November 4, 2006
CONTACT: Van Zanic
Sports Information Director
(724) 847-6886
Heart of a Champion, Geneva Rallies Past Urbana to Even Record
Urbana, OH - Geneva head football coach Geno DeMarco has made it quite clear this season that the effort of his team this season has been second to none. Despite an up and down campaign to this date, DeMarco gives plenty of credit to his team for their effort and dedication. On Saturday, Geneva′s football heart beat as one in a come-from-behind 24-21 victory at Urbana University. The Golden Tornadoes rallied from a pair of 14-point deficits to ultimately take its only lead of the game with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The comeback victory moved Geneva′s overall record to 4-4, including a 2-4 mark in the MSFA Mideast League. Meanwhile, Urbana dropped to 5-5 on the season.
The game certainly did not start out the way Geneva′s coaches had scripted it in the first half. Urbana got the game′s only 14 points on a pair of Marc Burr touchdown passes in the second quarter. Trailing 14-0 at the half, Geneva managed to cut that lead in half when Justin Sciarro found Mike Lehman on a 19 yard touchdown pass to cap an 11 play 77 yard drive. Geneva′s momentum was short-lived as Urbana′s Jason Conner took the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown to re-establish the 14 point cushion.
A Greg Eberhart interception and 55-yard return for a touchdown turned the momentum back to Geneva midway through the third quarter. A Larry Diday 19 yard field goal on the last play of the third quarter cut Urbana′s lead to four points and Geneva was right back in the game.
Geneva′s Bobby Bondi, in the game on a short yardage situation, found the end zone on a one-yard run with just under five minutes left in the game to cap a 15 play, 99 yard Geneva drive to give the Golden Tornadoes their first lead of the game.
Urbana drove the ball back inside Geneva′s 20 yard line, but a botched field goal attempt of 31 yards in the final minute sealed the victory for Geneva.
Sciarro was 26-47 for 294 yards and a touchdown to pace the Geneva offense. The running game for Geneva was once again non-existent as the Golden Tornadoes ended the game with 21 carries for -34 yards. On defense, Greg Eberhart had a key interception and a touchdown to go along with another solid effort for the defensive unit.
Geneva will close out the regular season next Saturday against the nation′s number one ranked team. St. Francis, IN, the seven-time conference champs, come to Reeves Stadium with a record of 9-0 and are the number ranked team in the land.