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.
