Geneva rolls St Charles East

There is no way to explain it other than to point out that it happens to nearly every team at some point during the season.

It happened to Geneva Friday at Norris Stadium.

“No one played well the first half,” Viking quarterback Matt Williams said. “Everyone was so up tight the first half. I don’t know why.”

Fortunately for the Vikings the tightness left the same time the rains came and, despite trailing 17-14 at the intermission, Geneva rolled to a 35-17 victory over St. Charles East.

When the rains came, Geneva’s passing game made a quick exit. That was just fine since Viking running backs Parker Woodworth (24 carries, 174 yards) and Bobby Hess (5, 85) found huge holes as the Geneva offensive line dominated the final 24 minutes.

“They really came off the ball,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said.

“We just came out relaxed and played our game,” Williams said. “That’s how we win football games, playing our game.”

Williams was a part of that running game with 65 yards in 12 carries. He scored on a 1-yard plunge in the first half. Woodworth scored three times, bringing his season total to nine, and Hess scored on a 63 yard run at the start of the third quarter.

The sprint by Hess was the game-breaker. It wiped out the Saints’ halftime lead, built on an 84-yard kickoff return and a 41 yard TD scamper by Carter Reading and a 33-yard field goal by Danny Muzzalupo.

“We thought he’d be able to contribute,” Wicinski said of Hess. “He’s had a couple bad breaks injury-wise but now he’s healthy.”

St. Charles East (0-3, 0-1 Upstate Eight River) gave Geneva (3-0, 1-0) all it wanted and more. Charlie Fisher starter at quarterback for the Saints and threw for 157 yards and ran for another 84 but couldn’t put any points on the board in the second half.

Still, it was a battle from start to finish. Then again, the Vikings expected nothing less.

“Coach (Mike) Fields had them (the Saints) ready to go and we knew that because coach Fields was at Geneva (as an assistant) for awhile. They came out fired up,” Williams said.

“It was a tough night. He (Fields) had his boys prepared,” Wicinski said.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.