By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
Playoff opponent was one of those 'tough outs'
Low bridge!!
What you do now is get up, dust yourself off, and go looking for the horse. . . so you can ride again.
IC Catholic Prep of Elmhurst was the low bridge that took down the Leafs on Saturday evening, Oct. 28.
The final was 35-12 and yes, the better team won this first round Class 4A playoff game.
The Knights were last year's Class 3A state champions and Geneseo Coach Larry Johnsen Jr. thinks they might appear in yet another championship game this season.
“It will take quite a team to beat them,” the coach said, mentioning various areas of strength the Knights possess. “Depth could be an issue for them, but they've got the skill kids.”
The positive for Geneseo, the coach said, “was our guys played hard,” he said. “They left it all on the field.”
“It was a tough start for us,” Johnsen said. Geneseo came out throwing on the game's first play from scrimmage. It was a sideline pass, and IC Catholic's Joey Gliatta intercepted at Geneseo's 16-yard line.
On first down, Gliatta ran under a touchdown pass from quarterback Dennis Mandala, and it was 7-0 just 11 seconds into the game.
The Leafs went three-and-out, then Mandala threw a 43-yard touchdown pass, and Geneseo was in a 14-0 hole at the 7:57 mark of the first quarter.
“We came back and got some points,” Johnsen said. “But ultimately their athletes took over the game. They reminded me of Quincy in the way they kept taking shots.”
What Geneseo wanted to do coming into this game the Leafs did on their third possession.
It was a 72-yard drive that took 8:03 off the clock, ended with a score, and cut ICC's lead to 14-6. Junior running back Kolten Schmoll-Burton gave it fuel with some slashing runs into the heart of the Knights' defense.
Quarterback AJ Weller kept the drive alive with a 14-yard scramble on a fourth down and 12 play. Weller got the touchdown on a play from the 11 where he got the Knights to bite on a hard fake to the left, then rolled around an open right side for the score.
“After we stumbled, we settled down some,” Johnsen said.
But a 77-yard, 11-play drive put ICC up 21-6 at halftime.
Running backs Aaron Harvey (#5) and Gliatta (#33) provided the speed and power, respectively.
It was more of the same in the second half, with quarterback Mandala throwing in passes to Iowa recruit K.J. Parker (#14).
“We contested them, but the law of averages says a team with their talent is going to make big plays,” Johnsen said.
So, a Geneseo team that started fast had a tough back end of its season and finished at 6-4.
“We were inches away from being 8-1 heading into the playoffs,” Johnsen said.
“Quincy was better than us,” Johnsen said. The Leaf coach thought Rock Island could have been a win. But, it got away.
And then, there was Sterling. “That was a really emotional loss for us,” said Johnsen.
Geneseo said goodbye to 21 seniors, who gave the Leafs an experienced and physical bunch with which to battle WB6 opponents.
“Off-seasons are huge,” Johnsen said. “Bodies change over the winter and into the spring.”
“We have a smattering of experience coming back, and that's something,” he said. “We're in a bit of a cycle now where our numbers are down. Depth will be a concern for us.”
“We did work in a number of younger guys this season, especially on defense. But we're losing a big batch, and that will be hard for us.”
Scheduling will be important for the Leafs. “Right now, we don't have our first two games set,” he said. Will Alleman be back? “We're not sure yet,” Geneseo's coach said. “If not, that's another date to fill, right between Sterling and Quincy.”
Life in high school football is about change and adaptation. The Leafs will head into the trainer's room with their future in front of them and the reality that they can control their end of that.