Green Machine BRAKEdown - Week 9

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Quincy! Then, Time to Crank Up for Playoffs!

Here we are again, just ahead of the last regular season game – already in the playoffs – and now trying to win a seventh game in an effort to try and improve our seeding, which probably isn't bad to start.

Geneseo is 5-1 in the Western Big Six football race, alone in second place behind Moline (6-0 WB6), which has clinched a share of the league championship.

Beat Quincy Friday night at Flinn Memorial Stadium in Quincy and it's a guaranteed second place finish behind Moline in the conference race.

Not bad, Leafs! Not bad at all.

Leaf Coach Matt Furlong thinks that might be good enough to earn a home game in the playoff opener.

That would be even better!

Lose to Quincy, and it's likely a second place tie with two teams, but possibly a second round home game, if Geneseo gets that far.

Furlong said he believes Geneseo will remain in Class 4A.

We'll take it!

Quincy is not the multi-talented outfit it has been the last three years.

“But it's still a very good high school football team,” Furlong said. “But they sent six or seven kids to Division One programs. That many can impact every position in their lineup.”

“Their quarterback is more committed to the running game, but last year's QB (the coach's son) was so good throwing they almost didn't have to run,” Furlong said.

When they did run, they were very, very explosive.

“They do have good size in both lines,” the coach said.

“They run pretty much the same stuff, with some alterations figuring in because of physical limitations,” he said.

“We have to play in control,” said Geneseo's coach. “Our offense must stay ahead of the chains. Going down there to play is a challenge.”

Geneseo has beaten Quincy twice in eight tries. The first was 33-7 in 1987 when Quincy filled in for a Chicago team on the Geneseo schedule that couldn't come because of a teacher's strike.

The second win was 42-7 in 2021 after the Leafs had joined the WB6.

Sterling beat Quincy 38-17 last week, putting the Warriors back in contention for a piece of second place. “I wasn't surprised Sterling won,” Furlong said. “But I was surprised by the score. Sterling really got its offense in gear after halftime.”

Furlong said the week off helped the Leafs to rest and heal up some aches and pains. “Overall, our health is pretty good,” the coach said.

Geneseo hosted a Freshman/Junior Varsity game (which the Leafs won) – and did Senior Night and Hall of Fame introductions.

The crowd was big and many stayed around post-game for fireworks.

“We made the most of an unfortunate situation,” Furlong said. “We took advantage of a rest. A lot of good things came out of it.”

Green Machine BRAKEdown - Week 8

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Geneseo had just beaten Sterling 31-10, and it was BIG!  

You could tell by the body language of the Maple Leafs football players, during and especially after the game. All positive . . . forward, like the slash on the Buffalo Bills' helmets. 

They were airborne! Never mind their ground-bound reputation. They positively flew over to their victory bell to officially open the celebration. 

“It was an exciting night,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong. “I'm so proud of these kids and coaches.” 

“On defense we played to the level we thought we could. We didn't allow a defensive touchdown,” Furlong said.  

Sterling's TD came on a kickoff return. The other points were from a field goal. This from a Sterling team averaging a bit over 35 points a game coming in. But it also was an offense without a senior among the starters. 

“Our offensive staff spent a lot of time breaking things down. The guys absorbed a lot, but really it was a matter of the guys just going out and executing,” he said. 

“The atmosphere was fantastic. It was playoff game energy!” 

While we're on that subject, the win was Geneseo's fifth of the season, which makes them playoff eligible. Should the Leafs win one or both remaining regular season games, it will enhance their seeding in post-season play. 

But Friday's win was about more than playoffs. It was about at least a possible reversal of what Sterling started doing to Geneseo in 2015, beating the Leafs, often in one-sided fashion. 

Geneseo's last win over Sterling was in 2014. They didn't play in 2020, but Sterling's win streak over the Leafs stood at nine games when they teed it up last week. 

That's a lot of frustration and hurt pride building up against the dam. 

It's true the Leafs came up with a few different looks for Sterling, on both sides of the football, on Friday. 

“But, it came down to trusting the guy next to you,” Furlong said. “Our coaches and seniors have been 'bought in' for a while. But we took another major step with that win,” said the coach. 

“We even are starting to get that 'buy-in at younger levels,” Furlong said. “Our seniors have been passing it on to our four ball boys. And I couldn't help notice how excited they all were.” 

