Geneva holds off Wheaton Warrenville South in DuKane Conference thriller

GENEVA – At 7:48 p.m. Friday night, the crowd outside Burgess Stadium became quiet as a horn started blaring. After three blasts and the strobe light a top the press box stopped flashing, the throng cheered – a nearly two-hour lightning delay had ended and fans could return to their seats.

The sophomore game, stopped with 19 seconds left in the second quarter, was rescheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday morning and action resumed with the varsity contest.

Spectators then had to wait until the final minutes of the contest to be assured of the winner. Geneva withstood two late game scares to win the DuKane Conference clash, 13-12.

Stalled on Geneva’s 17-yard line with 2:58, WW South attempted a field goal to pull ahead. The boot missed its mark.

On the Vikings ensuing possession, Geneva (3-1, 1-1) faced a fourth and inches at their own 30-yard line with a minute left on the scoreboard. Quarterback Alex Porter bulled his way forward for the first down. The Vikings were then able to run out the clock to preserve the win.

Geneva broke a scoreless deadlock at the 5:40 mark in the first half. Porter connected with Carter Powelson on a pass over the middle at the Tigers’ 28-yard line. The senior veered toward the far sidelined and sprinted for the touchdown for a 6-0 Geneva lead.

WW South (2-2,1-1) earned its first two points of the game on a Geneva safety with 1:48 left in the half. Backed up to their own 12-yard line, and facing 4th and 11, the Vikings attempted a punt. The snap sailed over the kicker’s head and rolled to the end of the end zone.

The Tigers pulled within one, 6-5 on their ensuing possession. Matt Sommerdyke returned the Geneva kick after the safety to the Vikings 12-yard line. The Geneva defense held and WW South settled for a 38-yard Ben Berkley field goal.

WW South went in front, 12-6 on its first drive of the second half. A 5-yard Grant Rylander scamper across the goal line ended a 73-yard eight play drive.

Geneva responded with a scoring drive of its own. Mason Pawelko snared a Porter toss and returned it five yards for the score to tie the game. John Frieders’ kick for the extra point put Geneva on top.