Geneva's perfect 4th downs key easy win
Geneva's offensive game plan is not limited to just 3 downs.
The Vikings (6-0, 4-0) were at their best in 4-down territory during Friday night's 40-7 Upstate Eight Conference River Division football triumph over St. Charles East at Norris Stadium.
Converting on all 6 of its fourth-down attempts, which included a pair of touchdowns, the Vikings' offense seemingly never left the field as it topped the 30-point mark for the fifth time in 6 games.
“I don't want to get into that many fourth downs,” said Vikings coach Rob Wicinski, whose team clinched a playoff berth for the 10th time in 11 seasons. “Myself, I need to manage it a little bit better so we're not in so many 4th-and-longs.”
Geneva took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 13 plays for its first touchdown — a 16-yard pass from senior quarterback Daniel Santacaterina to senior wide receiver Pace Temple.
The drive included a 7-yard keeper by Santacaterina on 4th-and-5 from the Saints' 22-yard line.
After the Saints failed to connect on a 25-yard field goal attempt following a special team fumble recovery by Jack Russell, the Vikings put together another 80-yard scoring drive capped by Justin Taormina's 25-yard TD run for a 13-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter, Geneva began what proved to a backbreaking, 89-yard drive that took another 7 minutes off the clock.
It culminated with Michael Landi's diving 32-yard TD catch of a Santacaterina pass that stretched the Vikings' lead to 20-0 with 20 seconds remaining in the first half.
Even Landi himself was not sure if he made the acrobatic grab.
“It was pretty close,” said Landi. “I bobbled it. It was close to the ground. It was a real quick play — it happened fast.”
The drive included a pair of huge fourth-down conversions — a pair of 19-yard pass completions from Santacaterina (22-of-34, 291 yards) to Landi.
Landi finished the night with 7 receptions for 120 yards and a TD.
“We've been really waiting for Landi to come alive,” said Wicinski. “We're really happy about that because you know everybody coming in — they're going to be dealing with Pace (Temple).”
Temple, who caught 10 passes for 138 yards, hauled in his second touchdown of the game on an 8-yard toss from Santacaterina with 3:33 left in the third quarter about 5 minutes after the Saints (2-4, 2-2) got on the board with a 15-yard TD pass from Aiden Wright to Nick Candre.
Santacaterina's third touchdown pass of the game came on a 4th-and-goal play from the Saints' 8.
“I really like the mentality of our kids,” said Wicinski. “It's (4th down) just another down now until you don't make it, I guess.”
Taormina, who added the Vikings' fifth touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, gained 119 yards on 22 carries.
“Our line is making baby steps,” said Wicinski. “We're starting to get there.”
Meanwhile, the Saints' offense was only on the field for about 4 ½ minutes in the first half.
“They controlled the clock,” said Saints coach Bryce Farquhar, whose team also lost the services of starting lineman Brennan Bosch to a third-quarter knee injury. “We knew we needed some big plays and some stops. We couldn't get that to happen.
“Their quarterback, Santacaterina, is such a special player,” added Farquhar, whose team will need to win its last 3 games just to keep postseason hopes alive. “He can beat you with his legs. He can beat you with his arm, and that's a special group of wide receivers, too.
“Their ability to execute — it flattens you on the sideline a little bit.”