Remember, those younger boys haven't been around long enough to hear a big adult crowd really roar. Well, they have now and they want more! So do the rest of us. 

“Things are going in the right direction,” Furlong said. 

The exclamation point Friday was when Geneseo fullback Mark Nelms scored a touchdown – mostly untouched – from about 12 yards out on a fullback smash. 

Even that had meeting in this rivalry. 

Students and community members ran out to the victory bell to share the moment with Geneseo's players. And they stayed for a time. Furlong said he spotted former Leaf great Wayne Strader carrying his “beat Sterling!” sign by the bell. 

“I'll bet it was 45 minutes to an hour before people started wanting to leave,” Furlong said.  

People want to make good times last, especially during these uncertain times. 

ALLEMAN GAME – At the time of this writing, the status of Friday's Alleman game was uncertain. Tentatively, as of this Sunday night writing the game is on. Alleman had just 11 players healthy for Moline and forfeited last week's scheduled game. 

However, several Pioneers were on injury protocol and will play if they get clearance – which we may learn on Monday.

Green Machine: BRAKEdown - Week 7

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Leafs Want to Kick-Start an Old Rivalry

Here we are, deep in the 2025 football season, and once again the Geneseo-Sterling game this Friday night is important.  

This year, the Maple Leafs, the Golden Warriors and the Quincy Blue Devils are gathered around second place in the Western Big Six race. 

“We're all 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong. “That Moline (4-0 vs. the league) is leading at this point isn't surprising,” he said. 

“But these last three weeks will be interesting,” Furlong said. 

Since Geneseo and Sterling joined the conference the same year, the Leafs have beaten everyone in the conference at least once . . . except Sterling. 

“I've been made aware of that,” the coach said. 

If one team wins all the games over a decade, it becomes a series, not a rivalry. Series are well, just not as much fun. 

But, the last two years, the Geneseo-Sterling games have been close. 

“Sterling has a younger group,” Furlong said. “They have been developing an identity and now, after playing a lot of guys, they're stepping into their roles.” 

A key to beating Geneseo the last 10 years for Sterling has been an aggressive defense. “They take chances,” Furlong said. “That does make them vulnerable to the big play.” 

Geneseo just hasn't hit enough of those against the Warriors to pound the ball and pile up points. Both teams like to control the game and in recent years Sterling has been better at that. 

There will be plenty of pomp and circumstance being served up with this game. 

It's Homecoming and Hall of Fame Night. 

The Hall of Fame ceremonies will come between the freshman and varsity games. Homecoming activities will be during halftime of the varsity contest. 

During last Friday's 38-20 Geneseo win at Galesburg, the first Leafs' touchdown was like a blast from the past. 

It was a pitch sweep to the left, and quarterback Jackson McAvoy's pitch to tailback Harrison Hill was a rocket and right on target. You could see Hill's body language light up because his Leaf blockers arrived at the edge they were about to set before the defenders got there. 

Hill hit the jets and rambled 62 yards for the touchdown. It looked like vintage Green Machine. 

Galesburg got its offense rolling a bit in the second half, but the Leafs stayed out of harm's way by doing some heavy duty grinding on the Streak's forward wall on defense. 

Geneseo rushed for 368 yards. Wow! Sounds from the 70s! 

Galesburg made a few plays, but when needed, Geneseo leaned on those big eaters up front to plow the row and EARN their victory the old-fashioned way. 

“Yes, we're better,” Furlong said. “The big difference from last year is our guys are self-adjusting on the field to any changes in blocking schemes our opponents use,” he said. 

It was good to see Geneseo score its final touchdown. A 38-20 final score has a more authoritative sound than 31-20, don't you think? It's sometimes called putting away a game. 

The Leaf freshmen beat Galesburg 40-0, and they continue to play very well.

Green Machine BRAKEdown: Week 6

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

It had been a while since I heard a war-hoop rise up from the Geneseo side of Bob Reade Field that was comparable to the one that roared over the soccer fields and out to wake up chickens over north of Atkinson.

The Green Machine, down 33-28 with 1:27 left to go after yielding a late touchdown to United Township, watched UT players celebrate their go ahead score – and draw a penalty for it -while Geneseo's coaches contemplated what plays to use.

