Stiff defense pushes Vikings to Round 2

GENEVA — On the scoreboard, Geneva's 36-8 win over Shepard on Saturday in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs would look like the Vikings had an offensive explosion.

While the offense did well and it was the second-most points Geneva had put up this season, this win — and subsequent advancement to the second round to face Wheaton Warrenville South — belonged to the defense.

The Vikings held the Astros to 14 yards rushing and 165 yards on the day, with most of those yards coming in the fourth quarter after the game was no longer in doubt.

Shepard tried to confuse the Vikings with several looks, running out of an I-formation, shotgun, spread and even a little option, but the defense held fast. Out of 37 running plays, the Astros were held to zero or negative yardage 23 times.

"It's all good coaching," said senior defensive back Michael Santacaterina, who had an interception and also scored a touchdown on offense. "They set us up and got us prepared all week. Whatever they threw at us, we knew what was coming. Coach (Frank) Martin, our defensive coordinator, is a genius."

It was the third shutout of the year for Geneva (9-1) and the second in a row; the Vikings blanked rival Batavia to end the regular season.

"Our defense, whatever a team brings, we really are liking our angles and their positioning," Geneva head coach Rob Wicinski said. "You have to give the kids credit, they watch a lot of tape and do a lot of studying on their own."

The defensive effort made it easy for the offense to relax and get some points on the board. With Shepard stacking defenders in the box, Geneva finished with a modest 75 yards on the ground.

But that opened up the passing game, and senior Brandon Beitzel took advantage. He connected with tight end Jack Delabar on a seam route from 18 yards out to put the Vikings on the scoreboard with 1:28 to go in the first quarter. Four minutes later, Beitzel dropped a swing pass to Connor Quinn, who rambled 18 yards to the end zone to make it 14-0.

Later in the fourth, Beitzel capped the scoring with a long pass down the sideline to Matt Williams, who outraced the defense 46 yards to the end zone.

"We saw eight men in the box and when we see that, we throw," said Beitzel, who finished with 121 yards. "We just air it out. That's what we did (Saturday) and just went with the flow."

The Vikings will need all of that against a WW South team that has outscored its opponents 251-13 over its last five games. The Tigers have scored 61 points in back-to-back games, including a 61-6 win over St. Laurence in their playoff opener Friday.

"To be the best you have to play the best, and right now it looks like Wheaton South is the best," Wicinski said. "We are excited for the opportunity. How fun is it for these kids, that they have earned the right to go to the next level?"