Scouting Larkin at Geneva

Larkin (3-5, 2-3) at Geneva (6-2, 5-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Larkin 51, Streamwood 28; Geneva 31, South Elgin 28.

Outlook: Geneva's win over South Elgin wasn't a shock considering the Vikings' ability to take hits and return unfazed, simply to patiently persist, assured by a veteran staff chock-full of big-game experience. It's epitomized by Geneva coach Rob Wicinski's approach to Ben Moore's game-winning, 35-yard field goal: “It's your job.” The Vikings' job tonight is to again stay the course, finish the blocks, tackle with form, against a high-energy Larkin team. While Royals running back Brent Cooks (401 yards rushing, 6 touchdowns) can hurt you, it's the passing combination of quarterback Kyle Newquist to receiver Trevor Whitehead that's scary. Of Newquist's 98 completions for 1,513 yards and 11 touchdowns, Whitehead has caught 67 passes for 1,146 yards, 6 touchdowns. “We're going to really focus in on that young man,” Wicinski said, and typical man-to-man defensive backs Doug Berthold, Tyler Ulin, Ryan Landrum, Kyle Bender and Matt Malecha (3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) will have their hands full. Complicating things is defensive lineman Andrew Mariotti is questionable with a toe injury; if he can't go in comes junior Henry Zupke. Whitehead presents a clear danger but Geneva is more pick-your-poison. Larkin will risk being spread thin defending the ground game of fullback Joe Cella (404 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Connor Quinn (932 yards, 10 touchdowns) without being picked apart by quarterback Matt Williams, who averages 18.3 yards per completion and has thrown 13 touchdown passes to just 3 interceptions. And despite their first-place standing in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division and sure playoff qualification, Geneva's 29 seniors have something to play for on their night. “We don't want to go into the playoffs with any question marks,” Wicinski said.