QUINCY, Ill. - The William Jewell football team scored 10 fourth quarter points, including a field goal as time expired, to rally for a 20-17 win over Quincy University in the sixth annual Battle of the Birds. With the victory, Jewell improves to 4-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Both teams traded early field goals as
Bleu Renfrow connected from 30 yards on the game's opening drive, only to be matched by Quincy's Joe Reif. After a turnover on downs, the Hawks took their first lead with a four yard touchdown pass, but the Cardinals immediately responded. An 11-play drive ended with
Charlie Loose's connection with
Xavier Winston for five yards to the end zone knotting the score at 10-all, midway through the second quarter. Quincy found the goal line once more before the half as Collin Parsons ran for seven yards to give the Hawks a 17-10 halftime lead.
A combined four punts, one turnover, and a missed 51-yard field goal attempt led to a scoreless third quarter as the team's entered the final 15 minutes still sitting at the same score they had at the break.
The offenses continued to stall early in the fourth as both teams threw an interception before Jewell found a rhythm late. A key 40-yard reception by Winston and a 19-yard run from Loose helped set up the game-tying three-yard rush from
Hunter Bailey to make it 17-17 with just over two minutes to go.
The Cardinal defense continued their second half dominance, forcing Quincy into a quick 3-and-out to give the offense 1:41 to work with. On 4th-and-2 the Hawks committed a costly substitution penalty, giving the Jewell automatic first down at the 36-yard line. Taking advantage of the penalty, Loose connected with Winston again, this time for 29 yards, to set up the game winner, a 21-yard field goal from Renfrow as time expired.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jewell boasted 210 net rushing yards, led by Ronnie Thomas, Jr. with 105 while Bailey followed close behind at 92.
- Winston finished with a team high 86 yards on five catches while Loose was 18-for-33 for 162 yards.
- Ben Murawski led the defense with 11 tackles, including two for loss, along with an interception.
UP NEXT
Jewell steps out of GLVC play for the final team next week as they travel to Northeastern State (Okla.). Kick off is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the game can be seen live on the MIAA Network.
