WW South weathers storm to advance

WW South's Matthew Rogers is tackled by a host of Geneva defenders.
(Donnell Collins/For the Beacon-News)

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Joseph Krob’s fourth-quarter interception for No. 3 Wheaton Warrenville South was a game changer, to say the least.

Krob’s pick set up the host Tigers’ final touchdown, sealing a 30-16 win over Geneva in a Class 7A second-round playoff game Friday in Wheaton.

WW South (10-1) will play St. Rita in the quarterfinals.

Krob, a 5-11, 172-pound senior defensive back, grabbed a pass from Geneva quarterback Brandon Beitzel at the Vikings’ 40 with 3:15 to play in the fourth quarter. WW South had a 23-16 lead after blowing a 23-0 halftime advantage, so another score was crucial.

“He kind of threw it right to me and I thought I had to hold onto this ball and not fumble it because we really needed it,” Krob said.

Running back Matt Rogers scored the decisive touchdown on a two-yard run with 2:25 to play, putting the game away. It was Rogers’ second score.

“(The interception) was amazing and such a game changer and it fired everyone up,” Rogers said. “We were playing timid and not comfortable on the first four drives (of the second half). We froze up, but then we opened up and kept moving the ball.”

No. 25 Geneva (9-2) scored three times in the second half, erasing WW South’s huge lead.

Mike Santacaterina scored on a 2-yard run for Geneva’s first score of the game in the third quarter. Charlie James’ 29--yard field goal made it 23-9 Tigers, and Jack Delabar’s 9-yard catch from Beitzel cut the Tigers’ lead to 23-16 early in the fourth.

WW South quarterback Reilly O’Toole had two touchdown passes — both in the first half — of 20 and 42 yards.

Rogers broke two tackles en route to a 20-yard touchdown at 5:31 in the second quarter. And kicker Nick Immekus kicked a 27-yard field goal at the end of the half.