Geneva 61, Kaneland 21

The Geneva Vikings football team made sure it would be the lone champion of the Western Sun Conference this season on Friday night when the team headed to Maple Park.

They did so by getting the ball into the hands of Michael Ratay, who put on a memorable offensive display.

Ratay scored 6 touchdowns, as the Vikings routed the Knights, 61-21. Ratay finished with more than 300 yards of total offense.

The Vikings not only captured a conference championship outright, but also ended the Knights lengthy playoff run which had extended into double digits.

"We're proud (of winning the conference)," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "That was kind of our focus coming in. (Kaneland) were trying to stay in the playoffs and our goal was to have an outright championship, so yeah, there was a lot of talk on that."

The No. 13 proved to be unlucky for the Knights, as their bid to qualify for the playoffs for a 13th consecutive year was thwarted by the Vikings.

"I've said all season long that we have 8 sophomores out there," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. "They play hard and didn't quit and came out in the second half and not one of them quit."

Geneva (8-0, 6-0) wasted little time in trying to set a tone for the evening. Thanks to kickoff and punt returns of 38, 28 and 29 yards, the Vikings enjoyed great field position in its first four offensive possessions and they scored touchdowns on three of them.

On the third play of the contest, Drew Fagot scampered into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown run. On the Vikings third possession, which began at the Kaneland 46-yard-line, Ratay had a 9-yard touchdown run. On the Vikings fourth possession, quarterback Mike Mayszak jolted down the sidelines for a 17-yard touchdown score.

Thanks to three PATS from Sean Grady the Vikings were ahead 21-0 with 1:12 remaining in the opening quarter.

"We figured if we could get the momentum early, because they'd be coming he here high-flying," Wicinski said. "Field position has been key for us all year, and it's not like we've had 12 to 13 play drives. That's tough to do in high school."

Kaneland (3-5, 2-4) never was really able to make a game after falling behind 21-0 as the deficit proved to be too much. A pair of touchdown passes in the first half by Jody Henningson allowed the Knights to put 14 points on the scoreboard, but Ratay simple proved to be more than the hosts could handle.

A 90-yard touchdown run by Ratay and then his 40-yard touchdown run, which followed a 55-yard kickoff return by Joe Augustine, allowed the Vikings to head into halftime with an impressive and comfortable 41-14 lead.

"I've never had a streak like that," Ratay said. "It was pretty ridiculous, but all those yard are thanks to the offensive line. Most of the holes I didn't even get touched."

When Ratay wasn't running through the Kaneland defense it was the Vikings defense, which limited Kaneland to less than 300 yards of total offense, which shined.

"We just kept the same defense we've had all year," said lineman Cory Hofstetter who had an interception and three pass deflections. "We modified a little 4-3 this week, but overall it was out same defense."

Now the stage is set for next week as the Vikings will aim for their first undefeated regular season since 1985 when the face rival Batavia.