GMS 2025-26 Winter Sports Schedules

GMS Boys 7th/8th “A” Basketball
11/05 - 4:00: Wilson
11/06 - 4:00: Jordan
11/11 - 6:00: at Washington
11/13 - 4:00: at John Deere
11/17 - 4:00: Edison
11/18 - 4:00: at Seton
11/20 - 4:00: Glenview
12/02 - 4:00: at Wilson
12/04 - 4:00: at Jordan
12/06 - 9:00: 8th Grade Shootout
12/08 - 4:00: Washington
12/09 - 4:00: John Deere
12/11 - 4:00: at Edison
12/13 - 9:00: 7th Grade Shootout
12/16 - 4:00: Seton
12/18 - 4:00: at Glenview

GMS Boys 7th/8th “B” Basketball
11/05 - 4:30: at Northeast
11/13 - 4:00: Coram Deo Academy
11/17 - 4:30: at Eagle Ridge
11/18 - 4:30: at East Moline Christian (8th Grade Only)
11/19 - 4:30: Rivermont
12/02 - 4:00: at Morrison
12/03 - 4:30: at Quad Cities Christian
12/06 - 9:00: 8th Grade Shootout
12/13 - 9:00: 7th Grade Shootout

GMS Boys Wrestling
12/16 - 5:00: at Mercer County & Galesburg (Mercer Co)
12/17 - 4:30: Pioneer Pacers
12/29 - 9:00: at Rockford Flinn Mason Hada Tournament
01/07 - 4:30: Washington
01/10 - 9:00: GMS Invite (GHS)
01/13 - 5:00: at Rockridge & Riverdale (Rockridge)
01/17 - TBA: at Troy Duals
01/21 - 4:30: at Wilson
01/22 - 5:30: at United & Abingdon (United)
01/27 - 4:30: Ottawa Shepherd
01/29 - 5:30: at Knoxville, ROWVA, & Wethersfield (Knoxville)
02/03 - 4:30: at Logan
02/04 - 4:30: at John Deere
02/07 - TBA: at Huntley Super Duals
02/11 - 4:30: at Glenview
02/18 - 4:30: Morton
02/28 - 9:00: Regionals
03/07 - 9:00: Sectionals
03/13 & 03/14: IESA State Championship

GMS Girls 7th/8th “A” Basketball
01/15 - 4:00: at Wilson
01/20 - 4:00: Jordan
01/22 - 4:00: at Washington
01/27 - 4:00: at John Deere
01/29 - 4:00: at Edison
02/02 - 4:00: at Seton
02/03 - 4:00: Glenview
02/05 - 4:00: Wilson
02/09 - 4:00: at Jordan
02/10 - 4:00: Washington
02/17 - 4:00: John Deere
02/19 - 4:00: Edison
02/24 - 4:00: Seton
02/26 - 4:00: at Glenview

GMS Girls 7th/8th “B” Basketball
01/27 - 5:30: Jordan (8th Grade Only)
01/29 - 4:00: at Colona
02/05 - 4:30: at Eagle Ridge
02/10 - 4:30: Morning Star
02/12 - 4:30: at Hampton
02/17 - 5:30: East Moline Christian (8th Grade Only)
02/19 - 4:30: at Northeast
02/26 - 4:30: Quad Cities Christian

Home Games In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Green Machine: BRAKEdown - Playoff Notebook

Hard Work Rewards Peters and Leafs

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current


We keep coming back to that Rochelle game, but why not?

It was a classic!

“They'll be talking about this game for years!” exclaimed Geneseo TV play-by-play announcer Denny Diericx.

So why not talk about it a little more now?

Leafs Coach Matt Furlong had a few words to share about the man of the hour, placekicker Carson Peters, whose 36-yard field goal provided the margin of Geneseo's 16-14 win over Rochelle.

“Carson has done a job working on onside kicks,” Furlong said. “It paid off.”

“Carson spent a lot of time this summer working on kicking with his dad,” the coach said. “To the point of doing calisthenics right before running out to kick, to get his heart rate up before running out and kicking in a game.”

That's not crazy. But it's pretty precise!

“Carson played both soccer and football before this year, but he decided to just do football this year,” Furlong said. “And all the work with his dad has helped Carson become more comfortable with the game.”

Some keys to the Geneseo win

“We knew the Rochelle game would be tight,” Furlong said. “We knew matchups with their offensive line would be tough, but our kids responded to the situation and put themselves in position to win.”

“The kids said they were sore, so we asked them if they would rather win and be sore . . .or lose and be sore,” said the coach.

