On a night of big plays, Peterson’s screen pass turns into winning 49-yard TD as Geneva outlasts Batavia
For a game where an elite quarterback matchup was the selling point, who knew the deciding pass from Geneva’s Ben Peterson would be the one that traveled the least amount of distance?
The Eastern Michigan-bound Peterson and Wyoming recruit Michael Vander Luitgaren went back and forth, but it was Peterson lofting a screen pass to Nelson Wendell that made the difference.
“We knew coming into this week that they key on the running back very well, so we were kind of hesitant to call that screen play the whole game,” Peterson said. “I saw all those linebackers flow.
“I knew coach called the right play. I just went right over the top and he did the rest.”
That 49-yard touchdown pass with 1:04 left in the fourth quarter Friday night gave Geneva a 56-49 DuKane Conference win at Batavia, the highest-scoring game in the 108 games in the rivalry.
Peterson passed for 240 yards and two TDs and ran for 62 yards and two more scores.
Wendell erupted on the ground for Geneva (5-1, 4-0), piling up 304 yards and three TDs on 26 carries. Illinois recruit Bennett Konkey caught five passes for 56 yards and a TD.
Vander Luitgaren matched Peterson for Batavia (4-2, 3-1), completing 23 of 31 passes for 287 yards and four TDs. He also rushed for 163 yards and three TDs on 17 carries. Darin Ashiru caught nine passes for 132 yards and two TDs.
While Wendell carried a heavy load for Geneva, Peterson’s steady hand guided the Vikings back time and time again, usually following even more heroics from Vander Luitgaren.
“Not only is he one of the best quarterbacks in the state, he’s one of the best people in the state,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said of Peterson. “He made big throw after big throw throughout the whole game, especially in the fourth quarter. He led us. He’s our leader. He’s our captain.
“He had a tremendous game and he’s showing everyone just how good he is.”
Geneva led 28-21 at halftime, but Vander Luitgaren repeatedly made sure no lead was safe.
His 17-yard TD to Ashiru forced a 28-28 tie. Peterson countered with a 20-yard TD pass to Luke Ignoffo and Wendell followed with a 67-yard TD run to build a 42-28 lead with 1:39 left in the third quarter.
Vander Luitgaren and Peterson then exchanged TD runs before Vander Luitgaren hit Ashiru again, this time from 36 yards out, to pull within 49-42.
Batavia followed that up by recovering the onside kick, with Vander Luitgaren sprinting 52 yards for a TD on the very next play to suddenly force a 49-49 deadlock with 3:23 left.
“He is special,” Thorgesen said of Vander Luitgaren. “He’s elite. Every time he gets an open space, you hold your breath. With him at quarterback, it never felt easy there in the fourth quarter.
“We knew the big plays were coming.”
Peterson and Wendell, however, had one more big play up their sleeve to steal the win.
“It was the perfect play call,” Wendell said. “They sent three on the right side, so it was a screen right for me and it was wide open. I just followed my blocks, touchdown.”
Batavia coach Dennis Piron came away impressed.
“It’s a challenge to play that team,” Piron said. “They’ve got one of the best receivers in the country (Konkey), then they tie into that a running game and a nice, big quarterback that can throw it and run it as well. There’s a lot to deal with there.”
Peterson knows that, too. He’s hoping that leads to another trip to state.
“I think that we’re a top 10 team in the state,” Peterson said. “I think we’re up there with some of the bigger schools. I think we can compete with anyone, especially the way we played (Friday).”