Genoa mows down Elmwood

Comets win 65-6, raise record to 7-0 overall, 4-0 in NBC

10/8/2011

BY MARK MONROE
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

Genoa High School player Brandon Roberts, 26, gets the signal as he scores a touchdown against Elmwood High School player Caleb Reynolds, 2, during the first quarter.

The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Genoa High School player Casey Gose, 5, is shirt tackled by Elmwood High School player Caleb Reynolds, 2, during the second quarter at Genoa High School.

GENOA — Genoa senior Brandon Roberts scored in nearly every conceivable way last night, cashing in with five touchdowns as his Comets continued to roll like a perfectly oiled machine.

The Genoa juggernaut kept clicking on all cylinders as it steamrolled visiting Elmwood 65-6 on homecoming night. The Comets improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northern Buckeye Conference after leading 41-6 at the half.

"We're blessed with great kids," Genoa coach Mike Vicars said. "We scored in every phase except defensively. I was very pleased with our energy tonight."

Roberts scored two rushing touchdowns and caught a 15-yard pass for another score. Roberts also returned a punt 53 yards for a score and took back a kick 81 yards for another touchdown.

PHOTO GALLERY: Genoa defeats Elmwood Friday Oct. 7, 2011.

"I do whatever I can to help my team out," Roberts said. "It's really cool. But I can't take the credit for it. I have to give it my blockers. Nobody can do it by themselves, especially on special teams."

Genoa also pushed its incredible string of regular-season victories to 46 straight.

"It has become a special thing," Vicars said. "You do think and talk a lot about it. They are seeing this streak all around the state. So I tell them they owe it to themselves to live up to it. It's not easy. It's really amazing. But we know it's not going to go on forever."

The Comets have not lost a regular season game in nearly four and a half seasons.

"To be part of this is amazing," Roberts said. "It's so much fun playing here Friday nights."

Genoa High School player Brandon Roberts, 26, gets the signal as he scores a touchdown against Elmwood High School player Caleb Reynolds, 2, during the first quarter.

Junior Kyle Nutter rushed for a game-high 138 yards on seven carries (19.7 per run). Nutter, who leads the NBC in scoring and rushing, also scored two touchdowns.

"I love playing Genoa football. It's the best," Nutter said. "We play as a family."

Genoa, ranked third in the latest Division IV state poll, has outscored its opponents 355-52.

"We're a diverse football team and they have a lot of things they have to cover," Ryan Nutter said. "We have lot of weapons on offense."

Genoa finished with 435 total yards, including 345 on the ground. The Comets held Elmwood (3-4 overall, 1-3 NBC) to 162 total yards.

In the first half, Genoa scored on all four of its possessions as well as Roberts' two returns to go up by 35 points. The Comets accumulated 209 yards (118 rushing) as QB Josh Bryer was 7 of 10 for 91 yards and had a touchdown. Nutter rushed for 87 yards (14.5 per tote) and scored on a 31-yard run.

After holding Elmwood to zero yardage on the game's first possession, Genoa scored two plays later. Two passes of 9 and 22 yards from Bryer to Andrew Nutter set up a four-yard TD run by Kyle Nutter as the Comets took a 7-0 lead just 2:12 into the game.

Genoa again held the Royals to no yardage on their second possession and immediately cashed in again on the 15-yard reception by Roberts from Bryer.

A 53-yard punt return for a touchdown by Roberts gave Genoa a 21-0 advantage with 3:35 to go in the opening quarter. Two big blocks by sophomore Casey Gose set up the long run.

"I just looked up and saw nothing but green," Roberts said. "It's the coolest feeling."

Elmwood then put together a 17-play drive that took 6:53 off the clock to get on the board as Zach Foster scored on a QB sneak.

But Roberts then returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for another TD and the Comets were instantly back up 28-6 with 8:21 left in the first half.

Roberts then scored his fourth TD of the first half on a five-yard run to make it 34-6. Kyle Nutter then made it 41-6 on a 31-yard scamper with 1:08 left in the first quarter.

Already up 41-6 at the half, Kyle Nutter broke off a 49-yard run to set up a fifth touchdown for Roberts. The 5-10, 160-pound senior scored on a 23-yard sweep.

Genoa freshman Cody Pickard then blocked a Royals punt. On the next snap, David Nutter scored on a 29-yard run to make it 55-6 and 9:54 was still left in the third quarter.

With a first and goal at the Elmwood 7, Genoa opted to try a field goal with 4:50 left in the third quarter. Tyler Pickard's 24-yard attempt was good and gave the Comets a 58-6 lead.

"You have a lot of respect for Elmwood. We're trying to manage the score but still figuring out ways for guys to play hard and stay in condition and get better," Vicars said.

Genoa hosts Woodmore next week and then plays at Rossford before a showdown in the regular season finale against unbeaten Eastwood.

"We know what looms down the road," Vicars said. "You don't want to overlook anyone. But we have to look at the big picture and big goals. We can't be complacent. That can be hard to do. We just have to keep getting better and build some depth."

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.