Furlong said Geneseo won because of three reasons, then named more than that.

'First, on defense we tackled really well except for maybe two plays, and we held them to three to five yards per play,” he said.

“Second, our kids knew what to expect from our first game against Rochelle.” (such as being sore!)

“Third, we had diversity on offense. We worked Kye Weinzierl and Jackson McAvoy against them early, then came back with Mark Nelms inside later,” Furlong said.

“Another thing was our special teams play” noting the most special play of all – the last one – and one a bit earlier: Peters's kickoff which led to Jayden Wexell's recovery.

Furlong also said the Leafs used a new scheme to pass the ball to Weinzierl in behind the defense to set up the game-winning field goal.

“It was big that we held them to two scores,” Furlong said.

“This game, we executed well all over, compared with our first game with them,” he said, “and the kids stayed more composed in the fourth quarter.”

Playoffs help sustain programs

It's no accident that Geneseo and quite a few other programs appear in the state playoffs quite often.

Coach Pat Mitchell, one of the commentators on Geneseo's livestream broadcasts, said, “Each week the varsity advances in the playoff means another week the younger players can practice with them,” he said.

The high school season is relatively short compared with the college and pro campaigns, and that extra practice leads to some drastic improvements during the playoffs. If you've watched Geneseo teams over the years, you'll remember how some of them just exploded during post-season play.

“Staying alive in the playoffs is a way the good programs sustain themselves,” Mitchell said.

Basketball: 2025-26 Maple Leafs Basketball Schedule

2025-26 Maple Leafs Basketball Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

#22 Jaydon Burrage

Varsity
11/21 - 6:00: Green/White Scrimmage
11/24 - 7:00: Dixon
11/28 - 12:30: at Fred VanVleet Classic (Rockford Auburn)
11/29 - 9:30: at Fred VanVleet Classic (Rockford Auburn)
12/02 - 7:00: Macomb
12/05 - 7:00: at Sterling
12/06 - 4:00: at Chicago Dyett
12/09 - 7:00: Quincy
12/10 - 7:00: Quad Cities Christian
12/12 - 7:00: Alleman (Senior & Youth Night)
12/13 - 12/19: at United High School Tournament
12/20 - 11:30: at Iowa-Illinois Shootout (TBD)
12/22 - 7:00: at UTHS
01/03 - 6:45: at Rock Falls
01/06 - 7:00: at Dixon
01/09 - 7:00: Rock Island
01/10 - 7:00: at Quad Cities Christian
01/13 - 7:00: Moline
01/16 - 7:00: at Galesburg
01/20 - 7:30: Rochelle
01/23 - 7:00: Sterling
01/27 - 7:00: at Quincy
01/30 - 7:00: at Alleman
01/31 - 2:30: Canton
02/06 - 7:00: UTHS
02/07 - 2:30: at Orion
02/10 - 7:00: at Moline
02/13 - 7:00: at Rock Island
02/17 - 7:00: Galesburg

02/14 - TBA: Regional Quarterfinal
02/16 or 02/17: Regional Semifinal
02/19 or 02/20: Regional Championship
02/24 - TBA: Sectional Semifinal
02/26 - TBA: Sectional Championship
03/02 - TBA: Super Sectional
03/05 - 03/07: State Finals

Sophomore
11/21 - 6:00: Green/White Scrimmage
11/24 - 5:30: Dixon
12/02 - 5:30: Macomb
12/05 - 5:30: at Sterling
12/06 - 2:00: at Chicago Dyett
12/09 - 5:30: Quincy
12/12 - 5:30: Alleman
12/22 - 5:30: at UTHS
01/03 - 4:30: at Rock Falls
01/06 - 5:30: at Dixon
01/09 - 5:30: Rock Island
01/13 - 5:30: Moline
01/16 - 5:30: at Galesburg
01/20 - 6:00: Rochelle
01/23 - 5:30: Sterling
01/27 - 5:30: at Quincy
01/30 - 5:30: at Alleman
01/31 - 1:00: Canton
02/06 - 5:30: UTHS
02/07 - 1:00: at Orion
02/10 - 5:30: at Moline
02/13 - 5:30: at Rock Island
02/17 - 5:30: Galesburg

