August 27, 2007 - Geneva College
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August 27, 2007

Picture of August 27, 2007

Geneva College (0-0) @ Thiel College (0-0)

Saturday, September 1, 2007

1:00 pm - Alumni Stadium at Stoeber Field

All-Time Series: Geneva 20-9-3

Last Meeting: Thiel 7-0 (2006)

Geneva College and Thiel College are set to kick-off the 2007 season with a rematch from the 2006 season opener. Geneva and Thiel have met 32 times previous to this year in a series that dates back to 1899.

This year′s contest takes on added excitement as the Golden Tornadoes will be playing their first season as a member of NCAA Division III and the Presidents′ Athletic Conference. Although Geneva is ineligible for post-season play, this year′s contest will take on a bit more significance than last year′s non-conference affair that saw Thiel sneak past Geneva in a 7-0 defensive struggle.

Geneva is set to open a new season with a brand new starting quarterback. Bobby Bondi will begin his first season as the Golden Tornadoes number one man. Although Bondi has started before due to injury, he has never opened the season as the number one man. Bondi has played behind four-year starter Justin Sciarro for the past three seasons. Bondi will be joined in the backfield by second year starter Javon Moody. Moody rushed for nearly 300 yards in a part-time role last year, but much like Bondi, the 2007 season sees him as the number one guy.

Coming off a 4-5 season in 2006, Geneva will look to find a way to win some of its close games this season. Last year, the Golden Tornadoes′ offense generated more than 21 points just three times. Defensively, Geneva allowed its opponents to score more than 21 twice. Although Geneva′s defense will have to be without third all-time leading tackler Brian Hall, it does return a total of ten starters in 2007. Bradley Roman, who lost the final eight games of the season due to injury, returns to lead the defensive charge in his fifth year.

Much like Geneva, Thiel will begin the 2007 season with a new signal caller. Willie Bova will be leading the Tomcats into action after having thrown just two passes in his collegiate career. Bova will have the luxury of handing the ball to one of the top running backs in the PAC. Steve Minton rushed for 537 years and six touchdowns last year and will get the bulk of the carries in 2007.

Thiel′s defense proved to be quite stingy last year by allowing just 16.1 points per game, including a pair of shut-outs against Geneva and Grove City.

Geneva and Thiel will be right back into action on September 8th with the Golden Tornadoes traveling to Washington & Jefferson for their first meeting against the Presidents since 1985. Meanwhile. Thiel College will host Alfred.

Aug 27, 2007