Quincy High School and Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy in Chicago played one of the wildest football games in IHSA history, if not in high school football history, on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The game lasted just over four hours, was played at two different sites, and saw the teams combine for 172 points as multiple state records fell en route to Quincy’s, 88-84, victory.
“Survive and advance. I am proud to say we did that tonight,” Quincy head coach Rick Little told the WGEM streaming broadcast following the game. “I am proud of this team and their resolve.”
The matchup was a First Round contest in the IHSA Class 6A Football Playoffs. #9 seed Quincy entered at 7-3 after earning a 41-7 home win over T.F. South in last week’s Opening Round of the post-season. #8 Goode, who entered at 6-2, earned an Opening Round bye last week and was opening their playoff slate against Quincy.
The contest was initially scheduled by Chicago Public Schools to occur on Saturday, October 31. However, Quincy was off school on Friday and inquired to Goode about making the 300-mile trip from Quincy to Chicago on Friday afternoon. Goode agreed to a 3:00 PM kickoff on the field at their high school (a rarity in Chicago), which does not have lights.
A playoff game on a Friday afternoon is an oddity in Illinois, and the aura of the game would quickly match that vibe. The first half lasted nearly two hours, as Goode’s double-wing offense continually ran past the Blue Devils for long scoring runs. Quincy countered with an electric aerial attack led by junior quarterback Bryson Little, son of head coach Rick Little. When the dust cleared, Goode was clinging to a 60-59 halftime lead.
IHSA staff connected with the game referee at halftime to verify that every effort should be made to finish the game on Friday, in hopes of saving Quincy hotel costs or a return visit. CPS Athletic Administration officials got to work behind the scenes to find available fields if necessary.
The teams agreed to shorten halftime to save daylight, but it wouldn’t matter ultimately. Even as the scoring pace slowed from the first half, the teams combined for four third quarter touchdowns, as Quincy rallied to take a 74-72 lead entering the fourth frame.
Around 5:50 PM, with Quincy leading 88-84 and 3:42 remaining in regulation following a Goode TD, the game was suspended by game officials and moved to Englewood STEM High School, located about five miles east of Goode.
It took just under an hour to get both teams to the Englewood STEM High School, before the game finally resumed at 6:53 PM following warm-ups. The game resumed with Quincy recovering an onside kick, and the Blue Devils proceeded to run out the final 3:42 of the game following a first down pass from Little to Cole Burgess that allowed Quincy to kneel out the remainder of the game.
Bryson Little threw eight touchdown passes in the game, setting the IHSA Single-Game Playoff record for touchdown passes. He added two more TDS on the ground.
The combined 172 points are the most-ever in a high school game in Illinois history, topping the 166 set scored when Springfield High School defeated Rock Island High School 94-72 on October 29, 2021.
The 88 points are the second-most points in a single IHSA Playoff game following Peoria High School’s 96-40 win over Decatur Eisenhower in 2016.
“This is why we love high school sports,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “The circumstances weren’t ideal, but everyone involved came together on behalf of students, and the result is something that no one involved with this game is ever going to forget. I encourage anyone reading this to go support a local high school event this weekend. Whether it is another football playoff game, a Sectional Championship soccer match, or a Sectional Cross Country meet. You may not see as many records fall as you did in the Quincy-Goode game, but what you will see is the epitome of education-based athletics: young people giving everything they have while representing their schools and communities.”
This story will continue to be updated as more stats, record, and quotes, become available.
