Ratay scores 5 TDs in Geneva's easy victory
A strong running attack led by Geneva's running back Michael Ratay helped push the Vikings past Dundee-Crown 49-7 Friday night in Carpentersville.
Ratay ran for 187 yards and scored five touchdowns, which all came in the first half of the nonconference football season opener.
The Vikings wasted little time getting on the board. In its first drive, Ratay carried the ball all six times for 40 yards and broke the scoreless tie on a two-yard run.
"Our offensive line blocked great," Ratay said. "All the holes were huge and I made a few cuts but the only time I got hit was when I got tackled."
After Geneva defensive back Matt Massey picked off Charger quarterback Lagan Kissack on the first play of the next drive, the Vikings struck again. This time a 56-yard strike from Brandon Beitzel to Brandon Lee helped set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Ratay.
Just three minutes later, Geneva (1-0) put up its third touchdown of the quarter when Ratay capped a 57-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. The Vikings would add another three touchdowns in the second quarter to be up 42-0 at the half.
"With a young quarterback like the one we have, I really wanted to get him out here and get his feet wet, which I believe he did," Vikings coach Rob Wicinski said. "One of our strengths of our offense is the running game and it was very important for us to get that going right away."
For the Chargers offense getting anything going wasn't easy to do. The Vikings defense held them to just 143 total yards in the game.
The lone touchdown for Dundee-Crown (0-1) came off a 71-run by Ian Salvatini.
Despite throwing 9-for-26 for just 74-yards, Kissack believes playing a team of this caliber can do nothing but help make the Chargers a better team.
"I think we gained a lot honestly," Kissack said. "It really showed us what we need to work on. We moved the ball well passing wise. In the second half we had a few series' where we just kept throwing the ball, which was good because that is what we want to try and do this year."