Scouting: Geneva @ Sycamore

Geneva (4-0, 2-0) at Sycamore (3-1, 1-1)

Game time 730 p.m. today

Last year Geneva 45, Sycamore 21.

Last week Geneva 26, Glenbard South 24; Kaneland 21, Sycamore 14.

Outlook Geneva coach Rob Wicinski looks for his defense to continue against Sycamore where it left off last week, shutting out Glenbard South in the second half after the Vikings trailed 24-17 at halftime. Despite Geneva allowing a late second-quarter touchdown then coming a yard shy of a touchdown itself, at halftime Wicinski said he was "very pleased with the demeanor. Heads weren't down, and we were looking forward to the second half. It was a tale of two games defensively." The tale turned on a Blake Champer fumble recovery, which led to the second of Michael Santacaterina's 2 touchdown blasts. Geneva turned up the heat on quality Glenbard South quarterback Trace Wanless, getting sacks from Brian Kenney and Connor Quinn. The Vikings' ace in the hole - aside from kicker Charlie James, whose second field goal provided the winning margin with 714 left to play, was Quinn. The junior fullback entered the game with 41 yards rushing on the season and carried the ball 16 times for 156 yards and a 16-yard touchdown run. Holding Glenbard South scoreless in the second half with defensive tackle Frank Boenzi suspended for the game - he's back tonight - indicated the Vikings' depth. Boenzi will be helpful against a Sycamore outfit that gave Kaneland all it could handle with 198 yards rushing. Marckie Hayes displayed why he was an all-conference pick as a junior, rushing for 80 yards to join Joe Dougherty in a 1-2 punch. He must be surrounded on kick returns. Sycamore quarterback Ryan Bartels ran for more yardage than he threw, but thankfully for Geneva Wicinski said he doesn't appear to be as quick as Glenbard South's Wanless. Offensively, after rushing for 237 yards last week, he'll want to pound the football with Quinn, Santacaterina and Jay Graffagna. Seeing what Kaneland's Joe Camiliere was able to do throwing the ball, Wicinski hopes that also translates to Vikings quarterback Brandon Beitzel doing some connecting of his own with receivers James, Matt Williams and Jake Laundau. "They play a tough man-to-man," Wicinski said, "so we're hoping we can play some pitch and catch on the perimeter."

Next week DeKalb (1-3, 0-2) at Geneva