Genoa-Kingston uses big 2nd quarter to get by Winnebago

WINNEBAGO — Genoa-Kingston took some time to heat up, but finished off Winnebago, 26-3, to win its season opener Friday.

“It’s awesome,” Cogs running back and linebacker Colin Nesler said. “We needed to start somewhere, and this is the road to 9-0.”

After being shut out in the first quarter, the Cogs scored three touchdowns for a comfortable 20-0 halftime lead. Both times the Cogs got into the red zone, they turned to running back Brody Engel, who scored both touchdowns on mirroring plays.

“We have a good left side of the line, so they did a good job of blocking on it,” Engel said. “I have to give the honor to them.”

On fourth-and-1 from the 11-yard line, Engel took the handoff on a sweep left and outraced every Winnebago defender to the end zone for a 6-0 lead with less than a minute gone in the second quarter.

It was the second time the Cogs got big yardage on fourth down on the drive, with Nesler churning his legs and carrying tacklers for a 7-yard gain on fourth-and-3 earlier in the drive.

“It’s great,” Nesler said. “I have a great line in front of me, and they made it pretty easy. It’s fun running over people. And then on defense, that’s my favorite spot on the field.”

Nesler also anchored the defense, getting a sack in the second half.

On the Cogs’ next possession, Engel got the call again on a sweep to the left and delivered. This time he scored on first-and-goal from the 8-yard line to put the Cogs up, 13-0.

After a rough start on special teams play for G-K in the first quarter, the third phase got things rolling in the second quarter. The Cogs misplayed their first punt of the game pinning them back at their own 7-yard line. Once the Cogs finally got their hands on a punt, they took it to the house.

Ethan Wilnau ducked behind his blockers, cut across the field and ran down the sideline 60 yards for the score to put the Cogs up, 20-0, with 1:29 left in the half.

“It’s always good to see our guys, especially a junior step into that role and take one to the house and kind of amp us up,” G-K coach Cam Davekos said.

For Davekos, it was his first win as Genoa-Kingston’s coach.

“It’s always good to get that first one under your belt, especially sharing it with the coaching staff, Davekos said.

Cogs quarterback Nolan Perry put the game away with a sneak from the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter to put the Cogs up 26-0.

Winnebago couldn’t muster much on offense, scoring a field goals in the final seconds of the game to avoid the shutout.

“I’m disappointed in the way we moved the ball,” Winnebago coach Mark Helm said. “When you only score three points, we’ve got to go back and try and fix those things.”

Nesler and the defense swarmed the Winnebago offense all night. The Cogs defense forced two turnovers and three three-and-outs.