Field goal helps Geneva capture Victory Bowl

GREENVILLE, Ill. — Nick DiPietro made a 19-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to lift the Geneva College football team to a 29-28 win over Greenville College in Saturday’s NCCAA Victory Bowl.

“We have coached No. 1-ranked teams during our tenure at Geneva, but have never felt as gratified as we do right now,” said coach Geno DeMarco. “These kids are absolutely champions and I could not be more proud of a group of guys. To come out here in a tough environment and come back the way they did speaks volumes to what kind of kids we have.

“This is a very big deal and it is simply a national championship for our program.”

It was the fifth Victory Bowl win for the Golden Tornadoes (8-3) in six appearances since the game began in 1997. Both are records.

Greenville (7-3) suffered its first home loss of the season.

The Panthers pinned Geneva at its own 3-yard-line with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. David Girardi completed a pass on a fourth-and-10 from his own 13 to spark the winning drive.

Geneva’s Gerard Muschette scored three touchdowns.

The Victory Bowl is sponsored by the National Christian College Athletic Association.