Freshmen
11/21 - 6:00: Green/White Scrimmage
12/01 - 7:30: at Alleman
12/03 - 7:30: at Galesburg
12/08 - 7:30: at Sterling
12/10 - 6:00: at Rock Island
12/16 - 7:30: at Kewanee
01/07 - 7:30: at UTHS
01/12 - 7:30: Sterling
01/14 - 7:30: Galesburg
01/20 - 4:30: Rochelle
01/21 - 7:30: Moline
01/26 - 7:30: Rock Island
02/04 - 7:30: UTHS
02/09 - 6:00: at Moline
02/16 - 7:30: Alleman

Home Games In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Basketball: 2025-26 Lady Leafs Basketball Schedule

2025-26 Lady Leafs Basketball Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

#22 Vi Pettit

Varsity
11/14 - 6:00: Green/White Showcase
11/18 - 7:00: Sherrard
11/20 - 7:00: Annawan
11/25 - 7:00: UTHS
12/01 - 7:00: Quincy
12/04 - 7:00: Moline
12/06 - 1:30: Fulton
12/08 - 7:00: Ridgewood
12/11 - 7:00: at Sterling
12/13 - 1:30: Rock Island
12/18 - 7:00: Galesburg
12/26 - 12/30: at State Farm Holiday Classic
01/06 - 7:00: Peoria Manual
01/08 - 7:00: at Alleman
01/10 - TBA: at Iowa/Illinois Shootout
01/15 - 7:00: at UTHS
01/17 - TBA: at Freeport Roundball Classic
01/22 - 7:00: at Moline
01/24 - 1:30: Erie-Prophetstown
01/27 - 7:00: Sterling (Autograph Night)
01/29 - 7:00: at Quincy
01/31 - 11:30: at Kaneland Hoops For A Cure Shootout
02/03 - 7:00: LaSalle-Peru (Senior Night)
02/05 - 7:00: at Galesburg
02/07 - 1:30: at Rock Island
02/10 - 7:00: Quad Cities Christian
02/12 - 7:00: Alleman

02/14 - TBA: Regional Quarterfinal
02/16 or 02/17: Regional Semifinal
02/19 or 02/20: Regional Championship
02/24 - TBA: Sectional Semifinal
02/26 - TBA: Sectional Championship
03/02 - TBA: Super Sectional
03/05 - 03/07: State Finals

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Sophomore
11/14 - 6:00: Green/White Showcase
11/18 - 5:30: Sherrard
11/25 - 5:30: UTHS
12/01 - 5:30: Quincy
12/04 - 5:30: Moline
12/06 - 12:00: Fulton (Fresh/Soph)
12/08 - 5:30: Ridgewood (Fresh/Soph)
12/11 - 5:30: at Sterling
12/13 - 12:00: Rock Island
12/18 - 5:30: Galesburg
01/06 - 5:30: Peoria Manual
01/08 - 5:30: at Alleman
01/10 - TBA: at Iowa/Illinois Shootout
01/15 - 5:30: at UTHS
01/17 - TBA: at Freeport Roundball Classic
01/22 - 5:30: at Moline
01/24 - 12:00: Erie-Prophetstown
01/27 - 5:30: Sterling
01/29 - 5:30: at Quincy
01/31 - 10:30: at Kaneland Hoops For A Cure Shootout
02/03 - 5:30: LaSalle-Peru
02/05 - 5:30: at Galesburg
02/07 - 12:00: at Rock Island
02/12 - 5:30: Alleman

Freshmen
11/14 - 6:00: Green/White Showcase
12/01 - 6:00: at Alleman
12/03 - 6:00: at Galesburg
12/08 - 6:00: at Sterling
12/10 - 6:00: at Rock Island
01/07 - 6:00: at UTHS
01/12 - 6:00: Sterling
01/14 - 6:00: Galesburg
01/21 - 6:00: Moline
01/26 - 6:00: Rock Island
02/04 - 6:00: UTHS
02/09 - 7:30: at Moline
02/16 - 6:00: Alleman

Wrestling: 2025-26 Lady Leafs Wrestling Schedule

2025-26 Lady Leafs Wrestling Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

Lydia King - 2024-25 State 4th Place

11/26 - 9:30: at Minooka Invitational Thanksgiving Throwdown
12/03 - 5:00: at Pleasant Valley
12/06 - 9:00: at Princeton Tournament
12/09 - 5:30: at Sterling & Galesburg (Sterling)
12/12 - 4:00: at The Munch Pontiac Invite
12/27 - 9:00: at IWCPA Dual State (DeKalb)
01/02 - 11:00: vs Lincoln-Way West, Bettendorf, Davenport West
01/09 - 4:00: at Central DeWitt
01/10 - 9:00: at Clinton Invitational
01/12 - 6:00: Scramble (Autograph Night)
01/17 - 9:00: at Canton Tournament
01/21 - 5:00: at Davenport West & Rock Island (Davenport West)
01/30 - TBA: Western Big 6 Championship

