Hall of Fame Inductee - 1995-96 Boys Soccer Team

To gauge just how dominant the 1995 Quincy High School boys soccer team was, take a spin through the Illinois High School Association record book. You’ll find the Blue Devils rank:

• second for most goals scored in a season with 161;
• tied for seventh for most goals scored in a match with 18 in the regional opener against East Peoria;
• 27th for most wins in a season with a 25-3-1 record;
• and tied for 32nd for most shutouts in a season with 17.

So what did all of that lead up to? Just the best finish in program history as the Blue Devils took fourth place at the state tournament.

Coached by Matt Longo and led by all-state forward Donivan Bradshaw, the QHS Hall of Famer who is tied for 26th on the IHSA’s list of most goals scored in a season with 45 goals, the Blue Devils simply overpowered their opponents.

The scored four or more goals in their first seven games and finished the season with 21 games with four or more goals. Meanwhile, they allowed only 20 goals, four of those coming at the state tournament.

Quincy beat QND three times, outscoring the crosstown rival 14-3. The Blue Devils won the regional with a 9-0 victory over Rock Island Alleman and captured the sectional title with a 4-0 victory over Moline.

A 6-1 victory over Normal U-High in the super-sectional sent QHS to the state tournament for the first time in school history, while a 1-0 victory over Chicago Juarez in the quarterfinals assured the Blue Devils of a trophy.

Quincy lost 1-0 to Evanston in the semifinals and 2-1 to Palatine Fremd in the third-place game.

The team included Chris Goodwin, Jerry Gallaher, Michael Carder, Jason Dieckhoff, Kevin Howser, Donivan Bradshaw, Brandon Zimmerman, T.J. Spohr, Scott Mathison, Philip Hyde, Adam McNett, Casey Otten, Ron Eaton, Harrison Lane, Brad Hultz, Ryan Speckhart, Everette Abbey, Colin Ash and Ryan Thomas.

Longo was assisted by Andy Nelson, Dick Stewart and Bill Sanders.