Lights Go Out On Dixon, Maple Leafs Advance To Regional Championship

October 23 - 3A Geneseo Regional Semfinals - GHS Pitch
#4 Maple Leafs 3 #5 Dixon 0
Goals: Cole Clifton (2) & Alex Snyder
Overall Record: 8-8-1
(Game included an hour long delay due to a lighting outage)

October 26 - 3A Geneseo Regional Championship - GHS Pitch
11:00: #1 Dunlap vs #4 Maple Leafs
Winner advances to the 3A Dunlap Sectional Semifinals where they will face the winner of Washington & Morton on October 30 (6:00).

BRAKEdown - Is the Best Yet to Come for Leafs?

By Keith Brake
Geneseo Current

Quincy's football team came into Geneseo with a reputation larger than a Macy's parade balloon – and deservedly so.

"We felt a lot of teams might go after Quincy, but when they get there, Quincy's numbers, the hype and all the sound might get the best of them," said Geneseo Coach Matt Furlong.

"We gave our guys a game plan which, if executed, could beat Quincy," he said.

"If executed" are important words.

The Leafs came out with their ears back and in attack mode. For a while, things went pretty well. Genseo trailed just 14-6 after one quarter.

But, twice in the second period, Geneseo drives into the red zone resulted in lost fumbles.

But what if the Leafs had finished those drives with touchdowns? They might have trailed just 28-27 at halftime, instead of 35-12.

I know, I know, "if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas."

The final, of course, was 55-18. The Leafs were one of just two teams this season – the other was Moline – to put up three scores against the Blue Devils.

Quincy did its thing. Quarterback Bradyn Allen hasn't thrown for fewer than 320 yards in a WB6 game this season, and he actually did a little better than that against the Leafs.

Quincy's fast, rangy receivers found open areas and Allen got them the football.

But the Leafs had some different schemes rigged up for star running back Jeraius Rice, Jr., and Furlong said he thinks jamming the running game – at least some – had positive impact. Quincy drew 10 penalty flags in the first half.

"Our guys came in Saturday morning believing what they were capable of," Furlong said.

"But they know they can't have turnovers and can't have mental breakdowns on defense. Had we been able to correct a couple of things right away, it would have been a different game at halftime," the coach said.

"That running back (Rice, Jr.) is special," Furlong said. "We threw an awful lot of stuff at them to try to slow him down."

Then there was Allen, operating behind a O-line that looked like the snow-capped front range of the Rockies.

Former Leafs coach and now TV announcer Denny Diericx said Quincy "had to be in my top five list of pre-playoff teams Geneseo has faced. And right near the top of that list at that," he said.

Leafs fullback Kolten Schmoll-Burton may not have had big yardage totals, but he did do some very tough running a against a very strong defense.

"Part of why I believe in the offense we run is that sometimes cornerbacks and safeties don't like coming up and running into that," Furlong said. "We're unique in the conference in how we run it."

Having seen what they may be capable of, are the Leafs ready to make a run? Starting with Rock Island on Friday, and extending into the playoffs?

"We can, if we execute," Furlong said.

Rock Island is 1-7, going winless deeper into a season than ever before finally conquering Galesburg.

The Rocks are fast. "Their quarterback can hurt you with his arm and his feet and they have a running back with exceptional speed," Furlong said.

This might be a game where the Leafs can play defense with their offense – by not letting the Rock Island offense be on the field. So far, the Rocky defense has yielded 37.6 points per game, last in the WB6.

A Geneseo win means a third straight appearance in the playoffs. "That extra time we get to practice is a huge benefit," Furlong said.

"When I was at Cary-Grove, the times we stayed in for three or four weeks really helped, especially our younger guys," he said.

Those of us who've been around the Geneseo program will tell you how much some of the Leaf teams just kept getting better through the playoffs.

"You want every week to be better, hoping that you'll peak," said Furlong.

Lady Leafs Cross Twenty Win Plateau, Senior Night Coming Up

October 15 - GHS Gym
Lady Leafs 25-14, 25-10 Galesburg
Overall Record: 20-5 (11-1 WB6)

Underclass Scores
Sophomores 22-25, 25-22, 22-24
Overall Record: 18-5-1 (9-3 WB6)

Freshmen 18-25, 25-20, 25-23 Galesburg
Overall Record: 9-7-3 (8-4 WB6)

October 17 - Wharton Field House - Moline
Moline 25-17, 25-16 Lady Leafs
Overall Record: 20-6 (11-2 WB6)

Underclass Scores
Sophomores 12-25, 25-23, 25-16 Moline
Freshmen 27-25, 25-20 Moline

