Bulldogs earn second win of season over Quincy Notre Dame
By FRED KRONER
Junior quarterback Lucas Dyer had a breakout game on Friday (Sept.8) to spark the Mahomet-Seymour football team to a 42-14 non-conference triumph at Quincy Notre Dame.
Dyer passed for a career-high 311 yards and hit four different receivers with touchdown passes.
He got the Bulldogs onto the scoreboard after 3 minutes and 12 seconds had elapsed, hooking up with Raymond Long on a 17-yard scoring strike.
The first of six conversion kicks by Jackson Davis lifted M-S into a 7-0 advantage.
“If I had three takeaways, the first would be how we got off the bus,” M-S coach Jon Adkins said. “It was their home-opener and we had to start fast.”
QND responded, and with less than 9 minutes left in the opening half had forced a 14-14 deadlock.
Dyer went to work again, finding Trey Peters on an 11-yard scoring route and then Braden Pagel on a 29-yard pass play.
By halftime, the Bulldogs had built their lead to 28-14.
“Another takeaway is the overall battle through adversity,” Adkins said. “They were desperate for a win and when it was tied, our kids didn’t get rattled. They stayed together and didn’t panic.”
“After it was 14-14, we had a great drive followed by a defensive stop and then we punched it in again.”
To make sure there would be no comeback, the Bulldogs expanded their lead to 28 points by scoring twice in the first 8 ½ minutes of the third period.
“The other takeaway,” Adkins added, “is how we finished, doing what we were supposed to do.”
Both Peters (108 yards) and Pagel (105 yards) eclipsed the 100-yard mark for receiving yards, giving M-S three pass-catchers this season who have hit that milestone. Long (110 yards) had his top game in the season-opener.
“And Gavin (Hammerschmidt with 60 yards) had a good night,” Adkins said. “What a luxury to have. We have these three if you stop one of the others.”
Adkins credited the play-calling of offensive coordinator Michael Burner along with the efforts of other offensive staff members – Nate Sievers, Clayton Murphy and Blake Begner – for devising a game-plan to keep QND on its toes.
“I was proud of how our offensive line opened up the holes,” Adkins said.
The offensive unit didn’t miss a beat when featured back Luke Johnson suffered an ankle injury. Cade Ashby stepped in and rushed for a season-high 72 yards. Johnson gained 50 yards on the ground.
“Ashby has embraced his role as the H-back,” Adkins said. “He has been the lead blocker and got a highlight hit against Highland.
“When Luke went down, he was moved to running back and didn’t disappoint. He was an absolute bowling ball, hitting the holes fast and hard.”
Unheralded Channing Byers moved into the H-Back role.
“He started the year on the defensive side and this was his first week (on offense),” Adkins said. “He has a willingness to learn and to want to be successful.”
The Bulldog defense just permitted one TD at QND. The first score came on an 89-yard interception return.
“The other TD came on a missed assignment,” Adkins said. “Take those two plays away and we played a flawless game.”
Brock VanDeveer, a summer transfer from Champaign Central, led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles to go with two sacks.
“It’s hard for a kid to transfer in,” Adkins said, “but this was a match made in heaven.
“He is respectful, mature, responsible. He’s a team-first guy who had the attitude, ‘How can I fit in?’
“Now that he’s getting more comfortable, he’s getting more vocal. He knew the scouting report better than anyone on the defensive team.”
VanDeveer, who scored a TD on one of his two carries while on offense, has fit right in.
“We have such great kids,” Adkins said. “This group is awesome, and accepted and embraced him. If you’d walk through our locker room, you’d think they grew up together.”
Assisting VanDeveer’s ability to reach the ballcarrier was the play of noseguard Jack Gallier, a fourth-year varsity regular.
“Jack demands a lot of attention and is taking on double teams,” Adkins said. “He had another performance that was very dominant and that made it easier for Brock to make plays.”
Tyler Majeres had five tackles.
“Majeres had an incredible game,” Adkins added. “He made big energy hits that got the sideline jacked up.”
Lukas Alstetter intercepted a pass and Noah Frank recovered a fumble.
The Bulldogs (2-1) play at Charleston – Adkins’ high school alma mater – on Friday.
“Our kids know what this game means,” Adkins said. “A few people (on message boards) in the preseason picked them to win our conference.
“We feel good starting conference play with a statement game. We want to defend our title and I’m excited for this opportunity.”
Going back to the 2022 season, Charleston has won seven consecutive games. The Trojans have 17 of their starters from last year back this season.
Charleston’s last loss was a 55-14 setback on Sept. 23, 2022 at home against M-S. A quirk in the schedule has the Bulldogs returning to Charleston for the second year in a row
Adkins is optimistic that defensive lineman Jayvon Irwin can return to action in the Apollo Conference opener.
In his absence at QND, Hayden Hart filled in, and Adkins said, “played physical, played aggressive and was very solid.”
