Leafs Need to Keep Getting Better
By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
Geneseo has lost three football games this season, by a total of 14 points.
That alone should tell you how much talent there is in the Western Big Six Conference. Speed . . .and skill position talent.
And still, the Leafs are already playoff-qualified, even after Fridays’ 34-31 loss to Sterling.
You’ll recall that Geneseo and Sterling were pre-season favorites to end Moline’s run as league champion.
Developing teams at Galesburg, United Township and Quincy have made conference play interesting and exciting for fans.
The good news for Leaf fans is that the season is not over. Using the playoffs for motivation, there’s still a lot at stake.
There’s no game this Friday, so Geneseo can use the time to heal, and to polish, before Quincy comes in to close the regular season.
Sterling was an excellent team and answered every Geneseo challenge during the second half of the Golden Warriors’ 34-31 win.
“Two good teams, executing at very high levels,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong.
Speaking of high levels, how about that early 50-yard field goal by Carson Peters? A real moon shot!
The Warrriors led 14-10 at halftime. But each team scored three touchdowns in the second half, “We couldn’t get a stop so we could drive down and take the lead,” Furlong said.
“Sterling’s offensive line was very good at pass protection,” Furlong said. “They have a Division 1 prospect at left tackle, and several others who I think will be playing college ball somewhere. They made it almost impossible to touch the quarterback.”
The difference from last year is that Berlin has made himself into a better runner. That has opened up more of the field for Sterling’s other backs and flankers.
The Leafs lost a lot of speed with the injuries to Jack Mickley and Harrison Hill. Mickley possibly will return for Quincy, but the prognosis is not that early for Hill, Furlong said.
While we’re talking about speed, what did you think about the varsity debut of sophomore Jett Znamenac? He had four carries, three for positive yardage. But he was so quick getting started.
On one carry, he tucked in behind his lead blocker (sorry, moving too fast for me to comprehend a number), and looked like he might break it.
Don’t worry. he’s going be breaking them. “Jett is a good track athlete in our sprints, but he fell at the state meet, and didn’t get cleared to play until Rochelle week,” Furlong said.
The late Fred Curtis, former GHS principal and IHSA board member, might have called one of his runs, “He gets to the outside, and takes off like a scalded dog!”
Geneseo did rush for 330 yards against Sterling. That’s not chump change against that defense.
And the freshmen won again, 22-7 over Sterling, and have lost only to a very good Assumption team.
Good things are coming, Leaf fans, and some are already here!
