Geneva scores late to beat Wheaton North, pick up 1st win
It hasn't been an easy debut season for Geneva in the DuKane Conference, which made the past two days all the sweeter for the Vikings.
After taking a 10-7 lead Friday against Wheaton North before the game was suspended in the third quarter, the Vikings came back to Burgess Field Saturday trying to complete their first victory in a season they've been outscored 236-57.
The Falcons, fighting for their playoff lives, didn't make it easy. Antowon Tolbert broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run, giving Wheaton North at 14-10 lead with 7:47 remaining.
Sam Chesney followed with an interception for the Falcons, and it looked like victory would once again slip away.
But Geneva's defense held on a key 4th-and-inches, Reilly Waldoch ran 44 yards for a touchdown, and the Vikings held on for a 17-14 victory.
"It was a thrill," Waldoch said. "We were talking about all week we need chaos, just chaos, chaos, chaos. I think this was enough chaos, rain delay, starting the game early.
"It means a lot. We have three playoff games, why not go out and compete? We all signed up for this sport, we signed up for the struggles, we signed up for the victories. We're just here for the ride."
Wheaton North (3-4, 2-3 in the DuKane Conference) got the ball back after Chesney's interception and made it to midfield. The Falcons were stopped just short on 3rd-and-1, then snapped the ball early on fourth down which led to a bobbled exchange and loss of two yards.
Geneva (1-6, 1-4) put the ball in the hands of Waldoch, who carried it 8 times in the fourth quarter and caught a 14-yard screen. On 3rd-and-4, he found a hole and went 44 yards down the right sideline for the winning touchdown.
"It was supposed to be an inside run but I saw the hole open up outside and I just followed my blockers," Waldoch said. "(Daniel) Majewski got a great block for me on the end and (Owen) Pawelko had a great block on the corner that sealed it for me."
The Falcons went 4-and-out on their next drive. On third down defensive lineman Cole Campbell batted down a pass, and on both second and fourth down defensive back Michael Ignoffo broke up passes.
"We knew where they were going to pass the ball," Ignoffo said. "Just looking out for the double moves. I had to step up and make some big plays. I assume they are coming my side both times, I just kept them in front of me and broke to the ball at the last second. This was a big booster for us. This team never quits."
Wheaton North still had all three timeouts left, but the Vikings were able to pick up a first down and run out the clock. Waldoch carried three times to get to 4th-and-1, then Brendan Krohe rumbled 4 yards up the middle.
Geneva had to take a timeout a moment later - not used to being in victory formation.
"We didn't even know how to do victory at the end we were so excited," coach Rob Wicinski said, smiling. "We didn't know how to take a knee. I'm proud of the way they fought back. Baby steps. We told them you have to win on a Saturday to make a playoff run, that's how we spun in. They bought in."
Returning Saturday to play just over a quarter, Wicinski said they basically played the same kids on both sides of the ball. They also made a conscious effort to keep the ball in Waldoch's hands.
"He's shown he's our big-play type kid if we've got one," Wicinski said. "He's making some bigger plays for us even in the fist half last night.
"I'm so proud of the kids. The losses keep hanging on you and then you lose your confidence and it just kind of snowballs and the next thing you know you are under an avalanche."
Wheaton North has to beat St. Charles East and Batavia the last two weeks to become playoff eligible.
"They both sting," Falcons coach Joe Wardynski said of Friday and Saturday. "We came out flat last night, first drive did a terrible job, ended up going backward. We're just having a difficult time right now getting these kids to execute. We have to do something different. Now we're sitting at 3-4 with two tough games to go is not a position you want to be in."