Sterling defense dominates in win over Geneseo

STERLING – Sterling’s defense kept Geneseo from not only getting into the end zone, but from getting anywhere close to it in a Western Big 6 game at Roscoe Eades Stadium on Friday.

The Leafs ran all of 12 offensive plays in the first half, did not gain a first down until the final play of the half, and did not cross midfield until its last drive of the game, which stalled out at the Sterling 29 with 4:23 left in the game.

In the meantime, Sterling’s offense got on track early, and the Golden Warriors never looked back in a 41-0 win.

“We were playing as a team the whole time,” Sterling linebacker Alex Knapper said. “We knew exactly what they were going to be running, and we were just filling the gaps like we needed to.”

Sterling’s offense and special teams set the tone early. JaShawn Howard returned the opening kickoff to the Golden Warriors’ 45 and Noel Aponte took it the rest of the way for a 55-yard touchdown on the Warriors’ first play from scrimmage.

“We get great field position on the first play and we’re able to pop it,” Sterling coach Jon Schlemmer said. “Those are things, that’s not easy. Our kids put in a lot of time this week, and up front is where we did not play quite as well as we wanted to last week, but we’re young and those guys are growing up.”

Sterling's Noel Aponte runs in for a touchdown on the first play of the game against Geneseo on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Howard capped off a 12-play, 68-yard drive with a score on the next Sterling drive to make it 14-0, and Kael Ryan added a pair of scores on the ground and through the air, keeping it himself for a one-yard touchdown and hitting Blake Nettleton for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Aponte carried 11 times for 103 yards and two scores. David Tessman added 11 carries for 59 yards. Kael Ryan completed 2 of 3 passes for 31 yards and Drew Kested completed 9 of 10 for 70 yards. Carter Ryan reeled in five catches for 49 yards.

But Sterling (2-0) set the tone with its defense. Geneseo’s first two drives went three-and-out, the third ended with a fumble. The Leafs’ fourth drive started at their own 26 and went backwards. Jason Farnham got a tackle for a four-yard loss on first down. After an illegal substitution penalty knocked the Leafs back even further, Geneseo quarterback Nathan Beneke passed the ball out to Mason Jones and he was swarmed by Sterling defenders for a 15-yard loss. Beneke completed 2 of 5 passes for -15 yards.

In the first half, Geneseo ran just 12 offensive plays and gained -7 yards. For the game, Sterling had a 216-78 edge in rushing yards and a 318-63 edge in total yards with a 17-4 edge in first downs. For the first half, Sterling had as many first downs (12) as the Leafs had total plays from scrimmage.

“Our guys stepped up,” Sterling defensive coordinator Mike LeMay said. “We weren’t running to the ball last week, and that was our emphasis this week was flying to it. I could just tell they were geared up. Seeing what [Geneseo] did on film, we were prepped pretty well for that and getting into those positions. But it’s all the kids. They just had a different mentality.”

Geneseo (0-2) running back Bruce Moore was limited to just 12 yards in the first half, though he got going in the second half to finish with 76 yards on 17 carries.

“The emphasis on the sideline is it’s not about the big hit as it is about the fundamentals of wrapping up,” LeMay said. “We were trying to do too much of the big hit and he was spinning off of stuff. Its one of those things we’re going to have to be better at next week.”

Sterling’s defense matched the big plays of its offense. Trevon Jordan recovered a fumble and went 42 yards for a touchdown with 1:18 left in the first half to put the Warriors up 34-0.

“I just saw the ball come out,” he said. “I know I have to get two hands on it, pick it up and run. I had a bunch of lead blockers to lead my way to the end zone. I can’t thank my teammates enough.”

It was one of three fumble recoveries for the Warriors. Alex Knapper had two of them, including one on a kick return.

“I saw him drop it and the first thing I thought was to dive on the ball,” Knapper said. “I was the first man there, I just had to get there.”