Weather interrupts Geneva, Wheaton North
Geneva faced two foes Friday night in its quest for a victory. In addition to DuKane Conference rival Wheaton North, the host Vikings also had to contend with Mother Nature.
In an effort to avoid predicted thunderstorms, the Vikings moved up the kick off to 6 p.m.
With 4:57 left in the third quarter and a 10-7 Geneva lead, the lightning alarms sounded at Burgess Field, suspending play and sending players, coaches and fans scurrying for cover.
An hour later, officials postponed the game until 11:15 a.m. Saturday.
"I think it might be the first time we have been winning all year, so I'm pleased with where we are at and excited about tomorrow," said Geneva coach Rob Wicinski. "Maybe we can finish this thing. We have about a quarter to take care of business."
"We would have liked to finish it tonight, of course. But the next best thing is to finish it up tomorrow," Wicinski said. "I hope the weather cooperates because if not, we will have to kick it to Sunday and I really don't want to do that."
Geneva (0-6, 0-4) ended its first drive of the game with a 34-yard Reilly Waldoch field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Wheaton North (3-3, 2-2) responded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive spanning the first and second quarters that ended with a 6-yard Antowon Tolbert TD run to go in front 7-3.
With 5:08 left in the half, the Vikings retook the lead 10-7 on a 1-yard Brendan Krohe plunge.
Geneva's defense stopped two Wheaton North scoring drives in the red zone.
Midway through the second quarter, the Falcons drove to the Vikings' 19-yard line. With fourth down and 3 yards to go, Wheaton North went for the conversion but only managed to gain a yard.
On the Falcons' next possession, they got as far as Geneva's 18-yard line. Facing fourth and 12, Wheaton North lined up for a field-goal attempt. Instead of kicking, Falcons quarterback Nathan Love attempted a pass but was tackled in the backfield by Jack Kane.
"When we do a field-goal block … I'm on the left side and I come in try to scoop and score if the kicker botches it," Kane said. "And if they fake it, which is what they did, I run at the quarterback to tackle him and that's what happened."
"People were making plays defensively," Wicinski said. "I told the guys before we started today that we don't make enough plays. We need to make these kind of plays. That is how you win football games."