October 19 - Limestone Tournament - Bartonville, IL
Lady Leafs 25-16, 25-11 Galesburg
Limestone 25-11, 25-22 Lady Leafs
Lady Leafs 21-25, 25-20, 15-11 LaSalle-Peru
Mahomet-Seymour 2-0 Lady Leafs (full scores not reported)
Overall Record: 22-8 (11-2 WB6)

Upcoming Schedule
October 22: Lady Leafs vs Rock Island (Senior Night)
Fresh & Soph Games at 5:00 - Varsity at 6:00

October 24: Lady Leafs vs Sherrard (Regular Season Finale)
Fresh & Soph Games at 5:00 - Varsity at 6:00

Lady Leafs Finish 2nd At Sectionals, Sending Five To State

October 18-19 - 1A Geneseo Sectional - GHS Courts
Singles competitor Addi Snodgrass along with the doubles teams of Lily Taylor/Stella Smith and Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove advance to the 1A State Championships October 24-26. Hersey High School in Arlington Heights will serve at tournament central for the event with area schools also hosting matches. Site Map

GHS Sectional Results
Singles - 1st Round
Geneseo-Addi Snodgrass (Bye)
Geneseo-Jenny Parsons (Bye)

Singles - 2nd Round
Geneseo-Addi Snodgrass defeated Princeton-Emilee Merkel 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Geneseo-Jenny Parsons defeated Kewanee-Julia Pendergrass 6-0, 6-0

Singles - Quarterfinals
Geneseo-Addi Snodgrass defeated Macomb-Lucy Platt 6-2, 6-2
Dunlap-Alassea Michel defeated Geneseo-Jenny Parsons 6-1, 6-0

Singles Semifinals
Dunlap-Anna Yu defeated Geneseo-Addi Snodgrass 6-0, 6-0

Singles 3rd Place Match
Sterling-Ellie Aitken defeated Geneseo-Addi Snodgrass 6-2, 6-1

Doubles - 1st Round
Geneseo-Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove (Bye)
Geneseo-Lily Taylor/Stella Smith (Bye)

Doubles - 2nd Round
Geneseo-Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove defeated Galesburg-Addison Mccurry/Grace Lawson 6-0, 6-0
Geneseo-Lilly Taylor/Stella Smith defeated Alleman-Margaret Reagan/Gabriella Gusse 6-2, 6-1

Doubles - Quarterfinals
Geneseo-Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove defeated Alleman-Hannah Andrews/Mary Reagan 6-3, 6-4
Geneseo-Lily Taylor/Stella Smith defeated Sterling-6-0, 6-0

Doubles Semifinals
Dunlap-Carolina Gusso/Isabella Gusso defeated Geneseo-Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove 6-1, 6-3
Dunlap-Melaina Humbles/Maya Baman defeated Geneseo-Lily Taylor/Stella Smith 6-4, 6-1

Doubles 3rd Place Match
Geneseo-Madison Reade/Kendyl Wassenhove defeated Geneseo-Lily Taylor/Stella Smith 6-1, 6-0

Final Team Standings
Dunlap 36
Geneseo 23
Sterling 15
Macomb 12
Sterling Newman 6
Alleman 4
Princeton 2
Galesburg 2
Kewanee 0

Green Machine Falls To WB6 Champion Quincy, Playoffs Still Within Reach

October 18 - Bob Reade Field
Quincy 55 Green Machine 18

1st Quarter
Q-Hammers 19 yard pass from Little (PAT) (0-7)
G-Murphy 36 yard pass from McAvoy (PAT Failed) (6-7)
Q-Hammers 11 yard pass from Little (PAT) (6-14)

2nd Quarter
Q-Rice Jr 16 yard pass from Little (PAT) (6-21)
Q-Rice Jr 14 yard run (PAT) (6-28)
G-Weinzierl 4 yard run (PAT blocked) (12-28)
Q-Clay 20 yard pass from Little (PAT) (12-35)

3rd Quarter
Q-Rice Jr 12 yard run (PAT failed) (12-41)
Q-Hammers 68 yard pass from Little (PAT) (12-48)
Q-Rice Jr 11 yard run (PAT) (12-55)

4th Quarter
G-Keaton Ariano 5 yard run (2PT failed) (18-55)

Underclass Score
Quincy 28 Freshmen 18

Week 9
Green Machine (4-4) at Rock Island (1-7)
A win will secure a playoff spot for the Green Machine for the third consecutive season. Last season, the Rocks upset GHS 15-12 at Bob Reade Field to close out the 2023 regular season. The away team has won every game since the Leafs joined the conference in 2019.

