Columbus, OH - Geneva′s football team basically started its play-offs last week as the Golden Tornadoes were forced to put together a late season run that would have enabled them to qualify for the NAIA post-season. However, Ohio Dominican University, one of the top offenses in the country, showed off its high-flying act against a very good Geneva defense in a 41-14 decision. The game was billed as ODU′s top offense against Geneva′s very good defense. 590 total yards and 41 points later, Ohio Dominican pulled out all the stops to come away with its first ever victory against Geneva.
ODU got off and running early on its first offensive play of the game. Cris Reisert hooked up with Josh Smart on a 90-yard touchdown on the very first play ODU ran from scrimmage. Ohio Dominican ran out to a 20-0 halftime lead and extended it to a 27-point advantage on a Marcus Roberts 17-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the second half.
Trailing by 27 points, Geneva stole the momentum with 14 unanswered points. Justin Sciarro threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Brian Dvorsak and a four yard TD pass to Mike Lehman to get back in the game. After Geneva′s defense held ODU, an off-sides penalty and a fourth down conversion extended ODU′s next drive and eventually the Panthers took into the endzone to put Geneva away.
In the first half alone, ODU opened up its play-book with a fake field goal, a fake punt, a halfback pass and a flee-flicker to keep Geneva′s defense on its heals. A defense that allowed just seven offensive touchdowns in the first six games, yielded six scores on this day.
Sciarro finished the game with 229 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns, while Reisert was 14-22 for 298 yards and two scores. The difference in the game may have come in the comparison of the two running games. Geneva rushed the ball 31 times for just nine yards, while ODU racked up 250 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Geneva will make another road trip next Saturday to Urbana University for another MSFA Mideast League game. The Golden Tornadoes will close out the regular season against St. Francis, IN, which will most likely move into the number one spot in the NAIA poll this week after Carroll College saw its 30-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday against Montana-Northern.
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