Fast forward...with 40 seconds left and the ball still out there near the UT 40, Geneseo sent senior tight end Carter Holke deep down the right side.

There was some bumping taking place, and quarterback Jackson McAvoy's pass went up there . . .way up there. “I thought it would never come down,” said Maple Leafs Coach Matt Furlong.

It did, Holke surrounded it, and caught it. At or near UT's 10-yard line.

Next play: A pitch that sailed behind running back Harrison Hill and lost 15 yards.

Next play: “A throwback, to Carter,” said Furlong. It really was our third option.”

But Holke had slid past the left side of the Panther defense and was by himself, alone. He caught the football, turned around and took one step, maybe two, into the end zone.

Now it's 34-33, Leafs. Kye Weinzierl ran it for two points and got in easily. 36-33, with 22 seconds left.

The kickoff was downed inside UT's 25. Two incompletions followed, then Weinzierl sacked the quarterback near the goal line to end certainly the game of the year, so far, for Geneseo.

It was played hard, and clean, and was a treat compared with some of the games we've seen since Geneseo joined the Western Big Six.

“That was a win that could help us in a lot of ways,” Furlong said.

Like the playoffs, the conference race, and maybe more important things, said Geneseo's second-year coach.

“UT had been picked by the coaches to win the conference this year,” Furlong said.

“But our guys handled adversity better than they have been,” said the coach.

“Our mindset is improving and I'm including the coaches on that,” Furlong said. “They're all getting a better understanding of what we're trying to do.”

“Like on that last series, when we had a short field to defend, the kids saw that our coaches had kept their composure. That helps the boys' confidence level.”

“UT is really on the rise,” Furlong praised. “Their talent is a good as any in the conference.”

So this Friday the Leafs play at Galesburg, which is 2-3 overall and 1-2 against the league.

Geneseo, 3-2 overall and in second place in the WB6, will face off against a Silver Streaks team that is a mix of seniors and sophomores. “They will run some of what other teams in the conference run,” Furlong said. “We have to pick up on their schemes.”

NOTES: Geneseo ran 71 plays to 50 by UT; The Leafs outgained the Panthers 369 to 302; Geneseo won the first down battle 21-17, and on third downs it was 7-11 for Geneseo, to 1-5 for UT.

Green Machine: BRAKEdown - Week 5

Moline Was Really Good. UTHS Could Be.

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Since Geneseo joined the WB6 a few years ago, we've come to expect a free-flowing fusillade of points when the Panthers square off against the Maple Leafs.

Geneseo and UT are old neighbors. They get excited about playing each other.

UT has been steadily improving the last several years, and after a 3-0 start, Panther fans were starting to talk about being a playoff team this year.

That's still on the table, for both teams. But the sense of urgency on making improvements is a little more prominent now. Geneseo already has two losses. UT has one, after riding under a low bridge against Sterling last week.

The Panthers were up 21-3 in the first half, but mistakes happened. Sterling scored 33 straight points, and ran off with a 49-28 win.

“They'll run a spread on offense,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong about UT. “They have a very talented sophomore quarterback and a good running back they like to get the ball to out in space.”

That sounds something like Moline, but maybe not quite like the Maroons, who passed the ball out to a rangy tight end one time, ran it off tackle with a quick, balanced runner the next. All of this behind a collegiate-size offensive line that employed three different blocking schemes.

Moline beat Geneseo 28-7 last week.

On defense, Moline didn't miss many open field tackles. They also messed up quarterback exchanges with Geneseo's backs. “We improved on that some in the second half,” Furlong said. “All of that is a lot for an offense to absorb and execute, but you can imagine how hard that is for the defense,” he said.

“That's the best Moline team in a few years,” Furlong said, with some emphasis.

“We studied film on Saturday to start preparation for UT,” the coach added. “We had three good weeks of practices prior to Moline, but we were not as sharp last week, for some reason.”

“This week, our focus will be to apply what we've learned.”

If not?

“We can't replicate some of the speed and ability we'll be facing,” Furlong said.

Sounds like trouble might be just ahead.

But the little things you learn along the way – the details - can more than make the difference – if you apply them.

For years, Geneseo teams have written their proud history by doing just that. Their 45-10 win over Rock Island a couple weeks ago was their 700th win in program history. That's a lot of details, absorbed and applied.

