Gi-15
Mentor
here's his maxprep profile
Flyers do what many couldn't
By JON STYF
CHAMPAIGN - Michael Ratay scored a touchdown Saturday night.
It just didn't happen the way he thought it would.
Instead of running into the end zone to give his team the lead, like he had all season, Ratay instead caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in the final minute with the result - a 33-14 Geneva loss to East St. Louis - already decided.
Every team the Vikings (13-1) played this season had attempted to stop Ratay, who finished the season with 44 rushing touchdowns, one short of a single-season state record.
East St. Louis (13-1) was the first team to do it.
"All year long people said 'Stop Ratay, you stop Geneva,' and nobody did," Wicinski said. "East St. Louis did and they win."
Ratay wasn't completely ineffective, running for 91 yards on 26 carries. But it certainly wasn't anywhere near normal, like the past 19 games when he had surpassed 100 yards each time while averaging more than two touchdowns a game.
"They were unbelievable; they were flying to the ball," Ratay said. "They were the fastest team I've ever played against in my life."
Ratay nearly broke away one time in the first half. An East St. Louis tackler went low, Ratay leaped over him, and nearly kept his balance before tumbling to the ground more frustrated than ever.
"I knew this team and I knew how they tackle, I knew how their secondary tackles," Ratay said. "When it's me one-on-one they would go for my ankles."
Ever since he moved to the area in first grade and joined the Tri-Cities Chargers, Ratay has been the team's running back.
He played it in flag football, he played it in middle school and now he spent his high school career becoming one of the best that ever has played in not only Geneva but the state.
So the next obvious question was where the 5-foot-10 wunderkind would take his skills next season.
"I have no offers yet, but I'm sending my video out to colleges and I'll start concentrating on that now," he said. "Right now, I'm not really sure."
Albany (N.Y.) College has shown the most interest, but wherever Ratay ends up, people are sure to be surprised by the shiftiness and speed that helped him to finish the season with 2,855 yards on 306 carries.
"We didn't go into this season looking to go undefeated," Wicinski said. "We had other goals like winning the conference. Michael Ratay's focus wasn't on scoring all those touchdowns, because he's part of the team."
another standout RB totally ignored by D-1 programs. He dominating 7A football for god's sake!
Flyers do what many couldn't
By JON STYF
CHAMPAIGN - Michael Ratay scored a touchdown Saturday night.
It just didn't happen the way he thought it would.
Instead of running into the end zone to give his team the lead, like he had all season, Ratay instead caught a 21-yard touchdown pass in the final minute with the result - a 33-14 Geneva loss to East St. Louis - already decided.
Every team the Vikings (13-1) played this season had attempted to stop Ratay, who finished the season with 44 rushing touchdowns, one short of a single-season state record.
East St. Louis (13-1) was the first team to do it.
"All year long people said 'Stop Ratay, you stop Geneva,' and nobody did," Wicinski said. "East St. Louis did and they win."
Ratay wasn't completely ineffective, running for 91 yards on 26 carries. But it certainly wasn't anywhere near normal, like the past 19 games when he had surpassed 100 yards each time while averaging more than two touchdowns a game.
"They were unbelievable; they were flying to the ball," Ratay said. "They were the fastest team I've ever played against in my life."
Ratay nearly broke away one time in the first half. An East St. Louis tackler went low, Ratay leaped over him, and nearly kept his balance before tumbling to the ground more frustrated than ever.
"I knew this team and I knew how they tackle, I knew how their secondary tackles," Ratay said. "When it's me one-on-one they would go for my ankles."
Ever since he moved to the area in first grade and joined the Tri-Cities Chargers, Ratay has been the team's running back.
He played it in flag football, he played it in middle school and now he spent his high school career becoming one of the best that ever has played in not only Geneva but the state.
So the next obvious question was where the 5-foot-10 wunderkind would take his skills next season.
"I have no offers yet, but I'm sending my video out to colleges and I'll start concentrating on that now," he said. "Right now, I'm not really sure."
Albany (N.Y.) College has shown the most interest, but wherever Ratay ends up, people are sure to be surprised by the shiftiness and speed that helped him to finish the season with 2,855 yards on 306 carries.
"We didn't go into this season looking to go undefeated," Wicinski said. "We had other goals like winning the conference. Michael Ratay's focus wasn't on scoring all those touchdowns, because he's part of the team."
another standout RB totally ignored by D-1 programs. He dominating 7A football for god's sake!