Scouting Geneva at Rock Island

Geneva at Rock Island

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today.

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: Enter the road warriors. Geneva, seeking a nonconference opponent after its move to the Upstate Eight Conference pushed St. Charles East into Week 3, landed the Rocks for a two-year contract. Located near the Iowa border, Rock Island - a noted track and field school with 20 sectionals and five top-two finishes to its credit - went 8-2 last year and was the 5-0 titlist of the Western Big Six. It was the fifth straight playoff season for Rocks coach Vic Boblett and the 15th playoff appearance in his 19-year career (157-52), which includes a 1997 Class 5A second-place finish. According to the Quad City Times, "Rocky" returns a pair of all-conference linemen in Jake Davis (6-2, 275) and Larry Harris (6-2, 230) blocking for all-conference backs Nikko Watson and Chris Glover. A combination of smashmouth and track squad, of this first-time opponent Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said, "A comparable team out here would be Rochelle, with a little bit more speed." The sour in that statement is that only Rochelle and Wheaton Warrenville South defeated the Vikings last season. But that's last season. This season Geneva hopes to go into Chicago against Morgan Park, another turf team, in Week 2 with a 1-0 record on the strength of a positive varsity quarterbacking debut by former wideout Matt Williams. Even on a torn-up grass field Geneva's Connor Quinn can run like a madman, so perhaps on turf he'll be greased lightning. Whatever, though Rock Island has an outstanding history playing in a tough conference, the Rocks will be well prepared and highly respectful of Geneva.

Next week: Morgan Park at Geneva, Sept. 4; Pekin at Rock Island, Sept. 3.