Confidence helps Geneva continue marching along

All of the pregame comparisons led most observers to the same conclusion about the Geneva Vikings and St. Charles East Saints in their Class 7A second-round showdown Friday night: These teams were so similar in defensive sets and offensive weapons, it was hard to pinpoint a clear advantage.

The Vikings did have one advantage -- they had not lost a game all season. The confidence that builds through an undefeated football campaign ultimately was on full display as Geneva let the Saints strike first but rolled to a convincing 35-14 victory.

It was also important that wide receiver Joe Augustine, who had been quiet the past two weeks, came out in full bloom for Geneva with 5 receptions for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns, while David Mashal, the heart and soul of St. Charles' defense, was injured in the first quarter.

First quarter:ŒAugustine gives St. Charles fans a scare on the opening kickoff, returning it to the Saints' 32-yard line. But the Saints' defense makes the early statement, with Ryan Scott sacking Viking quarterback Michael Mayszak on a blitz to stall Geneva's first drive.

Wes Allen bolts for a 52-yard run on the Saints' first possession with the help of excellent downfield blocking, but it does not result in a score. And it would be the last breakaway jaunt for the Saints' talented tailback.

With the Saints enjoying excellent field position, the offensive line starts sealing off Geneva defenders.

Guard Alex Putz and center Kevin Fredericks deliver key blocks to spring fullback Chris Caci on a run to the Geneva 4-yard line, then Allen gives the Saints a 7-0 lead on a quick opener.

The Vikings come back right away by springing Michael Ratay on a 29-yard scamper and Augustine pulls down a key fourth-down reception at the Saints' 10-yard line.

From there, Ratay follows the block of fullback Drew Fagot and sheds two Saint tacklers to muscle into the end zone from 10 yards out.

Two plays before the touchdown, the Saints endured their biggest setback when Mashal, arguably the best defensive player in the area, is injured chasing Mayszak out of bounds. He watches the rest of the game on crutches.

St. Charles coach Ted Monken praised his defensive front for their effort in the wake of losing Mashal.

"I think the defense, for the most part, responded well," he said.

Geneva 7, St. Charles East 7

Second quarter:ŒThe Saints start finding a soft spot in the Geneva defense by running wide receivers on slants just beyond the linebackers and in front of the secondary.

It pays off in a quick score and a 14-7 lead when quarterback Sam Gunther makes a brilliant play to avoid a Geneva rush, steps forward into his wall of blockers, then fires a bullet pass to Matt Hammer, who uses his speed to dash for a 62-yard touchdown.

Geneva appears to be reeling a few minutes later when the Saints again have possession near midfield, but a holding penalty stalls their drive and Geneva sophomore tackle Frank Boenzi starts to make his presence felt with a sack of Gunther.

Augustine causes his first headache for the Saints by cutting across the field to pull in a pass and then race down the sideline, cut back against the grain near the 10-yard line to avoid a tackler, and go into the end zone for a 64-yard score.

The game turns in Geneva's favor for good when Boenzi sacks Gunther again, this time with his blocker hanging all over him as well.

Geneva coach Rob Wicinski would deliver some scary words for area coaches after the game, saying that Boenzi "just keeps getting better every game."

With Ratay being used as a decoy on a fourth down, Mayszak flips a 25-yard pass to a wide-open Jordan Boser in the flat. The Vikings then set up a full-house backfield for Ratay, with Boser and 265-pound Brennan Quinn blocking. Three plays later, Ratay powers in from two yards out for Geneva's first lead.

Geneva 21, St. Charles East 14

Third quarter:ŒThe Saints take the second half kickoff and start a drive that produces two first downs.

But coaches on both sides of the field are now seeing the same thing -- Geneva's talented defensive front four is forcing St. Charles into double-teams, leaving the linebackers free to disguise blitzes and fill holes to shut down the running game. The Saints suffer the first real miscue of the contest when Gunther fumbles the snap on a fourth-down play at the Geneva 24-yard line.

The Vikings ride that momentum in a drive in which Mayszak shines. He completes a key 15-yard pass on third down to Michael Faught, then hooks up with Augustine on a timing pass for 43 yards and a 28-14 lead.

The Saints show some spark when Gunther finds Jacob Krzeczowski, who makes a terrific 29-yard reception.

But Geneva's Trevor Hyslop comes on a weak-side blitz from his outside linebacker spot for the first time in the game and sacks Gunther on a third-and-8 play at the Geneva 43-yard line.

Geneva 28, St. Charles East 14

Fourth quarter:ŒWith linemen Greg Gregory and Ryan McKenzie leading the way, Geneva goes into a grinding, time-consuming running attack.

Mayszak also shows that Geneva clearly enjoyed the advantage with special teams on this night as he boots a 56-yard punt that pins the Saints deep in their own territory with nine minutes left.

St. Charles' hopes end when Allen, desperately trying to block a Mayszak punt with less than seven minutes left, dives and hits Mayszak's back leg for a roughing the kicker penalty.

The Vikings turn it into another score two minutes later when Ratay follows a big block by Anthony Miller and breaks a tackle to rumble 18 yards for the final score of the night.

Final score: Geneva 35, St. Charles East 14.