Green Machine BRAKEdown – Week 4

Leafs Expect to be Challenged by Moline

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Moline, Quincy and Geneseo.

It's nice to see Geneseo up there tied for the lead with the two largest schools in the Western Big Six after one week of league play.

Now, the Maple Leafs take on one of them when they head over to Browning Field in Moline on Friday evening, Sept. 19.

This isn't a big unknown for Geneseo's players, who start competing against the Maroons in junior high school.

“They're (Moline) very good,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong. “They started their season against three good opponents.”

Moline, like Geneseo, is 2-1. The Maroons opened with a 30-24 loss to Rockwood Summit, of Fenton, Mo., a traditional power in Missouri.

Then Moliine got a win over Sycamore, an old Geneseo rival from the 70s and now an established power in Illinois Class 5A. Sycamore scored a touchdown late, getting to within one point at 21-20.

The Spartans went for a two-point conversion and the win.

Moline stopped it.

Then last week, the Maroons were 36-20 winners over Sterling as WB6 play began.

“We'll be challenged,” Furlong said.

“Moline has a rangy sophomore quarterback,” said Furlong. “We'll see some spread stuff. But they’re solid running the ball, too.”

“Defensively, they're big up front and aggressive,” said Geneseo's coach. “They like to play downhill, so we'll mix in some counter action and our passing game.”

Rochelle's domination (41-14) of the Leafs in Week 1 knocked Furlong and his staff off balance for a bit.

“Well, we were certainly not at our best,” Geneseo's coach said.

But the Leafs were in control in wins over Assumption and Rock Island “We have good physicality now. We're finishing blocks and tackles.”

“Our quarterback, Jackson McAvoy, has developed more understanding of what this offense is trying to do, and our backs are blocking for each other,” Furlong added.

“I'm happy with where we're at,” Geneseo's coach said. “We're putting things together. Also during the summer we developed good senior leadership.”

“We have a good foundation, but now we have to build quick.”

NEW TURF – Fans will note something new at Browning Field . . .an artificial playing surface. Now, all Western Big 6 stadiums sport that feature.

BRAKEdown - Week 3

Can Leafs, Rocks continue histories? 

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

 

As a kid, I grew up in Rock Island and along the way became quite a sports fan. Mostly high school football and basketball. Also softball and, when it came along, girls high school basketball.

I read Murray and Nolan Hurt in The Argus and Paul Carlson in The Dispatch and listened to Don Sharp on WHBF. 

Well, didn't we all? 

I remember a crisp fall evening in Public Schools Stadium, when Rocky quarterback Steve Wilson was lighting up the gridiron with dimes dropped on flanker Bryan Crompton and wide receiver Al Bream. 

I marveled at how fast they could take the Rocks down the field. 

Later, our family moved to Geneseo and I wondered how bored I might be watching a team “that couldn't throw” the football. 

My first Geneseo game as a fan came about this time of year, when big, bad Rochelle came to town – and dazzled us with their power show. Fullback smash, off-tackle right. More of same. Then repeat. 

But anything but boring. A Geneseo defensive player years later told me “I saw that sweep coming right at me and next thing I knew I was spitting out a couple teeth.” 

Rochelle won that game, 18-13. The student sections which met behind the south goal posts were out shaking hands with, and not fists at, the other side. 

Those were the days. And the games. 

Jump ahead a few years. Geneseo's “Green Machine” had been born, that night against Rochelle went unbeaten in their next 52 games before losing another one. A local, regional and state institution was born and the problem now was how to keep feeding it. 

But all this time, the state's 10th and 12th-winningest football progams – Geneseo and Rock Island – have been just a few wins apart, and they still are. 

They haven't faced each other very often. That's because the schools have tended to be near the top (Rock Island) or lower (Geneseo) on the enrollment ladder. 

But cities have grown and both schools are closer to the middle of the spread now. 

They find themselves in the same WB6 Conference, and playing each other every fall. 

Rock Island has had a rough start this season but one thing I expect will continue: If Rock Island can get the ball out in space to its speed people and; if Geneseo can stay disciplined with its blocking and tackling, this should remain an exciting and unpredictable series between two schools who have done their thing well for a long, long time.  

And I am glad I have lived to see it happen!

