Geneva’s Ignoffo, who’s ready ‘whenever my number is called,’ teams up with Illinois-bound Konkey

Junior receiver Luke Ignoffo understands that he’s going to be the second option in Geneva’s passing attack, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to make a difference.

With teams focused on Illinois-bound Bennett Konkey, a four-star recruit, Ignoffo has quietly developed into the Vikings’ No. 2 target while making teams pay if they leave him alone.

Ignoffo’s main goal? To stay ready for his phone to ring.

“I just try to make a play whenever my number is called,” he said. “I would say I’m a speedy route runner. I can be a deep threat, short routes, just a good route runner, good hands.”

That has been invaluable to Eastern Michigan recruit Ben Peterson as he guides the offense. Ignoffo has racked up 24 catches for 492 yards and seven touchdowns for Geneva (6-1, 5-0).

“I knew since he was a little kid, we played baseball together, that he was one of the best athletes on the field,” Peterson said. “He’s really fast too, but he’s more of a route guy, a short guy.

“He just worked his butt off. His hands got a lot better from last year to this year. That’s where I’ve seen the biggest jump — his catching ability. I can just rely on him and trust him. It’s really huge.”

Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen pulled up Ignoffo to the varsity last season as a sophomore, and like a lot of the young Vikings, he took his lumps.

But Thorgesen saw Ignoffo make strides near the end of the season, and that continued through the offseason and into this fall.

“By the end of last season, he was starting to get his bearings and was turning into a tremendous player,” Thorgesen said. “Coming into this season, he was that much better. He’s continuing to get better and making the most of his opportunities.

“He’s a really good football player.”

During the offseason, Peterson worked out with Mike Hohensee, his quarterback coach, a couple times a week. Ignoffo, of course, was a regular participant.

“I didn’t have to ask him to come,” Peterson said of Ignoffo. “He was always there.”

That connection has made Ignoffo’s job easier.

“The chemistry is there,” he said. “It’s awesome. I always know he’s going to put it where it needs to be. It’s a good feeling having a good quarterback like that.”

Working with Konkey has opened things up for Ignoffo as well.

“I look up to him,” Ignoffo said. “His route running, his speed obviously, how he controls it, changes speeds.”

Konkey is in the midst of a monster season, catching 50 passes for 1,145 yards and 17 TDs. When teams focus too much of their attention on Konkey, however, here comes Ignoffo.

“Bennett is our main guy,” Ignoffo said. “That probably opens up things for me because they double-team him, triple-team him. It gets me open.”

Thorgesen realizes the importance of being able to mix things up, also using senior running back Nelson Wendell to fuel a ground game that keeps teams honest.

“People really hone in on No. 8,” Thorgesen said of Konkey. “(Ignoffo is) very reliable. He worked really hard this offseason. Every time there was a chance to get better, he was out there working.

“It’s all coming together this season. He’s having a really good year.”

That’s also opened things up more for Konkey since Peterson has the green light to change plays at the line of scrimmage based on what he sees.

“They’ve given me a lot of leeway,” Peterson said. “If I see something, they have the faith in me and trust in me to change the play and change the protection.”

It has all added up to the Vikings being on the doorstep of a DuKane Conference title.

“It’s been a good season so far,” Ignoffo said. “I definitely feel like we can make a run.”