BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – It wasn't a storybook ending for the Geneva College football team and 33-year Head Coach Geno DeMarco on Saturday in DeMarco's final home game, as W&J used a big surge midway through the game to defeat the Golden Tornadoes, 49-7. The win for the Presidents, who are undefeated in conference play, clinches the Presidents' Athletic Conference's (PAC) championship title. Geneva dropped to 5-4 overall, 5-2 in the PAC with the loss.
Geneva came into Saturday's game with a chance to win its first PAC Championship, but the Golden Tornadoes had to win their final two games against two of the top teams in the conference, W&J and Case Western Reserve, while a win for the Presidents would secure their 28th PAC title.
The Golden Tornadoes received the opening kickoff and marched inside the W&J 30-yard line, aided by junior Coltin Hill's fourth down run on a fake punt that kept the drive alive. Unfortunately, an interception on fourth down stymied the drive.
Geneva's defense played well early, stopping the powerful Presidents' offense on two of their first three drives, but ultimately the Golden Tornadoes couldn't score enough points to keep pace. Over the final eight minutes of the second half and the first four minutes of the third quarter, W&J scored six touchdowns to break the game open.
Geneva finally got on the board when junior Caleb Romano found senior Luke Crumbacher over the top for a 65-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter. The play was a significant one, as the yardage broke the single season passing yardage record in program history for Romano, while it also gave Crumbacher a receiving touchdown in his eighth straight game.
Those points proved to be the final ones of the game, with neither team scoring in the fourth quarter.
Romano finished the day with 271 yards passing, but the junior signal caller was under duress the whole game from the talented W&J defensive front. The Presidents finished the game with seven sacks and harassed Romano on several other passing attempts. Crumbacher led the team with 148 yards receiving, while senior Seth Tyson totaled a team-high nine receptions.
Geneva's defense struggled to contain W&J's passing game, as quarterback Kellan Stahl finished with 384 yards passing and six touchdowns. Wide receivers Jacob Macosko and John Peduzzi each finished with eight catches, three touchdowns, and over 160 yards in receiving.
Senior linebacker Nicholas Ciriello led the team with 14 tackles, while senior Reed Gordon added 11 stops and sophomore Noah Hutcherson 10 tackles to aid the defensive effort.
Geneva will close out its season at Case Western Reserve next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
