SOPHS: Geneva Beats Wind, Storm for 20-16 UEC Crossover Win

The Storm is aptly named today, not for the rain-and-thunder variety but for the windstorm that is a huge factor in games at South Elgin's new football field.

With gale-force winds howling from the north, the Vikings won a game as temperamental as the weather, 20-16 against the South Elgin Storm.

The Vikings trailed 8-7 in the first quarter and led 13-8 at the half. A Storm interception late in the second quarter ended a Geneva drive, and South Elgin drove all the way to the Vikings' 20. But Geneva returned the favor and intercepted with less than 2 seconds left to hold on to the halftime lead.

With 3:51 showing in the third quarter, a long pass from midfield was tipped by a Geneva defender but landed in the hands of a Storm receiver, who ran it in. A 2-point conversion made it 16-13 at the end of three qaurters.

The Vikings made a stop late in the third quarter, then bulled it in, mostly on runs by Joe Boenzi and T.J. Miller. Dan Santacaterina scored from the 1-yard line on a quarterback sweep to put Geneva back in the lead, 20-16, with 8:44 left in the game.

Pace Temple intercepted a Storm pass, giving Geneva the ball with 7:24 remaining. In a key play, Kyle Brown made a great third-down catch, and on fourth and 2, with 5 minutes remaining, the Vikings elected to go for the first down. Boenzi converted, and Geneva held the ball until the 3:23 mark.

Facing fourth and 2 with 2:03 left, the Storm went for it from their own 44-yard line, but a cross-the-field pass was dropped by and open receiver, and Geneva took over.

The Vikings held the ball, punted, then held South Elgin to finish with a breezer 20-16 victory.

Score by quarters

• Geneva — 7-6-0-7—20
• Streamwood — 8-0-8-0—16

Rushing

• #3 TJ Miller — 25 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD
• #22  Joe Boenzi — 9 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD
• #42 Quinn Einck — 3 carries, 0 yards

 Passing

• Santacaterina— 2 of 7, 14 yards, 2 INTs