Geneva beats Lake Park for second straight win
Senior Brendan Krohe was the beneficiary of a great running attack by the Geneva football team Friday at Lake Park, scoring four touchdowns during a stretch of five possessions.
"It just felt so good. The line was opening the holes that we needed to open. (Fullback) Daniel Majeski was just nailing the secondary and gave us enough space to get what we needed to get," Krohe said.
With their most points in a game this season - and a huge last-minute defensive stop from the 8-yard line - the Vikings pulled out a 27-22 DuKane Conference victory in Roselle.
Geneva (2-6, 2-4) has won two straight by a combined 8 points after starting 0-6.
"It's always tough as a senior, knowing ahead of time before you even get to your last three games you're not making the playoffs," Krohe said. "You feel kind of down but then you remember you're playing for the family and brotherhood that's standing next to you."
Lake Park (2-6, 1-5) played with plenty of heart, too. Also out of playoff contention, the Lancers drove the ball from their 20 with 4:58 left after a missed 46-yard field goal by Reilly Waldoch.
The fourth-down pass from the 10 by quarterback Nathanel Merchant was intercepted in the end zone but nullified by pass interference. After a false start penalty on Lake Park, Merchant's second end-zone attempt fell short.
"I've got to give Lake Park a ton of credit. We're both just playing for pride and their boys just marched it down the field. It was a coin toss there at the end. It could have gone either way," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said.
"I'm really proud of the way our kids played. (At the end) we just wanted to make sure we were in position to make a play. We just said, 'Make a play.' The last two games, we've had kids make plays. The previous six, we weren't making plays."
Lake Park coach Chris Roll had hoped the Lancers would capitalize earlier in the quarter upon regaining possession at its 42 with 10:47 left after a fourth-down sack by David Hardwick, who scored from the 1 late in the third quarter. After a false start penalty, the Lancers went three-and-out and Geneva consumed nearly five minutes before the missed field goal.
"Our offense was trying to keep going and give us a shot at the end and when our defense stopped them I really thought that we had a shot there," Roll said. "I give Geneva a ton of credit for fighting really hard. Everyone in this conference win or lose is trying to show how much pride they have and how much they care about football."
Geneva and Lake Park traded touchdowns after the Vikings' defense made perhaps an even bigger stop in the first four minutes.
On the game's opening drive the Lancers took a 2-0 lead on Sean Cox's sack in the end zone and their ensuing drive after the free kick reached the 8. On fourth down the shotgun snap was fumbled and then a caused a fumble was recovered by Majewski.
Krohe scored from the 1 five plays later.
"A huge momentum changer there," Majewski said.
Lake Park regained the lead 8-7 on Jordan Colon's 12-yard run, Geneva went ahead 14-8 following Krohn's 3-yard TD run and the Lancers responded with Hardwick's 6-yard TD run for a 15-14 lead.
Krohe then scored from the 1 just three seconds left until halftime to put Geneva ahead to stay 21-15. The Vikings' second half began with a 64-yard scoring drive completed by Krohe's 3-yard TD to lead 27-15.
Majewski had 107 rushing yards with 92 from from Reilly Waldoch and 75 by Krohe. Quarterback Alex Williams attempted just 7 passes for 21 yards.
Hardwick rushed for 90 yards and Colon 91 before leaving the game after being tackled with 2:36 to go. Merchant completed 12 passes for 138 yards.
Majewski played both ways for the most plays in a game this season. He still had enough energy remaining to stop Hardwick on second-and-6 at the 11 in the final minute.
"I was pretty gassed for a bit but you've got to keep pushing forward because I know we can get a 'W' if I keep on pushing," Majewski said. "We were just thinking one last play (at the end), finish this game off strong, everything you've got."