QUINCY, Ill. - The William Jewell football team fell 24-20 on Saturday on the road in the fourth annual Battle of the Birds. The Cardinals drop to 4-5 on the season with the loss and 2-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After forcing a punt on the opening defensive drive, the Jake Shaffer found AJ Austene for a 27-yard connection to set up Josh Click for a 26-yard field goal to take the early 3-0 lead.
• After the Hawks scored to go in front, Jewell got an 18-yard interception return from Sean Mitchell to set up the offense on the Quincy 23-yard line. On the ensuing play, Jake Shaffer tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Bethany to retake the lead, 10-7.
• The Hawks scored 10 unanswered points to close the half with the lead, 17-10.
• Late in the third quarter, Shaffer again found Bethany for the touchdown to tie things up at 17-all.
• Quincy opened the fourth quarter with a 44-yard touchdown run to go in front, 24-17.
• Javion Macias forced a late fumble to give the Cardinals the ball back on the 48-yard line with 3:28 to play.
• Jewell got a late pass down field but after review was rule incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs and ending the game.
   

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jake Shaffer was 13-for-29 for 153 yards and two touchdowns with Bethany as the primary target with seven catches for 59 yards.
• Austene finished with a team high 77 receiving yards on three catches while Keaundre McCullough had 52 rushing yards on 16 carries.
• Macias and Adam Callahan led the defense with nine tackles with the former adding one interception and a forced fumble.
• Click was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts from 26 and 33 yards, respectively.
   

UP NEXT
Jewell returns home for the final two games of 2024 as they host Truman next week followed by McKendree on November 16.