An Illinois high school football playoff game required a mid-game venue change after producing 172 points, 1,454 yards of offense, and a scoring pace that stretched deep into the autumn evening.
Quincy secured an 88-84 victory over Chicago Goode STEM Academy in a Class 6A playoff matchup that lasted four hours and forced both teams to board buses with just minutes remaining on the game clock.
The shootout broke the Illinois High School Association playoff record for combined points in a single game, eclipsing the previous mark of 166 set in 2021 when Springfield defeated Rock Island 94-72. The two teams also combined for an IHSA playoff-record 1,454 yards of offense.
An 84-Point Second Quarter Sets the Pace
Goode established an early 22-13 lead after the first quarter, but the second period erupted into an offensive explosion that yielded 84 points and 11 touchdowns combined. Quincy put up 46 points in the quarter, while Goode added 38, bringing the halftime score to 60-59 in favor of Goode.
Looks like Bryson Little ties single game IHSA yardage (675) and TD (9) records. Those are the most in both categories all time in the playoffs, regardless of class. He also has the 6A single-game playoff records for passes completed and attempted. @qhsfootball #IHSA
The scoring slowed only slightly after intermission. Both teams added two touchdowns apiece in the third quarter, leaving Quincy with a narrow 74-72 advantage heading into the final period. Additional scoring in the fourth quarter kept the margin razor-thin as extra-point conversions proved decisive.
Record-Setting Performances by Little and Cleveland
Quincy quarterback Bryson Little delivered a historic passing performance, completing 36 of 51 passes for 675 yards and nine touchdowns against one interception. Little tied state single-game playoff records for passing yards and touchdown passes across all classifications, while setting Class 6A records for completions and attempts.
Little’s primary targets fueled the aerial assault. Sawyer Harshberger caught 13 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, and Braxton Williams contributed 10 receptions for 194 yards and four scores.
On the ground, Goode running back Aedan Cleveland matched the offensive output by rushing for 322 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries, averaging 14.6 yards per attempt. The Knights finished the contest with 676 rushing yards and 690 yards of total offense, though missed two-point conversions ultimately proved costly.
Darkness Triggers a Five-Mile Bus Trip
As the clock continually stopped for near-constant scoring, daylight faded at Goode’s home field. The teams shortened halftime to six minutes in an effort to beat the sunset, but natural light ran out with 3:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Goode stats as we he head to Englewood. Aeden Cleveland has 322 rushing yards and 5 TDs. Knights have 687 yards rushing. #IHSA
With officials ruling the field too dark to play safely while Quincy held an 88-84 lead, both teams halted play, boarded buses, and traveled approximately five miles to a stadium equipped with lights. After completing a 20-minute transit, Quincy ran seven plays, picked up a couple of first downs and exhausted the remaining time to finalize the four-hour contest.
Next Round Matchups Await the Blue Devils
The victory advances the Blue Devils into the second round of the IHSA Class 6A playoffs. Quincy will face the winner of the Saturday matchup between Chicago Kennedy and Chicago United.
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