Grove City, PA - One week after Geneva and Waynesburg lit up the scoreboard at Reeves Field for more combined points in one game in Geneva history, it was a reversal of roles at Grove City as the Golden Tornadoes and Wolverines hooked up in a defensive struggle. Unfortunately for Geneva, the final results of the offensive showcase and the defensive struggle were the same. Grove City shut down one of the top offenses in the PAC and held off Geneva 13-7. With the loss, the Golden Tornadoes dropped to 3-4 on the season while Grove City improved to 3-3.
The first quarter opened much like last week with Geneva running up the field for a touchdown to take the lead. Gerard Muschette scored his 40th career touchdown from one yard out to cap a 12 play, 75 yard drive that gave the Golden Tornadoes a 7-0 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter. Amazingly, those would be the only points Geneva would muster all night.
Grove City quickly responded on its next possession with an eight play, 74 yard drive capped by a 17 yard reception from Blaine Miller to Brian Pell. The game remained scoreless until the first minute of the fourth quarter when Pell ran in from one yard out to cap a 12 play, 87 yard drive. The extra point was missed giving Geneva some life down the stretch, but the Golden Tornadoes could never put together a serious offensive threat in falling to Grove City 13-7.
Featuring an offense that came into the game as the top yardage group in the league at nearly 400 yards per game, Geneva could only gain 216 total yards on the night including just 60 yards on 36 carries on the ground. Gerard Muschette led the way with 75 yards on 30 carries including the 40th touchdown of his career. Muschette is just one touchdown shy of tying Melvin Cobbs for the Geneva all-time record.
Despite the loss, the Geneva College defense put together its finest effort of the season. Allowing a conference worst 38 points per game coming into the action, Geneva′s defense came up big time and time again in the second half allowing the offense to have opportunities in the fourth quarter. Grove City managed 331 yards of offense but Geneva held the Wolverines′ ground attack to only 113 yards on 35 carries. Jon Baldwin and Tucker Nuetzel led the defense with ten tackles each with Gary Walstrom checking in with nine tackles in the loss.
The road for Geneva doesn′t get any easier next Saturday night when Washington & Jefferson comes calling to Reeves Field for a 7 pm kickoff. The Golden Tornadoes will be in search of their first home victory of the season as they attempt to get back to the .500 mark in front of the home crowd.
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
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