01/31 - TBA: Regionals
02/05 - TBA: Team Dual Sectional
02/13 & 02/14 - TBA: Individual Sectional
02/19 - 02/21 - TBA: Individual State Championship
02/27 & 02/28 - TBA: Team State Championship

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Wrestling: 2025-26 Maple Leafs Wrestling Schedule

2025-26 Maple Leafs Wrestling Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

Kye Weinzierl - 2024-25 State 2nd Place

11/26 - 9:00: at Sycamore, Hampshire, & Vernon Hills (Sycamore)
11/28 - 9:00: at Mike West JV Invitational (Rockford East)
12/03 - 6:00: Dixon
12/05 - 5:00: at Giardini Invitational (Day 1 - Rockford East)
12/06 - 9:00: at Giardini Invitational (Day 2 - Rockford East)
12/11 - 6:00: Alleman
12/13 - 9:00: at Jim Boyd JV Invitational (Riverdale)
12/13 - 9:00: at Downers Grove South Invite
12/18 - 6:00: at Galesburg
12/19 - 4:30: at Whitlatch Invitational (Hinsdale Central)
12/20 - 9:00: at Whitlatch Invitational (Hinsdale Central)
12/20 - 9:00: at Washington JV Invite
01/03 - TBA: at Cedar Rapids Prairie Duals
01/08 - 6:00: Sterling (Autograph Night)
01/10 - 9:00: at Morton Tournament
01/10 - 9:00: at Amboy JV Tournament
01/15 - 6:00: at UTHS
01/16 - 4:00: GHS Invite
01/17 - 9:30: GHS Invite
01/21 - 6:00: Moline (Senior Night)
01/22 - 6:00: at Rock Island
01/24 - 9:00: at Western Big 6 Championship (UTHS)

01/31 - TBA: Regionals
02/05 - TBA: Team Dual Sectional
02/13 & 02/14 - TBA: Individual Sectional
02/19 - 02/21 - TBA: Individual State Championship
02/27 & 02/28 - TBA: Team State Championship

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Gymnastics: 2025-26 Lady Leafs Gynmastics Schedule

2025-26 Lady Leafs Gymnastics Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

12/06 - 10:00: at Oswego Freshmen Invite
12/10 - 6:00: at Riverside-Brookfield & Glenbard East (RBHS)
12/12 - 6:00: at DeKalb Invite
12/18 - 6:00: at Oswego, Glenbard East, U-46 (Oswego)
12/19 - 6:00: at Neuqua Valley
12/22 - 5:00: at Southwestern, WI
01/10 - 12:00: Geneseo Invite (Community Center)
01/13 - 6:00: at Riverside-Brookfield & U-46 (RBHS)
01/16 - 6:00: Glenbard South (Senior & Autograph Night)
01/23 - 6:00: at Riverside-Brookfield Invite
01/31 - 1:00: at Upstate 8 Championship (Riverside-Brookfield)

02/02 - 02/05: Regional
02/09 - 02/12: Sectional
02/20 & 02/21: State Championship

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Bowling: 2025-26 Lady Leafs Bowling Schedule

2025-26 Lady Leafs Bowling Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

11/29 - 9:00: at Rock Island Invite (Highland Park Bowl)
12/01 - 4:00: at Sterling (Blackhawk Lanes)
12/08 - 4:00: Rock Island
12/13 - 9:00: at UTHS Invite (Highland Park Bowl)
12/15 - 3:45: at UTHS (Highland Park Bowl)
12/16 - 4:00: Erie
12/20 - 12:30: at ERAB Holiday Invite (Don Carter Lanes)
12/27 - 9:00: GHS Holiday Invite
01/06 - 4:00: Mendota
01/07 - 4:00: Galesburg
01/08 - 4:00: Sterling
01/12 - 3:45: at Moline (Highland Park Bowl)
01/17 - 9:00: at Moline Invite (Highland Park Bowl)
01/19 - 9:15: at Sterling MLK Invite (Blackhawk Lanes)
01/21 - 3:30: at Rock Island (Backyard Bowl)
01/27 - 4:00: Moline (Senior Night)
01/29 - 4:00: Dixon
01/31 - 9:00: at Dixon Invite (Plum Hollow)
02/02 - 9:00: WB6 Championship
02/03 - 4:00: Erie

02/06 - 9:00: Regional
02/13 - TBA: Sectional
02/20 & 02/21: State Championship

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Bowling: 2025-26 Maple Leafs Bowling Schedule

2025-26 Maple Leafs Bowling Schedule
Good Luck Leafs!

