SOPHS FINAL: Geneva 28, Oswego 26

In the inaugural football contest on the new, synthetic turf of Burgess Field, Geneva's sophomore football team made a big defensive stop, then held onto the ball in the final minutes for a 28-26 win over the Oswego Panthers.

The Vikings went out to a 21-8 lead in the first quarter on runs of 30 yards and 14 yeards by quarterback Nick Derr followed by a 16-yard pass from Derr to Brock Perry. Oswego scored early on a 4-yard run by Ed Gamboa, and briefly led 8-7 after a 2-point conversion.

Oswego scored again on a 2-yard run in the second quarter, but with 17 seconds left, Derr connected with Perry again to take a 28-14 lead at the half.

In the third quarter, the Panthers scored on a 32-yard scamper by Treshon Weddington, but missed the 2-point try, and Geneva still led 28-20.

That's how it stayed until 8:24 left in the fourth quarter, when Geneva fumbled and Oswego recovered.

The Panthers mounted a 10-play, 60-yard drive and scored on a 2-yard Weddington run with 4:02 showing, but the Vikings defense stopped Weddington on the 2-point conversion and held onto a 28-26 lead.

With third-and-2 from the Viking 36-yard line, Geneva's Max Woodworth burst through for 21 yards. Derr scrambled for another first down with less than 2 minutes remaining, and Liam Burns scored the first down on a 2-yard plunge with 1:07 left.

The Vikings held onto a 28-16 win, advancing to 1-0 on the new Burgess Field.

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

• Geneva: 21-7-0-0—28
• Oswego: 8-6-6-6—26

GENEVA STATS

Rushing

• #9 Nick Derr: 9 carries, 139 yards, 2 TDs
  
• #10 Liam Burns: 22 carries, 85 yards
  
• #33 Max Woodworth: 3 carries, 21 yards

Passing

• Derr: 6-of-12, 118 yards, 2 TDs

Receiving

• #7 Mike Landi, 1 catch, 7 yards
• #87 Jack Mayes, 1 catch 3 yards
• #5 Perry, 4 catchs, 70 yards, 2 TDs