2025 GMS Fall Sports Schedules & Scores

2025 Geneseo Middle School Fall Sports Schedules & Scores
Home Games/Meets In Bold - Schedules Subject To Change

Softball - Home Games At J.F. Edwards Complex

08/06: GMS 12 Mercer County 9
08/07: GMS 6 Logan 0
08/09: GMS 7 East Peoria Central 2
08/12: GMS 9 Ridgewood 0
08/16: GMS 10 Canton 9
08/19: GMS 18 Kewanee Central 1
08/23: GMS 14 Morris Saratoga 1
08/26: GMS 18 West Central 1
08/27: GMS 13 Ottawa Shepperd 1
09/06: GMS 15 Brimfield 5
09/10: Dunlap Valley 8 GMS 3 (Regional Semifinal)
Season Complete (Final Record: 10-1)

Golf - Home Meets At Geneseo Country Club

08/14: at Washington/Edison (Team Scores Not Kept)
Top GMS Boys Scores: Brandton Spensley (27/7 holes) & Trace Hager (32/8 holes)
Top GMS Girls Scores: Hadley Abbott 42/8 holes) & Avery Wilshusen 42/8 holes)

08/20: vs Washington/Edison (Team Scores Not Kept)
Top GMS Boys Score: Trace Hager (36 / 8 holes)
Top GMS Girls Score: Hadley Abbot (36 / 7 holes)

08/25 - 4:30: vs Galesburg Costa (Team Scores Not Kept)
Top GMS Boys Score: Brandton Spensley (41 / 9 holes)
Top GMS Girls Score: Hadley Abbott 44 (7 holes) & Sophia Pollock 44 (6 holes)

08/28 : Galesburg Costa (Team Scores Not Kept)
Top GMS Girls Score: Hadley Abbott (45 / 8 holes / 3rd overall)
Top GMS Boys Score: Trace Hager (38 / 8 holes / 3rd overall)

09/03: IESA Boys Sectional
13th: Trace Hager (87)
35th: Zak O'Dell (102)
66th: Brandton Spensley (134)
Boys Season Complete

09/04: IESA Girls Sectional
6th: Hadley Abbott (97 - State Qualifier)
22nd: Avery Wilshusen (118)

09/11: IESA State Finals
Hadley Abbot Finished Tied For 19th (92 / +21)
Season Complete

Cross Country - Home Meets At Richmond Hill

08/19: GHS/GMS Rust Buster (Exhibition)

08/27: Moline Middle School Invite
6th Grade Boys - 2nd Place
6th Grade Girls - 1st Place
7th Grade Boys - 3rd Place
7th Grade Girls - 3rd Place
8th Grade Boys - 1st Place
8th Grade Girls - No Place (4 Runners)

09/03: GMS Invite
6th Grade Boys - 3rd Place
6th Grade Girls - 1st Place
7th Grade Boys - 5th Place
7th Grade Girls - No Place (2 Runners)
8th Grade Boys - 1st Place
8th Grade Girls - 3rd Place

09/05: Pleasant Valley Challenge
Boys - 2nd Place
Girls - 8th Place

09/10: Glenview Invite
7th Grade Boys - 1st Place

09/11: Ye Old Berserker
Boys - 1st Place
Girls - 3rd Place

09/15: Pioneer Pacers Invite (No Results)
09/16: Erie-Prophetstown (No Results)

09/23: Edison Rock Island Invite
Boys - 1st Place (1st In Open Division)
Girls - 1st Place (2nd In Open Division)

09/26: Dunlap Invite
Boys - 3rd Place
Girls - 18th Place

10/01: Heartland Conference Championship
Boys - 1st Place (1st In Open Division)
Girls - 1st Place (2nd In Open Division)

10/11: Sectionals
Boys - 1st Place (Advance To State Finals)
Girls - 5th Place (Season Complete

10/18 - 1:00: IESA State Championship (Maxwell Park - Normal)
Good Luck GMS Boys!

