On Thursday afternoon, Geneva coach Rob Wicinski likened the current Kaneland defense to the unheralded groups that won a Western Sun Conference title in 2006 and helped the Knights claim back-to-back state titles in 1997 and 1998.
The concern was warranted as the Vikings struggled to move the ball early on Friday night in Maple Park. But the Geneva offensive line and running back Michael Santacaterina found a groove late in the game and ground out a 27-24 overtime victory over the Knights.
The victory, coupled with a 49-34 Glenbard South win over Rochelle, kept the Vikings (7-1, 5-1) in line for their third straight Western Sun Conference title while knocking the Knights (5-3, 4-2) out of the title chase.
After an offensively abysmal first half, the Vikings found their running game. Santacaterina ran for 102 of his 120 yards in the second half, including the game's final 10 yards in overtime.
The Knights were on offense first in the extra session, but on third-and-goal from the 6-yard line, Geneva defensive tackle Frank Boenzi blew up the Kaneland offensive line and nearly sacked quarterback Joe Camiliere, forcing an incompletion. That led to a 23-yard Chad Swieca field goal and a 24-21 Knights lead.
But it took Santacaterina just two plays to find the end zone and victory for the Vikings. The game-winner was the senior running back's fourth touchdown of the game.
Kaneland's defensive speed and sure tackling concerned Geneva as the Knights entered the contest giving up just 12.4 points per game. It took everything the Vikings had -- including a key fake punt early in the fourth quarter -- to score on the Knights.
Kaneland was led by Camiliere and wide receiver Ryley Bailey, who made several athletic catches to keep the Knights in the game.
The junior quarterback finished with 218 yards on 19-of-36 passing with three touchdowns. But after hitting Bailey (13 catches, 176 yards) on a 12-yard touchdown to put Kaneland up 21-14 with 10:22 to go in the game, Camiliere completed just three more passes, including overtime.
The first half was a defensive slugfest as both offenses combined for just nine first downs and were pushed back by penalties and timely sacks.
In the first 24 minutes, Geneva recorded 61 penalty yards to just 95 yards of offense and a turnover. Kaneland was not much better, with 10 penalty yards and 63 yards of offense and a turnover.
Geneva got on the board first after forcing two consecutive Kaneland three-and-outs and recovered a fumbled Knights punt in the opening quarter. Having controlled field position throughout the first eight minutes, the Vikings managed just one score -- a 7-yard run by Santacaterina with over two minutes to go.
On the previous series, Kaneland dodged a bullet after Eric Tattoni fumbled a punt return and Geneva recovered at the Knights' 18. But on fourth-and-3, wide-open Vikings tight end Jack Delabar dropped a sure touchdown pass from Brandon Beitzel (9-for-20, 76 yards, interception) to give the ball back to Kaneland.
The Knights didn't record a first down until nearly three minutes into the second quarter, when they went on an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a 32-yard pass on third-and-19 from Camiliere to Taylor Andrews (three catches, 35 yards, two touchdowns) with 6:13 to go in the half.
Each team had two more possessions after that score, but the teams combined for just 2 yards of offense.
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