These guys like that ugly label
Say the word ugly to someone, and you'll likely get a number of different reactions. Chances are none of them will be favorable.
By true definition, the word means frightful, hideous, or offensive to the sight.
There's very little that has been offensive to the sight for Geneva football fans this season.
That happens when your favorite team has outscored its opponents by a staggering 453-147 margin, racked up more than 5,000 yards of total offense, including 3,791 rushing yards, topped the 40-point plateau seven times and won all 13 of its games on the way to Saturday afternoon's Class 7A state championship clash with East St. Louis at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Then why did I hear people on the sideline calling for the "Ugly Formation" during the Vikings' semifinal game against Crystal Lake South last Friday?
And what exactly is the "Ugly Formation?"
"It's our ugly package," said senior defensive lineman Cory Hofstetter.
You mean, as in bad present wrapping (something I have perfected during the holiday season)?
Not exactly.
"It's our short-yardage formation," added Hofstetter. "We go with a bigger lineup."
When he says "big," he's not kidding.
While the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Hofstetter comes in and lines up at tight end, 6-2, 260-pound senior middle linebacker Brennan Quinn enters the game as the Vikings' third running back alongside fullback Drew Fagot and tailback Michael Ratay.
It can get even uglier.
"Earlier in the year, we had Frank Boenzi (6-3, 290-pound defensive tackle) in at tight end on our ugly package," said Geneva coach Rob Wicinski. "But then he got sick and we put Cory in his place. We probably would have played Cory more at tight end during the season but he experienced some shoulder soreness and we didn't want to push it."
"Before the season began, we put in two packages," said Wicinski. "We've got pretty and pretty ugly."
Hofstetter and Quinn don't take it personally.
"I guess they call it ugly because they put us on the field - because they put a few defensive players out there," said Quinn. "We've been doing it since Week 1 although we've modified it a little bit."
"I like it because any opportunity to hit someone is fun," added Hofstetter. "Plus, I played tight end when I was in middle school."
Wicinski isn't afraid to "go ugly" come crunch time.
With his team trailing Crystal Lake South 15-11 during the final minute of the third quarter last weekend, Hofstetter and Quinn entered the offensive huddle on 2nd-and-12 at the Gators' 22-yard line.
After a 7-yard run by Michael Santacaterina, the Gators stopped Ratay for a minimal gain, setting up a 4th-and-4 play from the 14.
That's when Quinn displayed his versatility and hauled in a 9-yard swing pass from quarterback Brandon Beitzel, setting up a 1st-and-goal inside the Gators' 5.
"I've caught like three or four passes now," said Quinn. "Actually, I didn't even know it was fourth down at the time."
Two plays later, Ratay scored on a 1-yard TD run, putting the Vikings on top 18-15.
Wicinski knows all about football's uglier side.
After finishing 3-24 in three seasons at Niles North, Wicinski's first four years at Geneva weren't a whole lot better, as his teams went 5-31.
How ugly was it?
The Vikings scored 61 points during Wicinski's first season in 1999.
Sixty-one points - as in nine touchdowns in nine games.
The schedule included a 49-6 loss to rival Batavia, a 52-0 setback at the hands of Morris and a 54-7 season-ending defeat to Oswego. Geneva's closest game was a 26-13 loss to Minooka.
During the 2002 campaign, the Vikings finished 2-7 and were shut out four times in nine games.
But those ugly days appear to be in the rearview mirror, as Wicinski has guided the Vikings to an impressive record of 58-13 and three state semifinal appearances in five years.
On Saturday, the Vikings will shoot for their first state football championship against an East St. Louis team that handed them a season-ending, 34-26 quarterfinal loss one year ago.
It could get "ugly."
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