Wheaton North's Kuczaj comes up with big plays at right time to defeat Geneva
Shouts of "Hollywood Kuc" echoed in the background while Matt Kuczaj soaked in his postgame moment.
Kuczaj, Wheaton North's junior wideout/defensive back, earned that label after his two-way performance to stun Geneva 20-13 on Friday.
Wheaton North, which led 12-6 with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter, suddenly needed a huge spark. Geneva senior linebacker Jackson Reyes had just jumped a route and returned an interception for a stunning 36-yard touchdown to give Geneva the 13-12 lead.
Wheaton North quarterback Max Howser and Kuczaj, however, had an answer.
On the Falcons' own 36-yard line, Howser found Kuczaj for a 64-yard touchdown five plays into the next drive. The 2-point conversion was successful on Howser's toss to Kirsten Libby for the 20-13 advantage with 5:06 remaining.
"I saw the defensive back. He was outside leverage and he's was playing kind of off (coverage) ... I was the single receiver on that side, so I knew it was one on one and I knew it was (going) to me ... It was an out and up. I showed (Howser) my eyes and went up the field and I got it," Kuczaj said.
Kuczaj had one more impact play to make to ensure Falcons coach Joe Wardynski could earn his 100th coaching victory.
Geneva (5-3, 3-3) promptly marched down the field, highlighted by Talyn Taylor's 35-yard gain to push into Falcons (7-1, 5-1) territory. After a Stempowski rush and a flag for a late defensive hit, the Vikings set up shop at the 9-yard line.
After a small Stempowski gain and two incompletions, the Vikings faced fourth and goal.
Stempowski was soon flushed from the pocket and ran right, directing traffic. Anthony Pantano was briefly open in the far corner, but Kuczaj cut underneath and artfully tipped it away with his left hand for the turnover on downs.
"Last week, we didn't do a very good job of sticking to routes when the quarterback gets out of the pocket," Kuczaj said. " ... There was a (Geneva) receiver coming down; he was right on the goal line (and) there was (another) over the top of me. I knew it was fourth down, so I didn't want to risk getting a pick (because) maybe he could fight and get it. So I just slapped it out of bounds."
"He's very capable (of big plays)," Wardynski said of Kuczaj. "He's playing (as) a good corner for us as well. We put him on top of (Taylor) all night long, so he was working hard on the defensive side. Then, when he had to come out and make a play offensively, he did, so credit to our offensive staff. They put us in a good situation (on Kuczaj's touchdown) on a vertical route."
"And, the QB who just turned one over, went another direction, came out and threw a great ball," Wardynski added. "I really give them credit for that."
The Geneva defense masterfully forced a three and out to give the offense one more chance, but Tyler O'Connor intercepted a Geneva pass to ice the game.
Wheaton North led 6-3 at the half. O'Connor had a 1-yard touchdown with 6:20 remaining in the second quarter, but the extra point was no good. Geneva tacked on a field goal from JT Frieders before the end of the half.
O'Connor (100 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns) again found the end zone with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter on an electric 48-yard touchdown to make it 12-3 Falcons. The extra point was again no good.
Geneva's ensuing possession ended in another Frieders field goal to make it 12-6 Falcons before the exciting finish.
Stempowski finished 7 for 19 for 104 passing yards and 60 rushing yards. Howser was 9-for-15 passing for 127 yards for the Falcons.
"(Reyes is) a senior making a play, on a night that recognizes our seniors," Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. "That was huge. The momentum was there for us and I wish we just could've closed it out and we had our opportunities, and credit to Wheaton North. They made plays when they had to."