Late pick lifts Geneva

Updated: August 26, 2011 10:30PM

One play was all it took.

The play, an interception in the end zone, paved the way for Geneva to defeat Rock Island 27-14 Friday night at Burgess Field.

Trailing 21-14, Rock Island was driving for the tying touchdown when Geneva’s Andy Francis threw up a huge stop sign.

The Rocks drove to the Geneva 13 where they were saddled with a 3rd and 9. Quarterback Zach Chapman floated a pass for Cole McGinnis in the end zone but Francis took the ball away for a touchback.

“That was huge,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “He (Francis) out-fought him (McGinnis) for the ball.”

The Vikings then put the finishing touches on the victory by marching 80 yards in six plays for the clinching touchdown. Parker Woodworth, who earlier scored on runs of 9 and 5 yards and rushed for 114 yards on the night sprinted the final 20 yards for the touchdown.

The Vikings ran for 255 yards and quarterback Matt Williams (8-of-13) threw for another 136.

The Rocks, with fullback Brandon Richardson powering for 181 yards in 30 carries, rushed for 320 yards.

“That’s (double Wing-T) a tough offense,” Wicinski said of the Rocks. “You never see it (and) you can’t replicate it. It was a real challenge for the defense.”

Rock Island trailed 21-6 at halftime but took the second half kickoff and ran eight-and-a-half minutes off the clock before scoring on a 5-yard run by Quendareus Chamberlin.

“That’s what that offense does,” Wicinski said. “I looked up and we’re getting the ball back with three minutes left in the quarter. We needed this game, we were tired of looking at each other. Now we have data.”

Not to mention facing Wheaton North at Burgess Field next Friday.

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