2023: Rock Island 15 Green Machine 12
2022: Green Machine 36 Rock Island 22
2021: Rock Island 48 Green Machine 7
2020 (Spring): Green Machine 23 Rock Island 15
2019: Rock Island 14 Green Machine 13

Gehl Takes 1st, Sottos 4th At WB6 Championship, Leafs 2nd Overall

GHS Results
 1st: Dylan Gehl (15:35.85)
4th: Jaxon Sottos (16:17.23)
14th: Graysen Carlson (17:03.23)
17th: Henley Bourne (17:14.59)
19th: Aidan Bries (17:15.98)
30th: Jack Kreiss (17:43.81)
32nd: Kaden Elmer (17:50.27)
40th: Max Johnson (18:17.12)
50th: Greyson Claerhout (18:36.36)
56th: Rylan Lambert (18:46.01)
61st: Jacob Taylor (19:00.00)
68th: Kael McCord (19:11.26)
70th: Fritz Bolme (19:13.74)
71st: Alex Aleman (19:14.28)
76th: Calvin Bell (19:28.04)
77th: Micah Johnson (19:33.70)
78th: Connor Douglas (19:37.35)
85th: Christian Haney (19:43.35)
89th: Tyler Holtzen (19:50.39)
93rd: Connor Runty (20:04.19)
112th: Shane Bagby (21:11.50)
114th: Patrick Versluis (21:29.25)
115th: Jacob Berry (21:29.60)
116th: Rylan Carlson (21:32.27)
122nd: Mason Anderson (22:26.94)
132nd: Camden Baumgardner (23:20.07)

Final Standings
Quincy 35
Geneseo 55
Rock Island 74
Sterling 115
United Township 116
Moline 161
Galesburg 193
Alleman 199

Lady Leafs XC Win WB6 Championship, Smith & Wachtel Finish Top Ten

Final Standings
Geneseo 49
Quincy 49
Moline 67
Sterling 106
Rock Island 112
United Township 140
Alleman 180
Galesburg 139* (3 runners)

GHS Results
2nd: Brooklyn Smith (18:55.08)
6th: Lucille Wachtel (20:03.41)
11th: Evelyn DeBaene (20:37.67)
12th: Jeslen Rink (20:38.20)
18th: Ayla Schultz (21:24.10)
26th: Alivia Brown (21:49.40)
31st: Hannah Stone (22:22.50)
38th: Liberty Brumbaugh (23:05.05)
41st: Jacey Gehl (23:36.20)
42nd: Bella Curcuru (23:43.31)
43rd: Stella Allison (23:49.05)
61st: Ella Taylor (25:31.56)
65th: Rachael Roodhouse (25:44.97)
74th: Hope Kuster (26:26.35)
86th: Kjerstin Wildemuth (30:39.10)

Leafs Victorious In Regular Season Finale, Regionals Next Week

October 15 - GHS Pitch
Maple Leafs 2 Quincy 1
Goals: Brady Hamer, Cole Clifton
Overall Record: 7-8-1 (3-4 WB6)

Final Standings (WB6 Games Only)
Moline 6-1
UTHS 6-1
Rock Island 6-1
Geneseo 3-4
Quincy 3-4
Galesburg 2-5
Alleman 2-5
Sterling 1-6

Next Up - 2A Geneseo Regional
Quarterfinals - October 19 - Sterling High School
10:00: #8 Sterling vs #9 Orion

Semifinals - October 23 - GHS Pitch
5:00: #1 Dunlap vs the winner of #8 Sterling & #9 Orion
7:00: #4 Geneseo vs #5 Dixon

Championship - October 26 - GHS Pitch
11:00: Dunlap, Sterling, or Orion vs Geneseo or Dixon

2024 GHS Athletic Hall Of Fame - Class Of 2024

Chris Ford

Chris Ford was a key figure in GHS athletics for three years. While he helped the 1977 Maple Leaf basketball team win the first Regional Championship in the history of the school, it was the on gridiron where he excelled for three years. A two-time All-NCIC selection, he gained All-State honors as a senior. He was a three-year starter on teams that were 39-1, and collected three consecutive State Championships. He followed his high school career with four years at Augustana College, again with All-Conference honors and an All-Amereican selection as a senior. Chris has continued to share his talents as a coach at Christian Hope Academy and has served on the National Fellowship of Christian Athletes Football Board.

Lori (Hofer) Boldt

Lori (Hofer) Boldt was a three-peat standout at GHS for four years and added track as a fourth effort as well. In volleyball, she was All-Conference for two years and was chosen as MVP her senior year. During her three year varsity softball tenure, she again gained All-Conference honors after her senior year. On the basketball court she was a four year varsity performer, again earning All-Conference honors twice. After her senior year, Lori was chosen as the GHS Female Athlete Of The Year. After GHS, Lori entered the University of Illinois where she participated in volleyball and basketball.

