GENEVA COLLEGE (3-4)
vs
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE (4-2)
Reeves Field - Beaver Falls, PA
October 23, 2010 - 7 p.m.
The love for football comes early in Western Pennsylvania. From the time a young boy is able to put a helmet on his head, he has discovered a life-long friend. Youth football in Beaver County especially sparks memories of childhood glory and future dreams. On this day, Geneva College and the Golden Tornadoes football program will honor the hard work and dedication that surrounds the Beaver County Youth Football League. With many of those youngsters looking on from the stands, the college boys will be getting to work on the turf of Reeves Field. As for the 2010 Geneva College football team, it will be faced with the difficult challenge of slowing down an explosive Washington & Jefferson offense in search of its first victory on its home field.
The last time Geneva took the field at home, a capacity crowd was entertained to the tune of 97 combined points. Unfortunately, 55 of those points were scored by Waynesburg in a 55-42 decision over the Golden Tornadoes in front of a record crowd of over 7,000 people that packed Reeves Field. Last week, it was the defenses time to shine but again Geneva came up on the short end of a 13-7 decision at Grove City College. Sitting a 3-4 on the season, the Golden Tornadoes must quickly turn their fortunes around if they have any hopes of participating in their record seventh NCCAA Victory Bowl. Having given up the points in the PAC heading into last week′s game, Geneva′s defense stepped up big time in surrendering just 13 points to the Wolverines. A few personnel changes may have done the trick as Tucker Nuetzel was inserted into the starting line-up and came away with a team best ten tackles along with cornerback Jon Baldwin. For the season, senior linebacker Gary Walstrom leads Geneva with 52 tackles with Chance Kelosky (48) and Marcus Costanza (46) also enjoying solid seasons. The Geneva defense will have to play its game of the year to shut down a W & J attack that is posting over 30 points per game.
The Presidents feature running back Tim McNerney and his seven rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Gino Rometo is completing 67% of his passes including 38 connections with leading receiver Jordan Roycroft. Despite scoring only seven points last week, Geneva′s offense is still averaging 27 points per game led by the running of Gerard Muschette. Muschette scored his 40th touchdown of his career last week and is just one shy of tying Melvin Cobbs for the all-time touchdown record in Geneva history. David Girardi continues to lead the PAC with his 244.7 yards per game through the air including 11 touchdown tosses.
Washington & Jefferson has defeated Geneva five straight times including a 31-10 decision a year ago. Geneva was held to just 56 yards on the ground in last year′s loss. The series between Geneva and W & J dates all the way back to 1891 when W & J defeated Geneva 26-8. The Presidents hold a 36-19-2 advantage in the all-time series with Geneva′s last victory over the Presidents coming during the Reagan administration in 1983.
The Golden Tornadoes head back out on the road next week with a date scheduled against Thiel College at 1 pm. Following its only bye week of the season on November 6th, the Golden Tornadoes will close out the regular season at home against rival Westminster on November 13 at 1:30 p.m. As for W & J, the Presidents return home next week to face Grove City before back to back road games against Thiel and Waynesburg to close out the 2010 regular season.
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