New Mission: Build on a Historic Win
By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current
After last Friday's historic Geneseo win over Moline, this week United Township and standout quarterback Matthew Kelley come to Bob Reade Field.
Geneseo (3-0, 1-0) needs to be ready. Kelley can turn an unprepared team inside out.
“I think he may be the most dangerous quarterback in the conference,” Geneseo Coach Larry Johnsen said, well aware that there are other good signal-callers in the WB6.
“Kelley runs and throws really well,” said Geneseo's coach. “He has some weapons around him, too,” said Johnsen, “enough to make you sweat.”
UTHS is 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the league after last week's 23-19 home loss to Sterling. In that one, a Panther snap over their quarterback's head resulted in a Sterling touchdown just 15 seconds into the game. The Panthers never quite caught up.
“Last year, UT played Loyola in week two. Loyola was one of the best teams in the nation last season, and I'm not sure UT ever quite recovered from that, Johnsen said.
Regardless, Kelley threw for more than 1,200 yards in league games last season.
“We have to be able to run the ball and keep their offense off the field,” Geneseo's coach said. “If possible, we want to put points on the board with each of our possessions.”
When the Panther offense is on the field, Geneseo's challenge will be to keep UT's speed merchants in front of them.
“We had a big win last week and we will respond to it. Will we let down, or build on it? We've got to be ready to go,” Johnsen said.
Leafs 24, Moline 21
We called Geneseo's 24-21 win at Moline historic because it ended a 14-game winning streak by the Maroons in WB6 play. Also, the Maroons had a five-game winning streak going against Geneseo. And . . .it was the first Geneseo win over Moline since the Leafs joined the WB6.
Geneseo's bunch of three-year starters played the role of the more experienced team on the field, especially on the Leafs' drive to the winning field goal during the last four minutes.
A key: 300 rushing yards by Geneseo, which was way more than the Leafs totaled in their two previous games against Moline.
“We're only a third of the way through this season and of course we don't know what will happen,” Johnsen said. “But it was a fun game, that's for sure,” he said.
“We're getting better, after having played three teams, each better than the previous one,” Johnsen said. “But,” he said, “we have a ways to go yet.”
Leafs have been stepping up to plug gaps. How about running back Kolten Schmoll-Burton, who came in for teammates who were cramping, to run 8 times for 84 yards, including a 40-yarder?
Running back Jeron Neal had 137 yards on 10 carries, including a 41-yard touchdown run on Geneseo's first offensive series, and an 89-yard blast a bit later on.
Geneseo went with a six-man defensive front to try and limit Moline's ground game. “You do that and you leave something else open,” Johnsen said, noting two long over-the-top completions that flipped the field for the Maroons. “Credit Moline with making some really good plays,” said Johnsen.
“I do think we controlled the line of scrimmage,” Johnsen said. “We wanted to take away Moline's inside trap with their fullback. But, there were places we lost contain a few times.”
“Regardless of what scheme we're using, we have to be able to run the football,” Johnsen said. “It's who we are.”
Kicker Brayden Combs came through again for Geneseo, booting the 27-yard game-winning field goal with 36 seconds left, then watching as Jake Rapps sealed the deal with a closing seconds interception at about the 35-yard line.
What followed: A noisy Browning Field parking lot, and “a good bus trip home,” Johnsen said.
