BEAVER FALLS, Pa.  – The Geneva College football team almost defeated Shenandoah, a team coming off an 8-3 season that advanced to the postseason, on Saturday night on Reeves Field in the home opener for the Golden Tornadoes.  Geneva led for most of the second half before two costly turnovers in the fourth quarter allowed the Hornets to come from behind and defeat Geneva by one point, 29-28.  The effort was a valiant one, nonetheless, for the Golden Tornadoes.

The game started poorly for the Golden Tornadoes.  A muffed punt snap and an onsides kick that Shenandoah recovered helped the Hornets score a safety, a field goal and a touchdown in the opening nine minutes of the game, putting Geneva in an early 12-0 hole.

However, the Golden Tornadoes battled back in front of their home crowd.  After the defense forced a turnover on downs, the offense drove 90 yards in 13 plays, capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run by senior David Reid midway through the second quarter to get the Golden Tornadoes on the board.

Geneva's defense again forced a turnover on downs, this time the Golden Tornadoes stiffening at the one yard line to stuff Shenandoah's Jalen Redfern.  After trading empty possessions, Geneva got the ball back and marched 80 yards on 10 plays, with junior Caleb Romano running it in from three yards out to send the Golden Tornadoes into the break with a 14-12 lead.

Geneva's defense came up big again to start the third quarter.  On the first offensive play of the second half, sophomore Jaden Duckett stepped in front of a Jack Pearson pass along the sideline and picked off the throw, racing 41 yards up the sidelines for a touchdown, extending Geneva's lead to 21-12.

Shenandoah pulled within two points on a touchdown pass with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, but on Geneva's first play from scrimmage on the following possession, Romano hit senior Luke Crumbacher for a 69-yard touchdown pass to extend Geneva's lead back to nine points, 28-19.

Geneva's first big miscue came on the opening play of the fourth quarter.  After the Geneva defense forced a Shenandoah punt, the Golden Tornadoes muffed the punt, and Shenandoah recovered the fumble deep in Geneva territory.  Two players later Shenandoah scored to pull back within two points.

The Golden Tornado offense had a response initially, though, marching 51 yards on nine plays down to the Shenandoah 24-yardline, where Geneva earned a first down.  Unfortunately, a Geneva fumble on the next play of the drive gave the ball back over to Shenandoah, and the Hornets took advantage with a long drive that eventually resulted in a field goal, giving Shenandoah its first lead of the half, 29-28, with five minutes remaining.

Geneva's offense advanced the ball to midfield, but a holding penalty negated a pass down to the Shenandoah 33-yardline, and the Golden Tornadoes couldn't recover from the lost yardage, turning the ball over on downs.  Shenandoah was able to run out the clock and escape town with a comeback one-point victory.

Romano again led the offense, completing 22-of-36 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown, while also running for a score.  Reid gained 96 yards on 19 carries and a score as the Geneva offense finished with 376 yards of total offense.  Senior Seth Tyson led the receiving core with eight catches.

Defensively, senior Reed Gordon led the team with 13 stops, while senior Nicholas Ciriello added 11 tackles.  Freshman Christian Hunter also reached double digits with 10 stops.  Sophomore Blayze Hargrove added seven tackles and an interception, while sophomore Jaden Duckett was strong in coverage with four pass breakups and the interception return for a touchdown.

Despite the heartbreaking result, Geneva has much to be encouraged by as the Golden Tornadoes head into Presidents' Athletic Conference play next Saturday when Geneva hosts Saint Vincent at 7:00 p.m. on Reeves Field.