September 9, 2006
CONTACT: Van Zanic
Sports Information Director
(724) 847-6886
Big Plays Abound, Geneva Second Half Rally Leads to 27-13 Victory
Beaver Falls, PA - It took almost three complete halves of football for Geneva to finally put points on the board in the 2006 season. When the points finally came, they came in bunches. As a result, Geneva was able to even its record at 1-1 with a 27-13 victory over Olivet Nazarene.
With Olivet Nazarene leading the game 10-0 late in the second quarter, a Zach Feltrop fumble recovery gave the Golden Tornadoes outstanding field position and Geneva finally found the end zone. Justin Sciarro found Mike Lehman on a 17-yard screen pass and the Golden Tornadoes cut the lead to just three points heading into the locker room.
ONU extended its lead with a Matt Soulia 43-yard field goal, but Geneva came back to get its first lead in dramatic fashion. On the second longest touchdown in Geneva′s 116 year history, Justin Sciarro and Luke Duriancik hooked up on a 98-yard touchdown to give the Golden Tornadoes their first lead of the season.
Brian Dvorsak then took over with a pair of touchdowns to put the game away. Dvorsak scored on a 21-yard reverse in the first minute of the fourth quarter and then Sciarro threw his third TD pass of the game hooking up with Dvorsak from 74 yards out to put the game away with just under four minutes left to play.
Geneva′s defense was again quite stingy and it forced six Olivet Nazarene turnovers, including four interceptions. Sophomore Derek McElhaney stole the defensive show with three interceptions of his own, which already gives him four on the young season.
Other defensive stars included Brian Hall with a team best ten tackles and Zach Feltop, who added eight tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Olivet Nazarene outgained Geneva 381-320, but six turnovers from Olivet Nazarene proved to be the difference.
In a scheduling quirk, Geneva will now have to sit back for two consecutive off weeks before getting back on the field at Malone College on September 30th. Geneva won′t return to Reeves Stadium until a date with Walsh University on October 14th.
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