Sterling High School Athletics

Football Loses Heartbreaker to Geneseo

Roscoe Eades Stadium has not been a happy home for the Golden Warriors this season. Three weeks after losing a 21-20 heartbreaker to Greendale (WI) at home, Sterling had another late lead slip through their grasp as the Geneseo Maple Leafs rallied from a 10-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Golden Warriors 13-10. Including the 2005 playoff loss to Rochelle, Sterling has now lost 3 of their last 4 home games…by a combined total of 7 points.

In a game featuring two of the top Class 5A teams in Illinois, #3 ranked Geneseo (6-0, 3-0) and #9 ranked Sterling (4-2, 2-1) hooked up in a defensive battle that wasn’t decided until the Maple Leafs scored the winning TD with 2:41 left in the game.

The first half was controlled by the Golden Warriors, as they out gained Geneseo 168-44 in total yardage while forcing three punts, an interception and a missed field goal. Sterling’s only touchdown of the contest came with 4:03 left in the 2^nd quarter when Cory Renner tossed a beautiful 27-yard TD pass to Michael Trobaugh. Raciel Ocampo tacked on the PAT to put Sterling up 7-0.

Geneseo moved the ball into Sterling territory late in the 2^nd quarter and attempted a 54-yard field goal with :53 left. The kick fell short and was caught by Codtey Albright at the 1-yard line. Albright returned the missed FG up the left sideline and into Geneseo territory. The Golden Warriors then moved the ball into field goal range, going 37 yards in 5 plays. Ocampo split the uprights from 25 yards out with :08 left to give Sterling a 10-0 lead at the half.

The Maple Leafs turned the tables on the Golden Warriors in the 2^nd half, out gaining Sterling 143-49 in total yards, forcing four punts, and not allowing Sterling to move past midfield. More importantly, Geneseo’s Nathan Panicucci scored twice on rushing TDs, the second one coming late in the game to give the Leafs a 13-10 win. Panicucci, usually a reserve, came into the game in the 2^nd quarter as a replacement for starter Jacob Kuban who left the game with an injury. Panicucci finished with 92 yards and 2 TDs on 11 carries. His 58-yard run on 3^rd and long midway through the 3^rd quarter helped to set up the first Geneseo touchdown, which Panicucci himself took in from 5 yards out.

Sterling finished with 172 yards on the ground Aaron Cooksey had 71 yards on 11 carries to lead the Golden Warriors. Joe Schneiderbauer added 44 yards on 7 carries, while Albright had 3 carries for 31 yards.

The Golden Warriors will host Dixon (4-2, 2-1) in this Friday night’s Homecoming contest.

Sterling Vs. Geneseo Boxscore