by MADISON, Ohio – The Geneva Eagles did something Friday night they have not done since 1998, beat the Madison Blue Streaks at Dick Hamblin Field Blue Streak Memorial Stadium.
A late touchdown run by junior fullback Charlie Taylor with just three seconds left proved to be the difference in the Eagles 22-19 victory over the host Blue Streaks.
The Eagles rallied in the final four minutes after Madison scored a pair of touchdowns to turn a 15-7 Blue Streaks deficit into a 19-15 Madison lead with 4:19 remaining.
Madison and Geneva were solid on defense in the first half. Both defenses came up with fourth down stops to give the football back to their respective offenses.
4th and 17 stop by Madison. @KeeOnSports @WOIOSports pic.twitter.com/TuRj7rHMJH
— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) August 30, 2019
Ouch pic.twitter.com/OaCMbwTD99
— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) August 30, 2019
It took until the final three minutes of the first half for the first points to put on the scoreboard. Madison’s senior quarterback Alex Dragas found the end zone on a four yard run to give Madison a 7-0 lead.
TOUCHDOWN Madison. Alex Dragas 4-yard run. pic.twitter.com/I1EeMoFuW4
— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) August 30, 2019
Geneva would answer right back just two plays later. Blake Peet would go 55-yards to tie the game at 7-7 just 20 seconds later.
That would the score at the half, but it could have been quite different if not for a questionable touch back call with just over a minute remaining in the first half.
55-Yard pass from Alex Dragas to Marcel Welch. Looks like a Touchdown. Ruled a fumble out of end zone for a touchback for Geneva. Score remains 7-7. @KeeOnSports @WOIOSports pic.twitter.com/IelNdyCEtW
— Scott Piker (@ScottPikerSport) August 31, 2019
Drags connected with senior wide receiver Marcel Welch on a slant route. Welch would get to the near sideline and appear to get into the endzone. Geneva forced Welch to fumble the football and it went out of the endzone for the touch back. Madison head coach Tim Willis pleaded his case for a touchdown. But after the officials discussed the play and stayed with the call on the field of a touch back.
In the end, that call could have meant a victory for the home team Blue Streaks instead of a road win for the visiting Eagles.
Before the game, a moment of silence was held in memory of Barry Martin, the founder of the Madison Gridiron Club in 1999 and the father of Blue Streak assistant coach Michael Martin. Barry passed away on August 15. As a tribute the Blue Streaks will wear a ‘BM’ sticker on their helmets in honor of Mr. Barry Martin.
Scott Piker is the Indians beat writer for Kee On Sports Media Group. He has over 20 years of media experience in Northeast Ohio including six years of television sports producing for television stations WEWS and WOIO in Cleveland. Scott will cover Cleveland Sports at all levels and also serve as a Cleveland media insider. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport.