Autumn (Bassett) Heap

Autumn (Bassett) Heap began her interest in golf at an early age, crediting her initial interest to her family outings at the Geneseo Country Club, beginning in 7th grade. Autumn played softball at GHS, but her focus continued to be golf. She played during summers at the Club and credits Julie (VerHeecke) Frels with helping her, especially with her short game. While in high school, she continued to play in summer tournaments, became a four year varsity letter winner and was the first GHS female golfer to excel in the postseason. She won the IHSA Regional, carding a 77, establishing a school record. Autumn led her team to the State Tournament, the very first GHS Golf team, boys or girls, to do so. That team finished 4th in the State, with Autumn placing 7th individually. After GHS, Autumn took her game to the collegiate level, playing at Illinois State University

Todd Akers

Todd Akers was a three sport athlete at GHS, winning All-Conference honors in both football and basketball where he was also named to the Quad-City and Kewanee Hog Fest All-Star teams. However, his highest honors were on the track where he ran the hurdles, and in the field, where he triple jumped, long jumped and high jumped, and was a four year letter winner. He was the NCIC High Jump Champ and qualified for the State Finals twice. Todd’s GHS record of 6’11” still stands after more than three decades. He received a track scholarship to the University of Illinois where he placed 6th in the Big Ten Outdoor Meet and also began competing in the javelin and the decathlon. After the U of I, he has become a National Registered Paramedic and is a certified search and rescue diver.

Marc Motzer

Marc Motzer was a three sport standout at GHS beginning in wrestling his freshman year when he was a NCIC Conference Champion, on his way to becoming a four year varsity performer. On the football field, he was a two year starter at quarterback, passed for 1,000 yards, was twice an All-NCIC selection, and was named to the Quad-City All-Star team and played a key role on the 1990 IHSA Football State Runner-up squad. Marc was a starter on the GHS Baseball team for three years, again earning NCIC honors and was named the Quad-City outstanding defensive player of the year. He topped off his GHS days by being awarded the John McCormick award as the outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. After GHS, Marc went to Kirkland College where he was a two-year starter and helped lead them to the JUCO World Series. He followed Kirkwood with a stint at Iowa State as a two year starter. After his collegiate days, Marc played with multiple professional teams and was invited to camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Allison (Farrell) Cooney

Allison (Farrell) Cooney began a career on the golf course as a GHS freshman that would distinguish her in high school and later at Western Illinois University. At GHS, she was named to the All-Metro golf team four years running, and was All-Conference as a junior and a senior, was named MVP for three years, and was chosen as area Pacesetter. Allison was regional champion her senior year, carding a 78 for the win. Allison's finish at the Sectional meet her senior year qualified her for State. After her GHS days, Allison continued her golf career at Western Illinois University with significant accomplishments on the links consistently for four years accompanied by Summit League All-Academic honors and was named a Distinguished Scholar. During the summer of 2024, Allison teamed with her dad to win the Father/Daughter Invitational Tournament in Kerry, Ireland.

Don Fredericks

Over more than three decades, Don Fredericks established a career resume at GHS that goes far beyond the overwhelming number of successes that his teams rang up. The numbers alone reflect only a small portion of his contribution to our school and community. Don's focus has always been on the student, not what he or she accomplished on the track or in the field, but their personal growth as a person, how they treat themselves and others with the dignity they deserve. While Don's athletes' accomplishments read like a litany of excellence, those who have had the privilege of his influence, from his very early days at GHS until the present, remember and speak of his conduct towards everyone, regardless of athletic success. Don Fredericks set the highest standard of character possible.

2007-2008 Maple Leafs Basketball Team

The 2007-2008 Maple Leafs Basketball team, coached by GHS grad Brad Storm was a senior dominated squad that was ranked all year in the State top 20 and topped their season with 20 wins. They began the season by winning a championship of their own Thanksgiving Tourney and finished it off with a trip to the Sweet 16. In the interim, they played to a second place finish in the rugged NCIC Conference, won two games at the prestigious Pekin Holiday Tournament, and reached the Championship game in the Iowa/Illinois Shootout, falling in triple overtime to the top team from Iowa. In the postseason, the Maple Leafs were Regional Champions and qualified for the Sectional finals, placing them in the Sweet 16 for only the second time in Maple Leafs Basketball history.

Maple Leaf Soccer To Wrap Up Regular Season On Tuesday, Host Regionals

The Maple Leafs will close out the regular season on Tuesday October 14 at the GHS Pitch as they host Quincy. Gametimes are 4:30 for JV followed by Varsity at 6:00. GHS are among the schools hosting the 2A Regional Semifinals for the 2024 season. The #4 seeded Leafs will take on #5 Dixon at 7:00pm on Wednesday October 23.

October 8 - Alleman High School
Alleman 4 Maple Leafs 1
Goal: Jaxon Ernst
Overall Record: 6-8-1 (2-4 WB6)