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Larkin notches huge triumph over Geneva

Larkin needed a minor miracle.

Nate Kohler more than delivered for the Royals' football team.

Trailing 24-0 against Geneva entering the final quarter, Larkin drew within 3 points of its Upstate Eight Conference River Division rival with less than two minutes to play.

But Geneva merely had to kill the last 12.9 seconds to secure its homecoming victory.

The first inkling of Geneva losing its grip came on a high snap to its punter.

Kohler seized his chance. The senior leapt high into the air well into the Vikings' backfield and blocked the punt.

With the Vikings' punter in a prone position, Kohler scooped up the ball and raced 26 yards with 2.9 seconds to play to give Larkin a seemingly impossible 27-24 victory Friday night Geneva.

"I knew we needed a stop," Kohler said. "I was going to leave it all on the field. I wanted to do it for my guys. I went out 100 percent (on the block)."

The stunning Larkin comeback was inconceivable without the fourth-quarter play of quarterback David Hibbler.

Kindrell Morris' 47-yard run - the longest play for Larkin the entire game - gave the Royals a much-needed infusion early in the fourth quarter.

Elijah Hernandez scored from 4 yards out four plays later; Morris and Hibbler collaborated on a 2-point pass to maintain the Royals' two-score deficit.

It would be a disastrous second-half offensively for Geneva.

The Vikings (2-3, 1-2) had a shanked punt, three consecutive turnovers and the fatal special-teams' breakdown after the intermission.

Hibbler connected with Hernandez for a 37-yard strike to bring Larkin (3-2, 2-1) within 24-14 with 8:23 to play.

Hernnandez recovered the Vikings' second lost fumble after halftime moments later. Hibbler then had the most important offensive play of the game with a 32-yard scramble on fourth-and-24.

Hernandez scored one play later to make it Geneva 24-21 with 1:44 remaining.

"It was definitely kind of a Hail Mary (with my feet)," Hibbler said. "I saw (the pass opportunity to Hernandez). It was a good opportunity. I was so glad when he caught it."

Larkin stuffed Geneva for no yardage to force the last-second punt.

Lance Árni was a one-man gang for Geneva in the opening half. The senior carried 13 times for 125 yards, including first-quarter scores of 11 and 3 yards.

Luke Swanson upped the Geneva lead to 21-0 on the first play of the second quarter on a 29-yard burst. Bradley King kicked a 35-yard field goal to give Geneva a 24-0 lead at the break.

But Árni never returned after 3 carries in the third quarter.

"He just couldn't go," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "It didn't help the cause. I don't begrudge (Larkin). It's hard to get over the hump."

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