Geneva vs. Albright
September 11, 2010
Reeves Field - Beaver Falls, PA
7:00 pm
The Geneva College football team took the field five times at home in 2009. When the left the field each time, they had picked up another victory. For the first time since 1995, the Golden Tornadoes completed a perfect home record a year ago. Needless to say, Geneva has a tough act to follow on its home field in 2010 as it opens the 120th home season in school history tonight against the Lions from Albright College. To say it has been a while since these two teams have hooked up may be a slight understatement. The last meeting between Geneva and Albright came during the 1938 season. In 1937 and 1938, Geneva and Albright met twice with the same result being an Albright shut-out victory by scores of 20-0 and 19-0. The two teams have changed quite a bit in 72 years but both programs are still enjoying great success.
Geneva captured its fifth NCCAA Victory Bowl title last year and Albright advanced into the NCAA Division III play-offs before falling to Mt. Union College. Coming off an 8-3 record a year ago, Geneva returns nine players on both offense and defense. Last Saturday, the experienced offensive unit posted 32 points in a 32-27 victory over Frostburg State. Senior running back Gerard Muschette picked up 180 yards and three touchdowns to pace the offensive attack. Despite the victory, Geneva had much to back to the drawing board for this past week. With four turnovers, 85 penalty yards and a 26 yard punting average, it was not all fun and games for the Golden Tornadoes in practice this week. The victory was the second consecutive season opening win against Frostburg State after Geneva opened the 2009 schedule with a 41-28 win over the Bobcats at Reeves Field.
Geneva′s defense is bolstered by the return of All-American Adam Rose on the defensive line and four returning starters at linebacker in Solomon Hejirika, Gary Walstrom, Jeremy Kiger and Chance Kelosky. Walstrom picked up ten tackles in the season opening victory at Frostburg State, while Hejirika returns in 2010 having led the team in tackles a year ago.
Albright suffered a 21-13 loss to Ursinus College in the first week of the season. After putting a Scott Pillar five yard touchdown reception on the board to open the scoring, the Lions allowed 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters. Josan Holmes led the rushing attack with 70 yards while quarterback Adam Galczynski threw for 15 yards in completing just 4-8 passes while also running for 40 yards on five carries. Galczynski and Mike Cattolico both saw time at the quarterback position but combined for three interceptions in the loss.
In 2009, the Lions lost only to Delaware Valley in the regular season and took a 9-1 record into the post-season. The season ended with a 55-3 loss to perennial powerhouse Mount Union College. As for the Golden Tornadoes, a thrilling fourth quarter comeback resulted in a 29-28 victory over Greenville College to secure their record fifth NCCAA Victory Bowl title. Geneva head coach Geno DeMarco begins his record 18th season with the Golden Tornadoes passing his predecessor Gene Sullivan for the longest coaching tenure in school history.
NOTES: Geneva hosts Albright College tonight in the only home PAC game of the day. The PAC-MAC challenge features all the schools from the Presidents′s Athletic Conference traveling today to play members of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Because of a scheduling conflict, Geneva will host Albright tonight and will travel to face the Lions next season. Conversley, every other PAC school is on the road today and will host its MAC counterpart in 2011. Geneva will remain home next Saturday afternoon to host two-time defending PAC champion Thomas More College at 1:30 pm.
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