Geneva puts on clinic, tops Titans

The Golden Tornadoes took advantage of Westminster’s mistakes.

By BILL ALBRIGHT

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

NEW WILMINGTON — Special teams and defense. Geneva used those two phases with great efficiency to roll over Westminster Titans, 37-14, Saturday at Harold Burry Stadium.

The Golden Tornadoes (2-1) put on a clinic to put points on the board. They used a bad snap from center to set up a field goal, returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown, and scored a touchdown in the conventional manner when fullback Matt Dean rumbled in from 5 yards out to make it 23-0 at halftime.

“Geneva has a very solid defense and they showed that today,” said Westminster coach Jeff Hand. “They play well, they play fast and they bring a lot of people at you. We weren’t surprised at what they tried to do and the mistakes they forced on us. You have to give them a lot of credit because they executed.”

The Golden Tornadoes took advantage of a high snap from center that resulted in a field goal and a blocked punt that led to a touchdown for a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

“In that defense where you run a three-man front for much of the time, they are going to bring a fourth and fifth guy,” Hand said. “Geneva plays that defense really well.”

After the bad snap resulted in Nick DiPietro’s 26-yard field goal less than four minutes into the game, the Titans regained the momentum with an effective passing game engineered by quarterback Kevin Franz.

However, faced with fourth-and-6 near midfield, the Titans’ punt was blocked by Zach Feltrop. Brian Wilson scooped up the loose ball on the Titan 35 and seconds later, crossed the goal line for the game’s first touchdown.

More problems

Trying desperately to get back into the game, the Titans (2-1) experienced more problems as Geneva defensive end Brian Wilson intercepted a Franz pass and returned the theft for a score before they finally got their first offensive points of the game before Dean scored his touchdown just before halftime.

In the second half, the Titans tried to get back into the game, but unfortunately, their scoring efforts were nullified by two more mistakes as the Tornadoes blocked their second punt that resulted in a touchdown before Brad Roman picked off a pass and returned it 30 yards for a score.

Sandwiched around the pair of Geneva scores in the second half were a pair of scoring hookups between Franz and wide receiver Brett Ziegler.

However, as good as the Titans’ passing game was, the offense was one-dimensional.

For the game, the Titans finished with 334 yards through the air, while showing a net rushing effort of minus-25 yards.

Franz completed 26-of-29 passes for 320 yards.