School celebrates Geneva football team

The Geneva High School varsity football team should be proud, Principal Tom Rogers said Monday.

"Congratulations, gentlemen. You have done something that was done only one other time in Geneva history. You have now put yourself in unique company," Rogers said, noting the team is the first since 1975 to play in the Illinois High School Association state championship game. The 12-1 Vikings made it to the Class 7A title game in Champaign Saturday night where they were defeated by East St. Louis, 33-14.

The school welcomed the team with a short assembly before classes Monday morning, at which time the team, wearing its jerseys, presented the second-place trophy to the school.

Rogers noted that some of the seniors have played on the varsity team since they were sophomores, and in those three seasons the team amassed a 35-4 record.

"You have truly put our football program on the map," he said.

After the assembly, quarterback Michael Ratay, a senior, said he believes next year's team can continue on this year's success. Geneva was undefeated until the title game.

"Absolutely. We've got a lot of talented juniors coming back, and the sophomores had a good season," he said.