan Castette have four sacks each. ... Senior defensive back Avry Bellis has a team-high six interceptions for DePaul.

Class 2A

Rockridge (8-2) at Farmington (10-0)

Basics:

Overview: Eighth-seeded Rockridge rocketed to a 22-0 halftime lead and did not look back in its 22-8 Class 2A first round win over the Eastland Pearl City. ... The Rockridge trio of running backs Thomas Sowards (15 carries for 78 yards), Jacob Freyermuth (5-69 yards) and quarterback Cullen Schwigen (22-72 yards and two touchdowns) combined for 220 rushing yards. ... Fumbling was an issue for Rockridge, with Schwigen coughing the ball up twice; however, the Rockets retained possession on one of the two fumbles. ... Defensively, the Rockets allowed fewer than 20 points for the eighth straight game, going 7-1 in that span. ... The Rockets face Farmington squad that has shut out two straight opponents, including last Saturday's Class 2A first round 21-0 victory over Dee-Mack (5-4). ... The Farmers have allowed six points or fewer in seven of the 10 wins. ... In the win over Dee-Mack, running back Logan Utt ran for a season-high 189 yards and a score on 31 carries. ... Ult has 793 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the year. ... The Farmers average 196.8 passing yards versus 139.4 rushing yards this season. Quarterback Lane Wheelwright has 1,678 yards passing and 21 touchdowns, to seven interceptions.

— Compiled by Sameer Malla