Sophomore linebacker Nelson Wendell has definitely been the new kid on the block during the playoffs for Geneva, but he has been making himself right at home on defense.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Wendell was promoted to the varsity in the eighth week of the regular season. He continued to show Saturday that he’s fast becoming the master of the big play.
And he has plenty of company for the Vikings.
“He was one of the best players in the league on the sophomore team, and we knew he could help us in the playoffs,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “Not only in this game, but he made big plays last week in the quarterfinals and he made plays in the second round, too.
“He’s playing awesome, and he’s only a sophomore.”
Speaking of awesome, Wendell intercepted a rare pass by senior quarterback Peyton Seaburg late in the third quarter to set up the decisive score for the host Vikings in a 28-26 victory over reigning state champion Cary-Grove in a Class 6A semifinal game.
Georgia recruit Talyn Taylor, a senior receiver, caught 11 passes for 185 yards and a 28-yard TD for Geneva (12-1). Senior receiver Finnegan Weppner added six catches for 104 yards, including a 26-yard TD, while senior running back Michael Rumoro pitched in with 17 carries for 79 yards and TD runs of 1 and 2 yards.
Moments after the go-ahead TD, Wendell recovered his second onside kick in as many weeks, something that didn’t surprise senior linebacker Gavin Burt.
“He’s an athletic kid,” Burt said of Wendell. “I love watching him. He will be something special in a couple years. He learns every single game and keeps getting better and better.”
The same could be said for Geneva, which ousted Cary Grove (12-1) to earn the program’s third trip to the state championship game and first since 2008.
The Vikings will play at 1 p.m. Saturday against East St. Louis (12-1), which rolled to a 48-0 win over Richards in the other semifinal.
Geneva did it on both sides of the ball, with senior quarterback Tony Chahino completing 23 of 29 passes for 300 yards and two TDs. He completed all 10 passes in the second half.
The Vikings’ first three scores came on 80-yard drives. The final one covered 40 following Wendell’s interception.
“The tight end made a release on a passing route and broke outside,” said Wendell, who also had an interception in a 42-28 second-round win over Burlington Central and recovered an onside kick in the 49-14 quarterfinal win over Lake Forest. “I broke under him, like my coach told me to do, jumped under and picked it.
“On the onside kick, I just knew I had to get that ball for our team.”
Bennett Konkey executed the successful onside kick against Burlington Central and regular senior kicker Jayden Hodgdon came through with a pair of successful onside kicks at Lake Forest.
“Both offense and defense can do the job on this team,” Burt said. “Once the offense does, it gives us time to rest and feel more relaxed. When we go into the game, it’s our turn.”
Cary-Grove countered with several big plays. Holden Boone finished with 27 carries for 216 yards and two TDs. Seaburg connected with Loca Vivaldelli for a 20-yard TD pass on fourth down.
Geneva’s defense, though, stopped the Trojans at the 1-yard line in the first half and then denied a 2-point conversion run after Cary-Grove pulled within the final score with 5:30 remaining.
“What an unbelievable job by our defense,” Thorgesen said. “That team is a juggernaut for a reason. They’re in this position every year. To be able to stop them twice is unbelievable.
“Our defense really stepped up.”
Indeed, junior defensive back Dane Turner and sophomore defensive back Tate Beran combined for the initial hit on the 2-point conversion. Senior defensive lineman Joe Pettit and junior defensive lineman David Avitia did the same on the fourth-and-goal in the first half.
“At the beginning of the game, we all thought we’re coming in hard,” Burt said. “They might score on the first drive, but it’s OK because we’re gonna learn from it and move on to the next drive.
“Every possession we’d change something, and we finally capitalized on it.”
