NEW BRAUNFELS – It was a picture-perfect night for football at Wildcat Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 15 in a game that featured a thrilling shootout between Geneva School of Boerne and New Braunfels Christian Academy. The Eagles made the trek up I-35 for a clash to determine second place in TAPPS DIII District 3.
The back-and-forth affair, spearheaded by a stellar night from Geneva quarterback Caleb Quitadamo, ultimately saw the Eagles come out on top by a final of 57-43. With the victory, Geneva trails only first place Brazos Christian High School in the standings.
“We knew it was gonna be a three-phases, four-quarter game, and it was,” Geneva head coach Adam Foren said. “What's been so cool about our team is we take punches and we don't flinch. I'm so proud of our players. I'm so proud of our coaches.”
The visitors seemingly began scoring touchdowns as soon as they got off the bus, as they got on the scoreboard early by taking their opening drive nearly 90 yards for their first touchdown on the night.
Quitadamo used timely short passes – including one to junior running back Chase Doran that went for over 30 yards – to drive his squad to the end zone. The nearly eight-minute opening drive was capped off by the senior signal caller’s touchdown pass – his first on the night – to senior Bryce Hanover from seven yards out.
“I think he's our hardest worker, our mentally toughest player, and the one player who pushes through when things don't go well,” Foren said of his quarterback. “His temperature never changes, win or lose, and that's what's really cool about him.”
While the Eagles ground out their scores, the Wildcats would find paydirt much quicker, with their first score taking just two plays on their opening drive to even the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
Both squads traded touchdowns – including a 60-yard scamper by Doran – to end the first quarter tied at 14-14. The offensive barrage in the opening frame would be a precursor to what both teams did on offense all game long.
On their first possession in the second quarter, Quitadamo made a miracle out of a mistake, as a muffed snap was recovered by the quarterback who then proceeded to weave his way nearly 80 yards to the Wildcats red zone. They would cap off the drive with an eight-yard plunge by junior running back Shae McNew, which gave the Eagles lead once again.
A two-point conversion on their third touchdown on the night saw the home team take their first lead of the contest midway in the second quarter, but it wouldn’t last long. The back-and-forth scoring lasted the entire first half, with Geneva out in front 36-24, thanks to Quitadamo’s third touchdown pass of the half, heading into halftime.
After the break, a 70-yard bomb from the Wildcats on their second play from scrimmage got the fireworks started again and cut into the Eagles' lead. However, the squad from New Braunfels ultimately didn’t have the firepower to keep up with Geneva. Quitadamo’s fourth touchdown pass on the night, a 14-yarder to freshman Luke Abuzeid, proceeded a 63-yard rush that put Geneva out in front for good.
Quitadamo would tack on a fifth touchdown pass and found Abuzeid for another TD. This put the Eagles up two scores with just under three minutes to play. The Wildcats would make a furious push for the end zone, but Geneva’s defense stepped up when it had to. Junior defensive back Walter Teague jumped a sideline route and sealed the win for the Eagles with an interception.
“We've never beat that team before here, and they're a really good team” Foren said of the Wildcats. “But, also, we got another opportunity next week to play at home in a district game. That's gonna be really important as well.”
Geneva (7-1 overall, 3-1 in district) will continue district play with a clash at home against the visiting Holy Cross Crusaders on Friday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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