CLEVELAND, Ohio – Needing a victory to clinch Geneva's best season in over a decade, while also positioning the football team for a possible postseason bowl invitation, the Golden Tornadoes delivered one of their best performances in recent memory while capturing a decisive 43-16 win at Case Western Reserve on Saturday afternoon.  The victory is the first one for the Golden Tornadoes over the Spartans since joining the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in 2011 and improved Geneva's record to 6-4, 6-2 in the PAC, clinching a winning season in the process.  The game also was a huge highlight for the program in the final regular season game of Head Coach Geno DeMarco's 33-year career.

The Golden Tornadoes came into Saturday's game as one of the most prolific passing offenses in the nation, but early on it was the running game behind senior David Reid that sparked the offense to success.  After the defense came up with back-to-back three-and-out stops against the Spartan offense, Reid finished off a 70-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.  To that point in the game, Reid had already racked up 57 yards on the ground.

Case Western quickly answered though, courtesy a long pass that set up the Spartans deep in Geneva territory, and Case Western pulled even at 7-7 as the first quarter came to a close.

Both teams traded empty possessions over the next seven minutes before Geneva capped off a drive with a 46-yard field goal from senior Ryan Reitler, a career best.

The defense came up big again for the Golden Tornadoes several minutes later when senior Payne Brereton sacked Spartan quarterback Sam DeTillio, forcing a fumble in the process which senior linebacker Nicholas Ciriello scooped up and returned 10 yards for a Golden Tornado touchdown.

On the ensuing Case Western drive, Geneva forced its third turnover of the half when sophomore Ry'Shaun Johnson jumped on a loose ball, giving the Golden Tornadoes possession deep in Spartan territory.  Six plays later, junior Caleb Romano found senior Keaton Baker on third-and-goal for a 6-yard touchdown pass.  One of the only negative plays for Geneva in the half followed, though, when Case Western blocked the following extra point and returned it for two points, sending the two teams into the break with Geneva leading 23-9.

The Geneva defense continued to shine, forcing a turnover on downs on the opening possession of the second half, and it took the Golden Tornadoes' potent offense just one play to build on their lead.  Romano found senior Luke Crumbacher open behind the Spartan defense for a 68-yard touchdown pass, which was Romano's 32^nd passing touchdown of the season, setting another single season program record.  It's also the ninth straight game Crumbacher has caught a touchdown pass.

The Geneva defense continued to make life miserable for the Case Western quarterbacks, bursting through the line all game long.  The Golden Tornadoes added to their lead when Romano connected with sophomore Dayne Johnke early in the fourth quarter for a 16-yard touchdown pass, effectively sealing the game by extending the Geneva advantage to 37-16.

The final highlight of the day came with just seconds remaining when freshman defensive back Demarean Frazier stepped in front of a Case Western pass at the goal line and returned the interception 98 yards for a touchdown, the second longest interception return in program history. 

Romano finished the game 18-for-34 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns.  Reid had his best performance of the year with 103 yards rushing and a touchdown.  Crumbacher and Johnke led the receiving group, each finishing with 76 yards receiving and a touchdown.

The defensive effort was just as impressive.  The Golden Tornadoes finished the game with six sacks and four forced turnovers.  Ciriello led the defense with 12 total tackles, 2.0 TFLs and the fumble return for a touchdown.  Sophomore Noah Hutcherson added nine tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.  Senior Reed Gordon finished with eight tackles and a forced fumble, while freshman Christian Hunter totaled seven stops and four pass breakups.

Geneva will now await a possible bowl invitation from the Eastern College Athletic Conference, which will be announced on Monday afternoon, hoping to finish off Coach DeMarco's storied career with a postseason berth and one more game along the sidelines.  If a bowl invitation does not come, the Golden Tornadoes have sent their beloved coach off with one of their best performances in years.