Big plays propel Geneva

Justin Taormina and Ryan Skibinski demonstrated in convincing fashion their breakaway abilities Friday night in Oak Lawn.

The two sprint relay state qualifiers in track and field last spring showcased their exceptional speed during the Vikings' thrilling 35-20 victory against traditional power Richards in nonconference football action.

The final score was as deceiving as the momentum swings in the game were seemingly unending.

Taormina broke three tackles bursting for 46 of his game-high 156 yards rushing four plays after three Geneva defenders conspired to deny the Bulldogs a potential game-tying drive on fourth-and-goal at the Vikings' 5-yard line.

Luke Swanson scored the last of the Vikings' 5 touchdowns on the ensuing play to give Geneva the cushion it would need against ever-resilient Richards.

"I just kept my legs pumping," Taormini said. "I wish I had scored on the play."

"(The run) flipped the field," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said.

But it was the collaborations between Skibinski and Geneva starting quarterback Sean Chambers that completely altered the contest after the halftime intermission.

Richards (0-2) scored with seconds remaining before the half to forge a 7-7 tie at the break, and the Bulldogs' William Bridgewater returned the second-half kickoff 96 yards for a 14-7 lead after the successful point after.

"We lost all of the momentum," Wicinski said of Richards' scores only seconds apart in actual game time.

But Skibinski, held without a reception in the opening half, had his first half-dozen snags in the second half translate into 138 of Chambers' eventual 214 yards.

The senior capped back-to-back scoring drives with TD receptions of 30 and 60 yards to reverse the Vikings' one-score deficit.

"The safety was very far off of me (on the second touchdown, a slant pattern)," Skibinski said. "Sean made some great throws. He hit me right on the numbers."

"We have been working really hard to get (Skibinski) in space," Wicinski said.

Skibinski was then critical to the final Geneva third-quarter touchdown with a 17-yard conversion on fourth-and-10 that gave the Vikings first and goal.

Jack Wassel hauled in Chambers' third scoring strike from 14 yards out two plays later.

"You can't afford to get two scores down against a team like that," Richards coach Tony Sheehan said of the Bulldogs' 28-14 deficit in the third. "That quarterback (Chambers) is one (heck) of a quarterback."

But Richards would respond as feature back Pat Doyle had a long touchdown run one play after the Bulldogs' recovered a fumble when it appeared Geneva was prepared to strike again.

But Taormini had one final big play for the Vikings; the Swanson 16-yarder helped Geneva rush for 243 yards in 40 carries.

The senior opened the scoring in the first half with a 65-yard burst off right tackle.

"That's our bread and butter play, and we hit it," Taormina said. "Our offensive line asked Coach Wicinski to call it."