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Scouting: Rock Island at Geneva

By Dave Oberhelman

Rock Island

at Geneva

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Rock Island 42, Geneva 28.

Outlook: The big news surrounding Quad Cities football this preseason was the retirement of Rock Island coach Vic Boblett, effective after this season, his 21st with the Rocks. It is earthshaking for this program, because in 20 seasons Boblett has recorded a record of 165-55 according to Illinois High School Association records, and has led Rock Island to the playoffs 16 times and in 14 of the last 15 seasons. “Now they’ve got a ‘Win it all for Boblett’ type deal,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “I didn’t want to hear that.” But Geneva may be better able to beat the Rocks this season, and even last year’s game between eventual 8-3 finishers was closer than the score indicated. According to writer Daniel Makarewicz’s story in the Quad-Cities Online, this will be a rebuilding year for Rock Island. Makarewicz quoted Boblett as saying he’s returning 11 yards of rushing (compared to 2,500 before last season), which is the normally speedy Rocks’ bread and butter. Starting offensive linemen Brad Steger and Nate Mueller return, but the three-man backfield is fresh as is junior quarterback Zack Chapman, according to the Quad-Cities Online. Wicinski isn’t licking his chops: “You’ve got to beat speed if you want to advance,” he said. Rock Island — which opens with a quirky schedule presenting three games in eight days — must beat Northern Illinois-bound quarterback Matt Williams, who compiled about all Geneva’s returning offense from last year’s game. Williams ran for 20 yards and 2 touchdowns and completed a not-great 4 of 19 passes for 126 yards, 52 of them to returning wideout Ben Rogers on his one catch. Williams’ numbers improved dramatically afterward but linemen such as Jacob Bastin, Bobby Byker and all-conference returnee Jake Mills must keep the heat off the senior. As he goes, so do the Vikings this season. Geneva also graduated a bunch of players, like two-way horse Connor Quinn — Parker Woodworth succeeds him as top back — but the Vikings have some, such as middle linebacker Nick Caruso, and defensive linemen Drew White and Henry Zupke who should know what to expect having faced Rock Island in 2010. Caruso actually made 7 tackles last year against the Rocks, all-Upstate Eight River selection White 5. On either side of the ball, one thing must be almost certain for Geneva: Williams will improve upon 4-of-19 passing.

Next week: Rock Island at Tilden, Aug. 30; Wheaton North at Geneva, Sept. 2.