Football - Home Games At Old Athletic Field

08/27: Wilson 32 GMS 30
09/03: GMS 50 Edison 0
09/10: Glenview 22 GMS 14
09/17: GMS 36 Jr. Pioneers 34
09/24: GMS 14 Washington 14
10/02: GMS 1 John Deere 0 (forfeit)
10/09: GMS 24 Galesburg 6
Season Complete (Final Record: 4-2-1)

Volleyball - Home Games At GMS

 

Green
08/28
8th Grade: Sterling Challand 2 GMS 0 (25-7, 27-25)
7th Grade: Sterling Challand 2 GMS 0(25-18, 25-9)

09/03
8th Grade: Edison 2 GMS 1 (21-25, 25-15, 15-5)
7th Grade: GMS 2 Edison 1 (21-25, 25-16, 15-9)

09/15 - 4:00: vs Glenview
09/17 - 4:00: at Morrison (Morrison Jr. High School)
09/18 - 4:00: at Fulton (Riverbend Middle School)
09/22 - 4:00: vs Riverdale
09/23 - 4:00: vs Washington
09/24 - 4:00: at Colona (Colona School)
09/25 - 4:00: vs Wilson
10/02 - 4:00: at John Deere (John Deere Middle School)
10/08 - 4:00: at Seton (Seton Catholic School)
10/09 - 4:00: at Jordan (Jordan Catholic School)
10/13 - 5:00: vs White (GHS)

White
08/25
7th Grade: Erie 2 GMS 1 (19-25, 25-27, 15-9)
8th Grade: GMS 2 Erie 1 (15-25, 25-9, 15-10)

09/02
8th Grade: Wilson 2 GMS 1 (25-10, 25-17, 15-10)
7th Grade: GMS 2 Wilson 1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-21)

09/03
8th Grade: Colona 2 GMS 0 (25-13, 25-13)
7th Grade: GMS 2 Colona 1 (25-15, 25-20, 11-15)

09/09
8th Grade: GMS 3 John Deere 0 (25-21, 25-23, 15-9)
7th Grade: John Deere 2 GMS 1 (25-12, 20-25, 15-8)

09/15 - 4:00: at Riverdale (Riverdale Jr. High School)
09/17 - 4:00: at Rock Falls (Rock Falls Middle School)
09/18 - 4:00: vs Jordan
09/22 - 4:00: at Glenview (Glenview Middle School)
09/24 - 4:00: at Washington (Washington Jr. High School)
09/29 - 4:00: vs Edison
10/02 - 4:00: at Sterling (Challand Middle School)
10/06 - 4:00: vs Seton
10/13 - 5:30: vs Green (GHS)

BRAKEdown - Week 2

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Find the horse, saddle back up, and move on 

There has been some enthusiasm in the two communities prior to Friday night's Geneseo vs. Assumption battle at Bob Reade Field. 

Both teams stirred up that excitement with their improvements heading into the final weeks of last season. 

The Maple Leafs carried a “we belong here” attitude into their two playoff games. 

It was the same with Assumption, which put things together before falling to Iowa Class 3A champion Dubuque Wahlert in the quarterfinals. 

Then came last week and a low bridge for both. 

For the Knights, it was a 36-13 loss at Solon, a traditional eastern Iowa power. 

For the Leafs, it was a 41-14 humbling at the hands of Rochelle, an old rival from NCIC Conference days. 

Whoever wins between Geneseo and Assumption will get credit for a major emotional comeback in just one week. 

The Maple Leafs will be looking for exactly that as they swing into Western Big 6 play against Rock Island and Moline the next two weeks. 

We saw Geneseo's scrimmage against Pleasant Valley before the season started, and the Leafs looked pretty sharp in drills against the Spartans.  

Both teams were organized beyond what they had been when Geneseo and PV scrimmaged last season. 

We expected to see two tough lines run into each other and we did, but the Leafs moved the ball quite a bit better than last year.  

Then, Pleasant Valley beat Bettendorf when they met in their season-opener on Saturday morning. 

For Geneseo, Rochelle was . . .Rochelle+plus. If you can imagine Team X playing a Geneseo team from the 70's, that's about what it looked like.  

Rochelle plays in Class 5A now and they made it to the quarterfinals last season. 

You can expect the Hubs to make another deep run this season. They're air-tight up front, their backs are precise and hit their holes very quickly. 

But it was not a complete wash-out for the Leafs. Geneseo's offense improved as the game went on. The Leafs generated 200 yards rushing, which isn't bad considering Rochelle had just over 300.  

That tells me Rochelle was playing against another pretty good team. 

It also tells me that Geneseo aspires to be good and the kind of effort that they put into that will determine it. 

