Green Machine edges out Dukes
The Geneseo Green?Machine saw the welcomed return of junior Jason Johnson Oct. 17 in Dixon as the squad emerged with a 7-6 victory over the Dukes.
Johnson, in his first game in six weeks after being out with mono, led the ground game for Geneseo as he accounted for 100 of the Green?Machine’s 166 rushing yards.
“Jason had the diesel filled tonight and did a good job,” said head coach Larry?Johnsen.
In the first quarter of action Friday night, each team had the ball for six minutes and came up empty.
The same scenario played out in the second quarter as each squad had the ball for a series, but Geneseo ended with success as Michael Atwell hit Luke Lembke for the 38-yard touchdown. Lembke added the PAT to put Geneseo up 7-0 at the half.
“I thought we came out pretty good,” said Johnsen. “And I?am proud of how we bounced back after an emotional loss. Dixon is a scary team and I am proud of how we responded.”
Dixon got on the board in the third quarter on a 4-yard run by LeSean Richmond, but the kick failed for a 7-6 Green Machine lead.
The score would remain 7-6 for the rest of the contest as neither team could reach their respective end zones.
“We knew it was going to be a field-position battle,” said Johnsen. “I?am a pretty conservative guy by nature, obviously, when it comes down to milking the clock (at the end of the game) I just took the headphones off and had them take the air out of the ball.”
Geneseo and Dixon ended the game with 166 rushing yards on 45 to show how even the match- up was. Geneseo passed for 38 yards on two completions. Dixon had zero passing yards.
After Johnson’s 100 yards, Collin Akers added 30 yards on seven carries, followed by Jake Ballegeer with 26 on 10 carries and Luke Lembke, 14 on four carries.
Defensively, John Deppe broke through the offensive line to reach the Dixon quarterback twice for a loss of 7 yards, while Curt Jensen also brought down the Duke QB for a loss of 7 yards. Zach Hungate came up with one tackle for a loss of 1-yard on the night.
The sophomores ended their season with a 24-12 win over Dixon earlier in the night Oct. 17.
The Green?Machine (5-3 overall and 3-2 in the NCIC) will be on the road for a 1 p.m. contest Oct. 25 with Mt.?Vernon to end the regular season.