11/08 - 9:00: at Mendota Tournament (Illinois Valley Super Bowl)
11/10 - 4:00: at Ottawa (Dettore's Town Lanes)
11/13 - 4:00: Erie
11/15 - 9:00: Lee Lohman Invite
11/17 - 3:45: Moline
11/22 - 12:30: at Rockford Guilford Survivor Tournament (Don Carter Lanes)
11/25 - 4:00: Sterling
11/29 - 9:00: at Harlem Invite (Forest Hills Lanes)
12/02 - 4:00: at Sterling (Blackhawk Lanes)
12/03 - 3:30: at Rock Island (Backyard Bowl)
12/04 - 4:00: at Abingdon-Avon (Abbe Lanes)
12/08 - 4:00: at Mendota
12/09 - 4:00: at Canton (Linn Lanes)
12/13 - 9:00: at Cavalier Classic (Illinois Valley Super Bowl)
12/18 - 4:00: Abingdon-Avon (Autograph Night)
12/20 - 1:15: at ERAB Holiday Invite (Don Carter Lanes)
12/27 - TBA: at Dixon Toughman Invite (Plum Hollow)
01/03 - 10:00: at Abingdon-Avon Invite (Abbe Lanes)
01/08 - 4:00: at Rochelle (T-Byrd Lanes)
01/10 - 9:00: at Buccaneer Invite (Cherry Bowl)
01/12 - 3:45: Moline (Senior Night)
01/14 - 4:00: Rock Island
01/15 - 4:00: Erie

01/16 & 01/17: Regional
01/24 - 9:30: Sectional
01/30 & 01/31: State Championship

Home Meets In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change

Green Machine: BRAKEdown - Week 11

Some Blasts From the Past for Leafs

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current


“The town is excited,” said Geneseo Football Coach Matt Furlong.

“Our boys are excited,” he said. “And you know who is taking all this in?” he asked.

“Our younger kids,” he said, knowing full well that bunch, which includes future Green Machine players, had never seen Geneseoans really let their hair down about football, like us old geezers did.

Well wake up the echoes and shake down thunder!

It's happening, maybe a year sooner than Furlong expected.

“There are signs in store windows, I mean BIG signs” he said. Signs of support are up all over town. Decorated green tractors in farm fields. And just a general buzz in the air. “You can tell something is up,” Furlong said.

Observers say it began quietly after the Moline game, in which Geneseo acquitted itself as well as anyone local has against the WB6 champions.

Nobody around here does playoff football quite like Geneseo. I always say that sometimes.

On Saturday, we'll get a blast from the past when the Leafs play the Macomb Bombers at their place.

These two teams had a home-and-home regular season series during the 1970s, Geneseo won all six games.

But, there was one game and one superb athlete we'll never forget. I say Phil Bradley of Macomb is the greatest quarterback a Geneseo team ever played against.

In 1976, at home, the Leafs beat the Bombers 35-32, and did so only because Geneseo had possession on the last drive of the game!

Bradley threw laser-guided rocket balls. His receivers tried to catch them in their bellies. King Cline, one of his receivers, feared broken fingers would result if he tried to catch one in his hands.

Bradley was a two-sport athlete, baseball being the other one. He went on to establish passing records at the University of Missouri, then went on to a long career with baseball's Seattle Mariners.

When I got upstairs to talk with Geneseo's coaches, Bob Reade was doubled over, laughing. “I'll bet you're here to interview my defensive coordinator,” Reade said.

Seated next to him, said coordinator, Larry Johnsen, Sr., was about to double over. And he was trying to hide his face.

Bradley was one of those athletes that Macomb had thanks to his dad's coaching employment at Western Illinois University. The Bombers get a kid from that relationship with Western every now and then. I'm not sure if that's the case this year, but they've got several guys who stand out on the scouting reports.

Unfortunately for Macomb, Phil Bradley graduated back in the 70s.

This year, the Bombers are 9-1, having lost to a good Farmington team.

Coach Furlong says quarterback Kaden Knupp (#5, 6-0, 175) “throws a good deep ball.” Knupp through 9 games had 13 touchdown passes and a .582 completion percentage.

Running back Drake May (#23, 5-11, 165), had averaged 124 rushing yards a game and 14 tackles a game from his linebacker position. He had 14 touchdowns as of two weeks ago.

