By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
The Big-Eaters Up Front Are Plowing the Row!
For some of us, watching Geneseo engulf and devour UTHS 55-21 was a trip back in time.
The Leafs' space eaters up front went forward, and the UTHS linemen went back. Or down. On both sides of the ball.
“The guys did a really good job,” Coach Larry Johnsen Jr. said.
Johnsen said he wanted to see his team score on every possession.
How about eight possessions, eight touchdowns? The Leafs did that. (They had a ninth possession, with reserves driving against reserves, and time expired).
“I thought both of our lines controlled,” Johnsen said. Numbers bear that out: Geneseo ran 69 plays, to UT's 42.
And check this one out: 416 yards of rushing by the Leafs, on 60 carries. Including all 8 touchdowns.
Geneseo runs a number of substitutes into both lines. “We want to keep fresh legs in there,” Johnsen said.
When was the last time a Geneseo varsity team put up those kind of numbers on the ground?
Quarterback AJ Weller added 106 passing yards, to it, so that totals out to 522 total yards by the Leafs.
UT gained 334 and that's a lot for a team on the short end of the score. But, it was a tribute to the skills of quarterback Matthew Kelley, who hit Geneseo with three masterful plays.
“UT has an experienced offensive line,” Johnsen said, “and Kelley and his receiver, Korey Randle, made some fantastic plays.”
One of those plays put the Panthers up 7-0 early, the first time in this 4-0 season that Geneseo has trailed.
There was no panic, as the Leafs quickly answered with 7.
“I was looking for a letdown, after a big win (Moline), but we didn't get that, and that is a good sign,” Johnsen said.
“We're doing things we haven't been able to do in the recent past,” Johnsen said. “But remember, we're playing with older kids this year. And they have some abilities.”
“Our backs ran hard, too,” Johnsen said.
Weller gained 192 yards on 18 carries including six touchdown runs as the Leafs hammered UT with quarterback sweeps. “AJ has good instincts,” Johnsen said.
The Leafs ran inside to set up the outside stuff. Running back Jeron Neal gained 125 yards on 18 carries, one for a score. He was complemented by Joshua Steines, who added 65 yards with 14 runs. “Those two really complement each other,” Johnsen said.
Kolten Schmoll-Burton continues to split seams on his carries.
“Our inside running game forced UT to make some adjustments, with their backs having to come up to make more plays,” Johnsen said. Geneseo then hurt UT with Weller's quarterback sweeps.
This week: Galesburg
Friday night, the Leafs visit 1-3 Galesburg and the same message applies: Dominate up front. “We have to control both lines, tempo and limit their possessions,” Johnsen said.
“They have some nice players. They're young, it's their homecoming, and we better be ready for a test on the road,” Geneseo's coach said.
“They have three guys who are electricity in a bottle,” Johnsen said.
After beating Limestone 41-7, the Silver Streaks were buzzed 53-14 by a very good Dunlap team. They then lost 35-14 to Indian Lake of Trafalgar, Ind., then 45-14 last week to Sterling.
Defense has been a problem for the Streaks, who were 3-6 last year. A Sterling reporter's research revealed that all three wins came against opponents that finished with one win each.
Galesburg was 0-5 against playoff-bound teams, and during a 1-5 stretch, the defense yielded a minimum of five touchdowns per game.
Running back Amarie Richardson and quarterback Gino Williams have some quick feet, as does defensive back Markis Lewis. The Streaks also have a defensive lineman who is said to be a college prospect.
Oh, one more thing: Geneseo's kickoff coverage gradually improved during the UTHS game. “If you can't kick it to the end zone, at least kick it high,” Johnsen said, “so that your defense can run down and make a play.”
“Little things,” Johnsen said, “lead to big things.”