By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
EAST MOLINE - The UTHS Panthers have star quality players in some of their skill positions, and they put on a light show at key moments of their 38-28 run past Geneseo at Friday night’s game in Soule Bowl.
One “moment” was the entire first half, which the Panthers used to build a 17-7 lead against a ball control team that wants to be in control of putting the points up on the board.
Another time came with 11:02 left in regulation, when UT running back Leo Sims scored from 6 yards out to put the Panthers up 31-14.
Like a comet, Sims would circle around for another visit. But right now, Geneseo was making another comeback bid.
You’ll recall they did this in wins over Assumption and Rochelle.”That mentality, that they can come back, has been there with our kids,” said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong.
Six explosive pass plays (16 yards or more) were aided by Geneseo whiffs on open field tackle attempts in the first half.
The Panthers had a 218-132 lead in total yards by then and a 34 to 18 advantage in offensive plays.
Ring leaders for the UT offense were Sims, a 5-11, 170-pounder, 6-3 quarterback Jonathan Drake, and 5-8 wide receiver Will Risius.
Geneseo opened the second half with a 65-yard scoring drive, capped by fullback Mark Nelms’ one-yard smash. The cut the deficit to 17-14 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Drake passed 23 yards to Resius out of UT’s control passing game, then Sims took it the remaining 28 yards on the next play. Now, it’s 24-14 for UT, with 3:50 left in the third.
The Panthers got a stop, but out of punt formation, Leaf quarterback and punter Luca Turigliatti ran for a first down at UT’s 33.
But on first down, Panther defenders stormed the middle, and a fumble resulted, with UT recovering.
A Drake pass to Sims gained 53 yards, then Sims ran it in from the 6, and UT went up 31-14 with 11:02 left.
Rocket sweeps started gaining ground, as did barges up the gut by fullback Ben Simosky for the Leafs.
Brayden Cox swept 8 yards for a Geneseo touchdown, and it was 31-21 for UT with 6:00 left.
Kicker Peters and the Leafs executed a perfect on side kick, with Simosky recovering for Geneseo on UT’s 36.
Now, Turigliatti, who threw a sharp-looking pass toward tight end Cyrus Babcock earlier in the game, threw an even better one for a 36-yard touchdown.
Geneseo trailed by just three points with 2:16 left.
But it was Sims to the rescue again as he tore through a gap up front and scored the game-winner from 45 yards out with just over two minutes left.
“We practice onside kick plays every night,” Furlong said.
“Luca had a better week throwing in practice,” the coach said. “With that and our need for some of that in our offense, we gave it a try.”
Now comes Galesburg, scoring 42 points a game and giving up 40. “Their defense has tended to give up some big plays,” Furlong said.
“Without a doubt, we’ll be leaning on our offense to control drives,” Geneseo’s coach said.
PLAYOFFS? Did somebody out there say playoffs? “We’re in,” Furlong said. The Leafs have 3 wins, and the forfeit by Alleman will make 4. . .and live games remain against Galesburg, Sterling and Quincy. It has been a different sort of season, has it not?
MASH - Morris put 44 points on the board Friday against Rochelle . . .all in a 44-0 first HALF. Ouch!
Okay Leafs, you’ve got three WB6 teams to get ready against.
FRESHMEN WON - 21-0 over UTHS, after beating Moline 14-13 last week.