Drew Watson (#1) averaged 80 yards receiving per game through that period.

“I was impressed by Macomb,” Furlong said. “They're a disciplined team with a good running game.”

“On defense, Macomb tackled well in space,” he said. “Hillcrest (playoff round one opponent) had some speed, but Macomb always had people around their quick guys.”

Macomb won that game 21-6.

Green Machine BRAKEdown – Rochelle Rundown

Leafs-Hubs: Another Cosmic Collision!

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

As I write this on Saturday, Nov. 1, space aliens haven't wiped out the Earth, and we've all lived to witness another great Geneseo vs. Rochelle football game.

The space aliens serial on fake news online probably is fictional (happy Halloween, folks!). But Geneseo vs. Rochelle is about as real and as good as it gets in these parts.

Their Class 4A playoff game on Friday, Oct. 31 at Bob Reade Field has been dubbed an “instant classic” by some in the media, and for good reason.

It was a rock'em, sock'em slobber-knocker, as I had forecast. It was like quite a few past Rochelle-Geneseo rumbles. I was especially reminded of the 1965 epic played in my presence over on what is now the Youth Football League Field. Rochelle won that one, 18-13, but you remember how great the game was more, I think, than who won.

By now you know the Leafs won this more recent one, 16-14, on the last play of the game, a 36-yard field goal by Geneseo's Carson Peters. It was Geneseo's first lead of the game!

Geneseo-Rochelle games go by all too quickly. That's because these are two run-first programs. The difference in this one, probably, was the Leafs' 67-0 advantage in passing yards.

I had a sense that Geneseo was more explosive, with more potential for explosive plays of 10 yards or more. That's what wound up happening, but the Hubs did a fantastic job controlling tempo with their grinding ground game.

Rochelle slot back Tyler Genser ran 15-yards for the opening touchdown during the first quarter.

Sides of linemen from both teams smashed into each other with intent until late in the third quarter, when Geneseo got a drive going.

Kye Weinzierl, the second back through on a play, cut behind a strong lead block and scored from 13 yards out, and the teams slammed forward into a fateful fourth quarter, tied at 7.

Most of the fourth belonged to Rochelle big back Roman Villalobos, a strong, balanced runner, who led all rushers in this game with 136 yards on 29 carries.

Villalobos was magnificent in taking over the heavier rushing load for injured teammate, Dylan Manning, who is recovering from two brain procedures after being injured a couple weeks prior against Morris.

Villalobos scored from a yard out and Rochelle led 14-7 as the teams headed down the stretch.

Weinzierl, who caught a fourth-down pass from Jackson McAvoy to keep this late Geneseo drive going, did it again with another catch, this one a 24-yard scoring strike on which Weinzierl made a diving catch. It's now 14-13, Rochelle, with less than a minute left to play.

The Leafs elected to go for two points and the win.

Quarterback McAvoy rolled just a little to the left of center . . .and was ruled short of the end zone.

Now Geneseo had 44 seconds left. . . time for an onside kick. Carson Peters had a small area to place the ball in, but he did just that. The ball bounced on the turf, a Hub player grabbed at it, and dropped it.

Geneseo's Jayden Wexell recovered.

The Leafs drove to Rochelle' 19-yard line, then McAvoy spiked the ball. Four seconds remained.

Peters came out for a 36-yard field goal attempt. He was alone in the world, focused only on the task at hand, he said, the only calm soul amid a maelstrom of craziness.

Long snapper Payton Hofer did his job, so did holder McAvoy, then Peters moved forward and put his name alongside many in the Leaf's man-of-the-moment records.

The kick wobbled a little, but was straight and plenty long. Final gun! Ballgame! Fireworks and a mob scene!

Over north of Atkinson, a gaggle of hens were jolted awake once again . .by a roaring crowd.

Villalobos showed his character and leadership during a moment of defeat. “There is no reason to be sad,” he told Shaw Newspapers reporter Drake Lansman. “We have reason to be proud of all that we accomplished this season.”

Rochelle opened the season with a 41-14 demolition of Geneseo in the season opener up at their place.

“They're a great team, very physical,” Geneseo's McAvoy said. “But we're not the same team we were back then.”

Geneseo will take a six-game winning streak into Macomb for this week's second-round game. During that run the Leafs have averaged 33 points a game.

NOTE – We'll have Macomb-Geneseo previews later this week. Meanwhile. . Didn't this Leafs team just defeat Sterling AND Rochelle, in the same season???? GO CRAZY, FOLKS