We’ve Got a Lot to Unpack Here, So . . .
By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
It’s a busy and happy time of year in football towns, like ours.
Geneseo is celebrating a satisfying and complete 46-22 win over Class 6A Quincy; The Leafs are hosting North Chicago in the 4A playoffs, and if Geneseo wins, the Leafs will be on the road next week to play Lombard Montini, the defending Class 4A champion.
And, just so I don’t forget and run off, the freshman team beat Quincy 28-8 to complete their unbeaten run through the Western Big Six!
The varsity game was similar to Geneseo’s start-to-finish demolition of Galesburg: The Leafs hit them early and often. Quincy’s defense was playing whack-a-mole, without much success.
Geneseo led 28-0 in the second quarter and 31-7 by halftime. The Blue Devils adjusted and threw over the top for a pair of second half scores.
Then the Leafs adjusted and resumed pounding out 377 rushing yards. That’s a lot, against anybody, let alone against a team from two classes above you.
Geneseo’s offensive line has become quite a unit. They were shown in photos pancaking Blue Devils defenders.
Quarterback Luca Turigliatti carried 11 times for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Ben Simosky bullied for 110 on 21 rushes and scored 4 touchdowns from inside Quincy’s 10-yard line.
Halfback Jett Znamenacek had 76 yards on 7 carries, and wingback Brayden Cox had 59 yards on 8 attempts.
Geneseo’s defenders were physical, too, and alert. They took away Quincy’s flair passes, which Sterling used to gouge the Leafs. “About a quarter of Quincy’s offense had been on flanker passes,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong.
The other key area for the Geneseo defense was keeping a lid on the Blue Devil ground game. Braxton Williams did rush for 70 yards, but that wasn’t enough to cause serious harm. No other Blue Devil gained more than 9 yards,
Quarterback Bryson Little was good as advertised, at 22 for-29 for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns. But he has had better nights.
“We did not rush for as many yards as we would have liked,” Quincy Coach Rick Little told a reporter from the Quincy Herald-Whig.
“Give (Geneseo) credit,” Little said. “they played really well offensively and defensively.”
Now, to the business at hand - North Chicago, a new opponent for Geneseo.
This situation - with the winner to face defending state champion Montini next week - reminds me of two years go, then Geneseo beat 9-0 Chicago Sullivan in the playoff opener before losing to the eventual state champion from the Catholic League.
But this will be different, because North Chicago plays in a suburban league that is stronger than the Public League Sullivan plays in, Furlong said.
“They have speed and big play ability,” Furlong said about the Redhawks.
A disadvantage for North Chicago: Not playing against the style of offense Geneseo uses.
So secure yourself to something sturdy, be loud, and enjoy the ride!
