Genoa-Kingston 41, Leo 22, at G-K on August 30
The glass-half-full take: Leo outscored host Genoa Kingston 14-6 in the second half of Friday’s season-opening nonconference football game in 90-miles-distant Genoa and displayed some offensive verve as the evening wore on.
The glass-half-empty take, though, was more in line with the outcome. While surrendering 304 total yards, the Lions buried themselves under an avalanche of mistakes in spotting the Cogs a 35-6 halftime lead. There was no climbing out of that hole; thus the 41-22 final, an 0-1 record and a schedule that offers no easy wins.
G-K quarterback Nathan Kleban’s five completions (in just eight attempts) went for 126 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to receivers Patrick Young (24 yards) and Blake Ides (53 yards) who were simply uncovered.
Resistance had also gone missing when Tyler Atterberry (74 yards) and Owen Zaacard (56 yards) broke off runs that produced one score and set up another.
Wait, there’s more.
The last of Leo’s eight first-half penalties, for roughing the passer in the final seconds, gave the Cogs an extra play, which Kleba converted into a 9-yard TD toss to tight end Hayden Hodgson.
G-K scored six touchdowns, and on five of them the Lions were offsides on the conversion attempt, giving G-K an extra shot from closer in.
Finally, after Javon Logan’s 53-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run brought the Lions’ sideline to life, they’d have given themselves faint hope with a stop on fourth-and-one at their own 41-yard line. Instead, they jumped offsides, handing G-K a first down and clearance to run out the clock.
As for the glass-half-full components, they start with Logan, who needed just nine carries to compile 109 yards. But his 53-yard score was his only touch of the second half as the deficit they faced prompted the Lions to go airborne.
Junior quarterback Derrick Davis responded with 10 completions in 17 attempts for 85 yards while running for his life against a pass rush that just kept coming. Davis threw an 8-yard TD pass to Marshawn Durr and two PAT conversions to Durr and Gavin Donald. He also ran for a 4-yard touchdown, and it’s a tribute to his clever elusiveness that he was dropped only twice.
Sophomore Towalo Johnson had 56 yards on 12 carries in his varsity debut, and senior Ryan Cunningham was a 100-yard weapon on kick and punt returns, though two of his best efforts were negated by penalties.
Overall, it seemed to be a pleasant night for football as the Cogs saluted the late Dave Russell, a highly accomplished, 36-year coach at G-K who died in December. But high humidity created cramping issues for both teams; the game was delayed several times as players were treated.
Only once did the Lions manage 22 or more points last season, in a nonconference demolition of a Walther Christian team that really didn’t resemble a high school varsity. Still, they find themselves with much to work on before they travel to Amundsen for a 12:30 game on Saturday, Sept. 7.
An IHSA Class 6-A team from the Chicago Public League, the Vikings (1-0) beat Niles North 28-6 in their season opener. They’re coming off a 6-5, IHSA playoff season and are 21-10 over the last three seasons under Coach Nick Olson.
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