Sports
VIDEO UPDATE: Vikings Beat the Rocks 27-14
Geneva looks good in first outing; late interception key to 1-0 start.
My phone card went out, so there were no Tweets flying from my computer Friday night at Burgess Field.
But the Vikings were singing the Geneva Fight Song at the end, not so much like songbirds maybe, but like 27-14 winners over the Rock Island Rocks.
What you need to know is that Parker Woodworth gained 109 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead a solid running attack, and Matt Williams threw for 137 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The interceptions—one on each side of the ball—are what turned defeat to victory.
The Vikings were on a roll, scoring the first two touchdowns of the game and driving, when Williams' pass was intercepted in the end zone by DayQwon Jones with 10:11 left in the second quarter.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
That allowed the Rocks' formidable running attack, led by sophomore Brandon Richardson, a chance at the ball and the clock, and the result was a 14-6 Geneva lead at the half.
In the third quarter, the Rocks took the opening kickoff and marched 78 yards, taking a whopping 8 minutes, 27 seconds off the clock and scoring on a 5-yard run by Quendareus Chamberlain. The Rocks added a 2-point conversion on an odd halfback two-handed chest pass, and it was 21-14.
But Geneva's defense, which gave up a lot of yards, came through with some huge plays. The biggest was an interception in the end zone by Andy Francis midway through the fourth quarter—denying the Rocks an opportunity to tie the game or go ahead with another 2-point conversion.
Coach Rob Wicinski said that was the turning point.
"That was huge; that was a big play," he said.
The Vikings added another score—a 20-yard TD by Woodworth—to cap the victory.
Next week: Wheaton North, at Geneva. The Falcons defeated Bartlett 26-24 Friday night.
"We've got to do some growing if we're going to make a run at this Wheaton team," Wicinski said.
Score by quarter
- Geneva: 14-7-0-6—27
- Rock Island: 0-6-8-0—14
Rushing
- #6 Parker Woodworth—107 yards, 16 carries, 3 TDs
- #33 Ben Herrera— 33 yards, 1 carry
- #12 Matt Williams— 33 yards, 6 carries
- #32 Bobby Hess—59 yards, 1 carry
- #38 Dan Berendt—13 yards, 1 carry
Passing
- #12 Matt Williams—8 of 13 for 137 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
