WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Geneva College football team had a chance to head into its bye week, with Homecoming just around the corner, riding a three game winning streak, but unfortunately a sluggish offense and a late Waynesburg field goal on Saturday afternoon were too much to overcome, as Geneva fell, 10-7. Waynesburg picked up its first win of the season and is now 1-3 overall, 1-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Geneva fell to 2-2, 2-1 in the PAC.
Neither team could generate much offense in the first quarter. Waynesburg's best drive ended on an incomplete pass on fourth down inside the Geneva 20-yard line. After a Geneva three-and-out to begin the second quarter, the defense generated a turnover on an interception from junior Jamarkus Brumskin (Eden, Md./Washington), but Geneva gave it right back on an interception on the following possession.
The Golden Tornadoes were finally able to get their offense going midway through the second quarter with an eight play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 10-yard rushing touchdown from senior running back Trewon Marshall (Leetsdale, Pa./Quaker Valley), and Geneva carried that lead into halftime, 7-0.
The turning point in the game came midway through the third quarter. Geneva marched the ball down to the Waynesburg two-yard line, and the Golden Tornadoes had three chances to punch it in, but the Yellow Jacket defense held tough and prevented Geneva from reaching the end zone. The momentum swing from that stop was evident on the field.
Waynesburg took the first possession of the fourth quarter and marched right down the field, capped off by a 27-yard touchdown reception by Cole Booth on a third and nine play. Geneva's offense continued to sputter, and Waynesburg took advantage on its last possession, moving the ball down to the Geneva three-yard line before kicking the winning field goal with 14 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing kickoff, Waynesburg did a poor squib kick that went only ten yards, giving Geneva one final chance inside Waynesburg territory. Unfortunately, Geneva was only able to gain eight yards on two plays, and a 55-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer was well short, giving Waynesburg the win, 10-7.
"The turning point in the game was not being able to get the ball into the end zone when we had three shots from the two-yard line," said Head Coach Geno DeMarco. "You don't win when that happens. I give credit to Waynesburg. Those kids played hard and winning in this conference is not easy. Now we have two weeks to correct some things, and we will."
Marshall had another big day with 157 yards on 32 attempts, including the lone touchdown. Unfortunately, he didn't get much help from the rest of his offensive teammates, as Geneva could generate just 216 yards of total offense. The defense once again played well, giving up just 287 yards of offense. Geneva's starting linebackers led the way, as junior Torrin Sallis (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) finished with eight tackles while junior Tyler Cann (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton) and sophomore Casey Nau (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) each had six stops. Geneva also came up with five sacks on the afternoon.
Geneva will take the next week off before welcoming Bethany on Saturday, October 6, for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff on Homecoming.