NQ has bragging rights
QUINCY — To say that there was plenty on the line for North Quincy’s football program Sunday would be a massive understatement.
Playing in the 88th installment of their annual rivalry with Quincy and needing a victory to keep any hopes of a league championship alive, the Raiders turned to senior Liam Hines, and put their fate in his hands.
The Mass. Maritime commit delivered, racking up 26 carries for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as North Quincy blanked its archnemesis from across town 21-0 and punched its ticket to this week’s Patriot League Fisher Division title game against Plymouth South.
“We knew we were bigger, faster, stronger,” Hines said. “We knew we could run it down their throats and take down the game clock, and that’s what we did.”
The Raiders struck first with 5:40 remaining in the half, as Cooper Hansen handed the ball off to Hines. After a short gain, the senior ran into a barricade just beyond the line of scrimmage. The workhorse back refused to fall to the turf, as he continued to pump his legs. Then, he received a boost from a few of his teammates, as they pushed him into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown for a 7-0 halftime lead.
The Raiders threw only two passes all game, compared to 35 combined rush attempts. However, with every run, the Presidents (1-3) continued to pinch closer to the line, to the point where Quincy decided to load the box completely midway through the third quarter.
Hansen then dropped back to throw, and lobbed a 30yard pass to a wide open Colm Geary. The junior tight end then jogged uncontested to the end zone as North Quincy doubled its lead to 14-0.
“It was a planned play,” said Raiders coach Ryan Craig. “They were stunting, and we saw something on film. Our offensive coaches made a great call, and we knew it was going to be there.”
Hines capped his outstanding outing with 4:05 left in the contest by scampering five yards for another touchdown, all but sealing a historic victory for North Quincy.