By Clif Lusk

A series of missed opportunities and questionable officiating contributed to Goshen’s 27-17 loss in Geneva.

The Eagles, who had four turnovers, two of which occurred in the end zone, and two interceptions, changed the momentum from an Eagle-dominated first half into a Panther victory in the last five minutes of the game.

“I feel like Green Bay,” said head coach Bart Snyder as he was walking off the field.

To borrow a phrase from longtime WTBF personality Ralph Black, it was a “slobber knocking” at Geneva – just not the kind the teams administered to one another but the kind the officiating crew dealt to the Eagles.

However Snider, who finally went toe-to-toe with the head official late in the fourth quarter, said key Goshen mistakes could be attributed to a young and inexperienced Eagle team.

“We could have done things differently and we could have done things better,” he said. We missed some key tackles, but that’s just youth.”

The failure of the Eagles to score on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in midway in the third quarter could be seen as a symptom of that condition.

But one young player, sophomore Tyler Phillips who played on the JV squad last year, had an outstanding night on defense. He had 4 tackles, 5 assists and 1 fumble recovery. As a whole, the Eagle defense was stung only a handful of times on long plays but held the Panthers to just 178 yards on the ground. Geneva was 4 for 9 for 120 yards in the air.

Terrainno Griffin also had a stellar night on the defensive side of the ball with 5 tackles, 3 assists and one sack. Rashad Rodgers had 5 tackles and a fumble recovery. Stevie Rodgers had 4 tackles and 3 assists. Senior Carlton Bean tacked on a tackle, 3 assists and a busted pass.

Bean charged ahead on offense as well. He carried the ball 16 times for 62 yards and both Eagle touchdowns. Freshman Derrius Kite toted a dozen times for 72 yards.

In the air freshman quarter back Ramsey Rigby was 6 for 15 for 66 yards. Together the Eagle offense posted 172 yards on the ground. The Eagles drew first blood with a 36-yard field goal by Steven Macias.