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GENEVA – Geneva’s offensive line successfully rose to a challenge by giving quarterback Anthony Chahino plenty of time to throw his passes Sept. 6.
The junior completed 10-of-14 attempts for 264 yards in the Vikings’ 41-7 nonconference win over Lemont at Burgess Field. Five of his passes went for touchdowns.
Talyn Taylor was Chahino’s favorite target. The Georgia recruit caught six passes for 178 yards and scored three times.
Two of defensive back Dane Turner’s three interceptions set up Vikings touchdowns. The junior has five interceptions in two games.
“Last year against Lemont, we got beat up on the front line, so we challenged them to do their job and they were amazing,” Chahino said of the offensive line. “I had all day in the pocket and we executed all the little things that we have been working on all summer.”
“I’m really proud of our line. They really kept (Chahino) clean,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “If you can keep him clean, he is a talented passer.”
Geneva (2-0) needed only five plays to score two touchdowns in the first quarter. On the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage, Chahino threw a 52-yard pass to Taylor. Two plays later, the junior quarterback threw a 14-yarder to a leaping Taylor in the left corner of the end zone.
Geneva’s second drive ended in two plays. From midfield, Chahino rolled to his right and launched a 44-yard missile to Taylor in the right side of the end zone.
In the second quarter, the two teams traded touchdowns. The Vikings needed only six plays to extend their lead to 21-0. The possession ended with sophomore Bennett Konkey catching a Chahino 13-yard toss in the end zone.
On Lemont’s next drive, the team marched 76 yards for a score aided by three Geneva penalties. Running back Jackson Dybcio (17 carries, 67 yards) ended the possession with a 1-yard TD plunge to cut the Vikings’ advantage to 21-7 at halftime.
Geneva returned the margin to three scores on its first possession of the third quarter. The drive ended with Taylor’s third touchdown completion, this one a 6-yarder.
Turner ended three straight third-quarter drives by Lemont (0-2) by intercepting quarterback Michael Preuss. The sophomore completed 12-of-20 attempts for 62 yards.
“We had some great blitzes and pressure that resulted in the right play,” Turner said of the three consecutive interceptions.
Turner’s second interception of the quarter put Geneva at Lemont’s 8-yard Line. Two plays later, Michael Rumoro (14 carries, 51 yards) scampered four yards for the Vikings’ only rushing TD of the night.
Turner was brought down at Lemont’s 35-yard line after his third interception. Chahino connected with Finnegan Weppner (3 catches, 73 yards) for a 35-yard touchdown pass on the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage.
Lemont coach Willie Hayes found a silver lining in the loss.
“We saw growth from last week and that’s something we’re going to build on,” he said.
https://www.dailyherald.com/20240906/prep-football/chahino-geneva-come-out-firing-against-lemont/