BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College football team put together a dominant first half on Saturday night against Allegheny College on Reeves Field, and the Golden Tornadoes coasted in the second half to a 30-13 victory over the Gators in a game that wasn't as close as the final score might indicate.  Geneva improved to 3-4 on the season with the win.

Geneva received the opening kickoff of the game and marched into Allegheny territory before a turnover ended the promising first drive.  However, on Allegheny's first play from scrimmage, freshman Noah Hutcherson forced a fumble that was recovered by freshman Cody Patterson, giving the Golden Tornadoes the ball right back near midfield.  Ten plays later, sophomore quarterback Caleb Romano rushed three yards around the end for a touchdown to get Geneva on the board.

The Geneva defense, which was impressive in the first two quarters, forced an immediate three-and-out from Allegheny.  Romano took off for 22 yards on Geneva's first play after getting the ball back, and four minutes later sophomore Logan Hartshorn plunged in from one yard away for his first collegiate touchdown.  Despite a blocked extra point, the Golden Tornadoes were ahead 13-0 late in the first quarter.

The Geneva defense again forced a Gator three-and-out, but a long Allegheny punt inside the Geneva 20-yard line forced the Golden Tornado offense to take the long route.  It didn't matter, though.  Geneva moved the ball to midfield and then Romano found junior receiver Seth Tyson wide open behind the Allegheny defense for a 46-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

The final two minutes of the half proved even more explosive for the Golden Tornado offense.  Geneva took over possession at its own 31-yard line with 1:48 remaining before the break and used the passing game to quickly move the ball to the Allegheny 19-yard line before the drive stalled.  Freshman kicker Evan Baker booted a 36-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to give Geneva a 23-0 lead right before the break.

On the ensuing kickoff, junior Ryan Reitler booted a hard, low line drive kick that bounced off an Allegheny up-man, which freshman Colin Benoist jumped on at the Geneva 45-yard line.  On the first play of the drive, Romano went over the top of the Allegheny defense again and hit Tyson for another long gain, this one going for 52 yards down the Gator three-yard line with 11 seconds left in the half.  On the next play, Romano hit Hartshorn for a short touchdown pass to give Geneva a 30-0 lead heading into the halftime break.  The Geneva defense had given up just 62 yards of total offense to that point, while Romano had passed for 161 yards and rushed for 70 more yards.  Tyson had six catches for 139 yards in the first half.

The Geneva offense slowed down in the second half as the Golden Tornadoes used the big lead as an opportunity to play a number of reserves.  Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Allegheny did end the Geneva shutout with two late touchdowns after the game had already been decided.

Romano finished the game 11-of-17 for 161 yards passing and two touchdowns, while he rushed for 81 yards and a third touchdown.  Geneva didn't pass much in the second half, so Tyson finished the game with those six first-half catches for a career-high 139 yards receiving.  Freshman Brice Findley finished with a career-high 63 yards rushing, while Hartshorn finished with two touchdowns.  The Golden Tornadoes rolled up 283 yards rushing and 444 yards of total offense, both season highs.

Sophomore Ryan Clark led the defense, which held the Gators to a yard loss on 14 rushes, with a career-high 10 tackles, while Patterson and junior Reed Gordon each added eight stops and Hutcherson and senior Cameron Smith totaled seven tackles apiece.  Sophomore Coltin Hill had a disruptive day along the defensive line, finishing with six tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss.  Junior defensive lineman Payne Brereton added four stops, 2.0 TFLs and one sack.

Geneva has its bye this coming Saturday, which will provide so much needed rest for a squad that has several players nursing injuries.  The Golden Tornadoes will return to action in two weeks on Saturday, November 2, at Bethany.  Geneva finishes its regular season with two home games against Westminster and Waynesburg.