By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
Leafs get a “re-do” - in the playoffs!
The Rock Island game? “Really disapointing,” for the players,” said Geneseo coach Larry Johnsen Jr., “and frustrating” for the coaches,” he said. But that game also is ancient history.
Well, it had better be, because Johnsen, the coaches and the Maple Leafs have a playoff game to prepare for. So much to do, so little time. . .
Well, the time factor will be a little different, because the game against IC Catholic Prep doesn't start until 5 p.m. Saturday in Elmhurst.
“We do have that extra day to prepare,” Johnsen said. “It's an extra day of recovery. If gives us time to get things done and to get us fresh for Saturday,” he said.
The coach said preparation for a playoff game is different, “because all of our focus in on one game,” Johnsen said. “During the regular season, you're also thinking about future games.”
“It's more efficient, because we'll only work on one facet at a time, offense or defense. And we'll have the entire coaching staff watching both units, and they can observe and suggest things,” said the coach.
“We'll have to be careful to balance work and rest.”
Geneseo (6-3) was the second-largest enrollment school to make it into Class 4A. The Leafs drew the number 10 seed in the northern bracket. The Knights are number 7. “They are a tough draw for us, that's for sure,” Johnsen said.
The Knights are 7-2. “Playoffs are all about match-ups,” Johnsen said.
“The first two rounds are kind of a weeding out process,” he said.
The Knights have a “wide-open offense,” Johnsen said. “They have a lot of good athletes and they're really explosive.”
“They play a really good schedule. They have multiple skill position players, who have drawn the attention of Texas A & M and Iowa,” the Geneseo coach said.
“We'll try to keep the ball; that's our chance. We'll want to limit their touches and force turnovers.”
“They usually show a 4-3 defense, but it depends on what we do,” the coach added.
IC Catholic Prep is a school of 320 students, according to a story in The Chicago Tribune. The IHSA has inflated that enrollment to to 608.3 for playoff class purposes.
The school draws students from 40 communities, the story said.
The Knights won the state championship in Class 3A last year.
You may recall this school when it was called Elmhurst Immaculate Conception. Geneseo beat the Knights 21-16 in the Class 3A quarterfinals. The Leafs went on win their third consecutive state title with a 13-0 record.
This year's Knights score 34 points and game and yield 19. Geneseo scores 32 and yields 13, but remember, they're opponents from opposite sides of the state.
Knights quarterback Dennis Mandala (5-10, 165) has completed 90 of 138 passes for 11 touchdowns. Joey Gliatta (5-10, 175) has rushed for 1,056 yards, a 10-yard average and 17 touchdowns.
Four receivers have yardage totals ranging from 212 to 611 yards.
Against Rock Island, the Leafs again started fast on their opening drive. But Rock Island started getting stops using a similar stunt/blitz package that led to Geneseo losses to Sterling and Quincy.
The Leafs came out aggressive and physical on defense and forced a fumble Owen Skovronski recovered in the red zone. The Leafs had to settle for a field goal on that one and had another close approach, but no touchdown.
“Defensively, we played pretty well,” Johnsen said. “Offensively, there were several times we were a block away, maybe two, from making big plays.”
Late in the game, with the lead, the Rocks showed good clock management in doing what Geneseo wants to do – keep the ball away from the opposing offense.
Regarding Saturday, Johnsen said, “everybody has to be 'on.'”