BEAVER FALLS - Freshman Malcolm Hill (Pittsburgh, PA/Kiski Prep) returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and it proved to be the impetus Geneva needed to upend Bethany 20-14.
Geneva improves to 2-5 (1-4 in Presidents′ Athletic Conference action) while Bethany falls to 5-3 (4-2).
Hill′s pick six was just one of five interceptions by Geneva in the game as the Golden Tornadoes won the turnover margin and the game. Junior Thomas Benyo (Berlin Center, OH/Western Reserve) and freshman Nate Cannon (Palm Beach Gardens, FL/Kings Academy) led the defensive effort as each had a pair of interceptions. Sophomore defensive end Branden “Bubba” Heckman (Freedom, PA/Freedom) also knocked down two passes at the line of scrimmage in the final minutes.
“It wasn′t any different schemes we ran,” Benyo said. “We just did what we do best and it worked.”
When it had the ball, Geneva found its success on the ground as junior Dylan Jones (New Castle, PA/Laurel) scored in the first quarter on a 10-yard run and freshman Anthony Carthen (Washington, DC/McKinley Tech) scored on a 30-yard run in the fourth.
Bethany′s touchdowns were both scored by junior Eric Blinn (Beaver, PA/Western Beaver) on short passes.
“Blinn is as good as advertised,” said Geneva coach Geno DeMarco. “That′s a good team we played but we had one of the best defensive efforts I′ve seen.”
Geneva returns to action next Saturday, visiting Washington & Jefferson at 1:30.
Geneva College invites students to accept the challenge of an academically excellent, Christ-centered education. Offering nearly 40 undergraduate majors, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and campus-based options, and seven graduate degrees, Geneva has programs that place students at the forefront of higher learning. Adhering to the inerrancy of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God′s word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today′s world.