Things can work out. Geneseo isn't far removed now from playing in Class 5. The Leafs could meet Rochelle again, and they'll want to be ready . . .

Friday's game? Expect a mix of pass and run from Assumption. 

Geneseo takes its snaps from under center, and is run-first, but not run-only.

2025 Green Machine Rosters

Good Luck Green Machine!

Varsity
1: Ian McShane (10 - 5'9 - 140 - RB/DB)
2: Ethan Galloway (11 - 5'9 - 169 - QB/DB)
3: Jack Mickley (11 - 6'1 - 167 - RB/DB)
4: Kye Weinzierl (12 - 6'1 - 191 - RB/LB)
5: Lincoln Barnett (12 - 5'10 - 156 - RB/DB)
6: Cyrus Babcock (10 - 6'0 - 166 - TE/LB)
7: Brennan Lambin (12 - 6'2 - 202 - TE/DL)
8: Landen Vincent (10 - 5'8 - 148 - FB/DB)
9: Carson Peters (11 - 5'9 - 160 - SE/DB)
10: Jayden Wexell (11 - 5'10 - 135 - RB/DB)
12: Luca Turigliatti (10 - 6'0 - 160 - QB/DB)
14: Jackson McAvoy (12 - 6'0 - 174 - QB/DB)
15: Quin Nichols (10 - 5'8 - 144 - QB/DB)
16: Quinn VanHyfte (12 - 5'10 - 172 - RB/LB)
17: Hayden Schaaf (12 - 5'10 - 168 - TE/LB)
18: Isaiah Melton (10 - 5'11 - 140 - RB/DB)
19: Kie Smith (11 - 6'0 - 163 - TE/LB)
20: Micah Nicke (10 - 5'11 - 160 - RB/DB)
21: Payton Hofer (12 - 5'9 - 163 - FB/LB)
22: Braxton Carlson (11 - 5'10 - 156 - SE/DB)
23: Nick Vyas (12 - 5'9 - 157 - SE/DB)
24: Harrison Hill (10 - 5'8 - 181 - RB/LB)
25: Keaton Ariano (11 - 6'0 - 198 - RB/DB)

26: Brayden Cox (10 - 5'9 - 160 - RB/DB)
27: Mark Nelms (11 - 5'9 - 185 - FB/LB)
28: Carter Holke (12 - 5'11 - 190 - TE/LB)
29: Mayson Lambin (10 - 5'11 - 195 - TE/LB)
30: Grant Bomleny (12 - 6'0 - 176 - FB/LB)
31: Aiden Hawkins (10 - 5'11 - 155 - TE/DB)
33: Ben Simosky (9 - 5'10 - 187 - FB/LB)
36: Cedrick Kehoe (12 - 5'10 - 147 - SE/DB)
37: Jordan Ramirez (12 - 5'11 - 148 - SE/DB)
39: Dawson Hull (10 - 5'9 - 159 - TE/LB)
43: Bryce Diehl (10 - 5'8 - 145 - RB/LB)
44: Nolan Burton (10 - 5'8 - 135 - FB/LB)
45: Grady Hull (12 - 5'11 - 165 - RB/LB)
52: Freddy Jimenez (12 - 5'9 - 192 - OL/DL)
53: Erik Bjorkman (11 - 5'10 - 215 - OL/DL)
54: Ethan Leetch (10 - 5'8 - 190 - OL/DL)
55: Colten Mooney (11 - 5'11 - 215 - OL/DL)
56: Evan Sundeen (12 - 5'10 - 248 - OL/DL)
57: Daniel Medrano (11 - 5'9 - 224 - OL/DL)
58: Joshua Stahl (11 - 6'2 - 274 - OL/DL)
60: Landon Rogers (11 - 5'9 - 226 - OL/DL)
62: Taefyl Freeman (11 - 6'0 - 193 - OL/DL)
65: Ethan Brown (11 - 6'2 - 220 - OL/DL)
71: Jaydn Shipman (10 - 6'1 - 285 - OL/DL)
73: Malachi Troester (10 - 5'9 - 205 - OL/DL)
74: Landon Barnett (10 - 5'6 - 205 - OL/DL)
75: Flynn Arnett (11 - 5'8 - 220 - OL/DL)
76: Wyatt Neumann (12 - 6'2 - 218 - OL/DL)
77: Kenny Weber (10 - 5'10 - 227 - OL/DL)

