Tony Chahino waited for what must have felt like the longest time to be in charge for Geneva.
But when the Vikings needed him to lead a big-time comeback, the senior quarterback was ready, willing and more than able Saturday night against upset-minded Burlington Central.
“These are my favorite moments in football,” Chahino said. “It takes a toll on me, but personally, I love it. It helps me stay focused and help out the team, and that’s all I can do.”
All that Chahino did was keep his cool and guide host Geneva to a 42-28 victory over the Rockets in a Class 6A second-round playoff game, advancing the Vikings to the state quarterfinals.
Chahino completed 11 of 16 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns to lead Geneva (10-1). He also ran for another TD to revive the Vikings, who struggled until late in the third quarter.
That said, Chahino had more than enough help. Michael Rumoro ran for 161 yards and two TDs, while Georgia recruit Talyn Taylor starred with six receptions for 128 yards and a TD. He also had a 96-yard TD on a kickoff return. Finnegan Weppner added two catches for 102 yards and a TD.
Jackson Alcorn completed 17 of 29 passes for 208 yards and a TD and ran for 45 yards to pace Burlington Central (8-3). Zach Samaan came up big, running for 77 yards and scoring three TDs.
Chahino kept the Vikings above water as the Rockets controlled the first half. After Samaan’s first TD run, Chahino hit Taylor for a 60-yard TD to force a 7-7 tie, but Samaan scored his second TD.
Then, Chahino produced a 4-yard TD run for a 14-14 tie. The big strike, though, came with 35 seconds left. Facing a 21-14 deficit, Chahino found Weppner for an 85-yard TD to tie it at halftime.
“I saw them in a soft cover-2, saw the whole shot,” Chahino said. “I just ripped it and made a play.”
Although his team had never led during the first half, Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen still felt that TD changed everything for the Vikings going into the halftime break.
“You never know the play that’s going to be the one that swings it or ignites whatever we need,” Thorgesen said. “And it was that big play.”
Burlington Central didn’t go quietly, taking a 28-21 lead with 7:29 left in the third quarter on Samaan’s third TD run. But Taylor ran back the ensuing kickoff to dramatically tie it up again.
“They took the risk and kicked it to him and he made them pay,” Chahino said. “He executed just perfectly. At that moment, we knew that’s when we had to strike. We had to capitalize off that.”
Thorgesen thought the same thing, calling an onside kick. The Vikings jumped on it, leading to a 10-yard TD run by Rumoro that gave Geneva its first lead at 35-28 with 4:32 left in the third.
“It seemed like the right time to do it,” Thorgesen said. “We were struggling stopping them and we were going back and forth. I thought we needed a little spark.”
Rumoro’s second TD run capped off the scoring and the defense did the rest. The Vikings picked off a pair of passes down the stretch and ended up scoring the final 21 points in pulling away.
“That’s the best team we played all year,” Alcorn said. “They are so physical. They do not quit. That was one of my favorite games I’ve ever played.”
Even though the run ended earlier than they would have liked, Alcorn was proud of the season the Rockets put together, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
“This is definitely one of the best teams the program has had in a while,” Alcorn said. “I’m happy that my senior class was a part of it and we made a change.”
Now, Chahino has another week to add to his stellar senior season, with Lake Forest (9-2) up next. Thorgesen, for one, doesn’t think Chahino has to do anything else to prove himself.
“This was his coming-out year,” Thorgesen said. “I hope people are starting to take notice of what he can do. I have no idea why a college coach hasn’t come calling me about that kid.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
