Senior receiver Finnegan Weppner understands that as the games go on for Geneva, opposing teams are going to start to give even more attention to Georgia-bound receiver Talyn Taylor.
It means that, eventually, Weppner is going to be open.
“On a lot of teams, ‘Finn’ would be the No. 1 receiver,” Vikings coach Boone Thorgesen said of the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Weppner. “He’s a very talented player.”
In the second half of Friday’s DuKane Conference rivalry game at Batavia, those openings appeared, with Weppner and senior quarterback Tony Chahino making an electric connection.
The duo hooked up for three touchdown passes in a span of 7:15 in the second half, turning a close game into a 30-7 blowout. The win broke a 13-game win streak for Batavia in the rivalry.
Weppner had four receptions for 42 yards with TD catches of 7, 15 and 7 yards in leading Geneva (6-0, 4-0). Taylor added eight catches for 54 yards and a 6-yard TD. Chahino completed 16 of 29 passes for 182 yards. Michael Rumoro salted away the win, running for 199 yards on 23 carries.
For Batavia (5-1, 3-1), Isaiah Brown threw a 5-yard TD pass to junior quarterback Bodi Anderson on the last play of the first half. Brown also had six catches for 68 yards. After eclipsing 100 yards in each of the first five games, Nathan Whitwell was held to 36 yards on 16 carries.
Weppner was telling Chahino the whole first half that things were starting to open up for him.
“He said, ‘We’ve got them,’” Chahino said. “I said, ‘I know — be patient. It’s coming.’ We finally made the connection.”
At halftime of a 7-7 game, Weppner was one of the seniors who was most vocal about coming out strong in the second half.
The players on this team were toddlers the last time Geneva won in 2010 against Batavia.
“We went in like, ‘We’re going to get it done, no exceptions,’” Weppner said. “We had to win. This is our house. I knew we would get it done and I just knew I had to step up.
“Coach talked to me and said, ‘You’re open on some plays.’ I said, ‘I’m going to catch it and we’re going to score.’”
And that’s exactly what Geneva did, taking a 10-7 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Jayden Hodgdon. The Vikings recovered the ensuing kickoff, and four plays later, Chahino found Weppner for a 7-yard TD.
After holding Batavia to a three-and-out, Chahino and Weppner then capped the next drive with a 15-yard TD. A turnover on downs gave the Vikings another short field, and once again, it was Chahino-to-Weppner to put it away.
Instead of lamenting the fact that he may be overshadowed by the attention Taylor receives, Weppner confirmed he’s grateful to have such a talented player alongside him.
“I’ve known Talyn since fifth grade and I always told him, ‘You’re the guy,’” Weppner said. “He’s been amazing. He pushes you day in and day out.
“Being able to play behind a player like him, knowing that he’s going to mentor me, is very nice. I’m very thankful to have him as my teammate.”
Thorgesen emphasized what the win means to the program.
“I have good kids, and they took it on the chin for a long time,” Thorgesen said. “This game meant a lot to them. Kids are crying, overjoyed with emotion. We lost 13 straight in the biggest rivalry, and we heard about it a lot. To see them compete and perform, I’m so happy for them.”
Chahino said that he and Weppner have talked about moments like this since childhood.
“We’ve been boys since first grade,” Chahino said. “We’ve been dreaming of this day right here.
“It feels so greet to accomplish it.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
