QUINCY — In the second attempt for Quincy coach Ed Dewitt, he was able to walk off the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium with a Thanksgiving Day victory.
Quincy now leads the series 50-38-5 as the Presidents doubled up North Quincy, 28-14.
“It sits with you for a long time,” Dewitt said of losing in overtime last year against the Raiders. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to win a game more, but it’s year-to-year.”
Facing a 14-0 deficit in the fourth, North Quincy (4-7) put together an eight-play, 98-yard drive as sophomore Cole Doyle found junior Erick De Lima for an 18-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 14-7.
On the next Quincy (7-4) drive, senior Leo Steinberg (22 carries, 227 yards) scampered 65 yards to paydirt for the third time to push the lead back out to 21-7.
“(Steinberg) is the best player in the city,” Dewitt said of the senior back. “He played like the best player in the city. What he doesn’t get credit for are the blocks that he made for the other guys, too.”
North Quincy once again answered as it needed 10 plays to find the endzone as Doyle hit senior Ronan Brown for an 8-yard score to make it a one-score contest at 21-14.
The Presidents once again responded and ate over four minutes off the clock as senior captain Jonas Ala ran it 21 yards to make it 28-14 with just over two minutes left.
Four plays later, senior Darryl Wright picked off Doyle for the second time as Quincy ran out the rest of the clock.
Quincy came to play from the opening kickoff as junior Will Cannon forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage that was recovered by Ala.
The Presidents then drove 38 yards on seven plays with Steinberg rushing it in from a yard out to put Quincy in front 7-0.
“That was an amazing way to set the tone, and our defense just carried on from there,” said Ala about getting the early turnover. “
The Presidents then got an interception from Wright and two three-and-outs on defense, but were unable to move the ball until late in the second quarter as a five-play drive was capped by another Steinberg one-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 with 2:09 to go in the first half.
“(Steinberg) is the best teammate I can ask for,” said Ala. “It’s been a blessing to play with him for the past three years, and it’s going to be very weird without him.”
North Quincy had 22 total yards in the first half as Quincy’s defense kept them to just one first down in the first 24 minutes and finished with three forced turnovers.
“Our guys are good at getting the ball out,” said Dewitt about the defense forcing turnovers. “It’s something we emphasize and today it worked.”
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