Head Coach: Matt Furlong
Assistant Coaches: Bob Thomas, Brian Hofer, Mike Harrington, Brad Monier, Carl Freeman, Nick Verbeck, John Kroener, Jeremy Mosier, Nate Ackert, Mitch Munda, & Matt Simosky
Trainer: Matt Kelly
Strength & Conditioning: Angelo James
Assistant Trainers: Bella Bailey ,Zara Anderson, Graycn DeShane, & Jordyn Miller
Ball Boys: Lincoln Babcock, Bryant Furlong, & James Kroener

Freshmen
 2: Jack Snook
 3: Martez Sefton
 5: Wyatt Mickley
 7: Jett Znamenacek
10: Owen Jacobi
11: Callen Black
12: Kayden Rusk
14: Tad Moore
16: William Henry
17: Eli Cotty
19: Kasen Mosier
22: Matthew Krause
24: Cameron Proehl
25: Ben Schnowske
27: Emmett Hill
33: Ben Simosky
37: Davin Deboef
38: JW Seals
44: James Mackenzie
51: Owen Pollock
54: Adam Sneed
57: Kellan Miller
64: Alex Darnall
66: KaVon Kimmins
69: Easton Hornback
79: Sawyer Fortsythe
89: Issac Ropp

BRAKEdown - From One End to the Other, Leafs Got Better

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

I thought the Maple Leafs had that “playoff look” - a certain kind of confidence – when they took the field and went through warmups at DePaul College Prep's field on Saturday.

They belonged on that stage. So did DePaul, obviously, as the Chicago Catholic League team went on to score a 38-13 victory.

This Geneseo team had earned this moment, to go out and play a formidable opponent, in a second round Class 4A playoff game.

“Well, we wished for a different outcome, of course,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong.

The Leafs trailed 31-7 at halftime.

“We challenged the guys at halftime,” Furlong said. “A lot of teams might have shut down at that point. But I'm proud of how the guys finished the game,” he said.

DePaul outscored Geneseo just 7-6 in the second half. Jack Mickley intercepted two passes after halftime, and Kye Weinzierl ran under a touchdown pass from Jackson McAvoy.

“We had a happy mindset coming out of this,” Furlong said. “A lot of good things are ahead. Our kids are buying into what we (coaches) are saying.”

Furlong had hoped DePaul wouldn't figure out Geneseo's option right away. DePaul drove for an opening score, then the Leafs got the kickoff out to their own 13.

Here came the option. Quarterback Jaclspm McAvoy faked a dive play, then pitched out to Kye Weinzierl. The edge was set, Weinzierl cut, got a perfect downfield block and raced just over 70 yards before being knocked out of bounds.

Second play: Touchdown pass to tight end Carter Holke, and it's a 7-7 game in a suddenly silent stadium.

DePaul jammed the option the next time the Leafs ran it, but they didn't have it totally figured out. I think I counted five times where the Rams were called for being offside on subsequent option plays.

I guess losing five yards is better than losing 70 or more on a long run.

DePaul was quick to recover in general.

“Their offense was a way to showcase their talents,” Furlong said.

They had an athletic quarterback who saw the field well and got the ball to players who found open areas.

'And their defenders looked like college football players. Not always real big, but fast and explosive,” the coach said.

The Leafs had four turnovers in their first 10 times with the football.

“DePaul is well-coached,” Furlong said. “They attacked some vulnerabilities we had.”

“It was the first time all season DePaul had faced a team that took snaps from under the center,” Furlong said. “You could see their wheels were spinning a little.”

“We played extremely well at times, but we were not consistent.”

So . . . did the Leafs improve from one end of the season to the other?

“Without a doubt,” Furlong said. “Our mental makeup improved, our willingness to play for each other, our belief in our teammates – we got all of that going.”

Going forward, the coach said his players must devote themselves to building in the weight room. “Strength and explosiveness will transfer onto the field,” said Furlong.

“The trend these days is to focus on one sport,” he said. “Most of our guys do one or two others – and that is what we want.”

“The other thing is to build culturally. We want our guys to learn leadership skills, in football and athletics in general. They'll be able to use those skills in high school and in other areas of their lives.”