It’s sophomore running back Kyle Nutter surging for 1,322 yards during his first season as a starter, capping it by grinding out 179 yards on 33 gutsy carries and one touchdown against Otttawa-Glandorf.

It’s perennial All-Suburban Lakes League, All-District, and All-Ohio specialist Tyler Pickard drilling a 47-yard field goal.

It’s senior right guard and defensive lineman “Big” Andrew Hayes, the Suburban Lakes League Co-Player of the Year, sounding a battle cry for himself.

As Genoa continued its march to destiny, what is that destiny compared to past Genoa teams. Here’s what some Comet fans say,
  
“I’d have to say the best Genoa Comet football team ever was the 1975 team. Because unlike the teams these past few years, that team went undefeated, too, and never got a chance to go to the playoffs. Yep, Coach Jim Firestone’s ’75 Comets.”
—Wade Bower

“As far as my top team goes, my number one Genoa football team of all time would be the 2007 team, because that team just had a ton of speed, and really a lot more speed than any other Genoa High School football team I’ve ever seen, both offensively and defensively. That was Coach Vicars’ and Coach (Tim) Spiess’ first year, and they were phenomenal.”
—Lee Nissen

“My brother played for the Comets during the mid-1960s, and I can remember hearing about those great teams. I can remember hearing about the Spitlers, and the Pinkertons, and the Cashens, Matthews, and many others. I can remember hearing my mom talk in the beauty shop about those Friday night games. She always kept clippings about the games, especially the ones my brother played in. I can remember reading those clippings, and imagining what it must be like to play for the Comets, a dream I later achieved. I can remember recess at Allen Central. It seemed like all of us would play football every day. We would pretend to be varsity Comets. I can remember playing in the ‘80s for Coach (Dave) Hitchen. Those days are like yesterday to me. That team . . . all Comet teams, they all had one thing in common . . . love of the game.”
—Marty Sutter

“Really, all of the teams in the past four years have been good teams, but it was that “Final Four” team of ’08 that just had so many weapons from Connor Wendt and Greg Hillabrand running the ball and making hits on defense, to Matt Bassitt throwing to both Blair Skilliter and Zack Apel, to the defense from that year, which was led by Marcus Vicars and Ryan Bless piling up sacks and tackles.”
—Art Eli

“For me, Genoa football means everything. I have two sons currently playing high school ball, and a third up and coming. The amazing things that I have seen since Coach Vicars and his staff have come on board will forever be cherished. This year has been an emotional rollercoaster for me having a senior son playing, and knowing that at some point the end would come. He has learned so much from our coaches about life, hard work, strong faith, and just how to be a great young man. As a dad, I will forever remember Andrew being voted SLL co-“Player of the Year,” the first and only lineman to ever receive that award. I think the best game I have ever seen was last Friday against O.G. It was all about finding a way to win. “Be the Best,” and walk the talk.”
—Mike Hayes

“The 2009 team is my number one team, and was a very good team in all aspects of the game. But my favorite memory of that year, was going to Ashland, and arriving at the stadium at least 15 minutes before the gates even opened for the game, where there were at least 100 people in line ahead of me, and around 400 in all by the time the gates finally opened, almost all of whom were wearing Genoa colors. It was truly an awesome sight! And we had to travel at least an hour more to get there than Orrville.”
—Jim Hill

“Genoa Comet football means everything to me, everything! Genoa Comet football has put Genoa on the map! Without Comet football, no one would have ever even heard of Genoa. The team sets the tone for the whole town. They make me live for Friday night.”
—Wade Bower

“My second team, of course, would be the 1975 team, under Coach Firestone, who had great players like Gary Matthews, and Alfredo Lozoya, and so many great players I can’t even remember them all! But what I liked about that team was that they played much more of a classic Woody Hayes-Bo Schembechler-style of football, where they just pounded the ball at you. And then the last team on my top three list would be the 1989 team, under Coach John Boles, who masterminded a team that went 10-0, and won the SLL, but didn’t ever really get considered for the playoffs. But that team had some memorable players, too, like quarterback Jeff Benavides, and wide receiver and safety “Junior” Sanchez, who hit some people so hard, you can still feel it today! I still have no idea how such a little guy hit people as hard as he did.”
—Lee Nissen

“I remember when Coach Vicars arrived on the scene in 2007 as clearly as yesterday. The game of football has taught me a lot! It has taught me the importance of community! It has taught me to work hard. It has taught me to respect authority. It has taught me to honor friends. It has taught me about loyalty. And it has taught me to play for God! That 2007 team was a very good football team! They laid the foundation!”
—Marty Sutter

“The 2007 team I think was Genoa’s most important team, because that was Coach Vicars’ first team. When Derrick and Marcus (Vicars) came from Delta High School with their father, those boys helped changed the work ethic with how to win. That team was tough mentally and physically. But also, Coach Vicars has what many coaches lack, and that’s that he has the ability to motivate the kids and make them better. They believe in themselves. It’s not all about the “X’s” and “O’s.” It’s like coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Coaches that are “X’s” and “O’s” are a dime a dozen. Find me one that can motivate, and you have found a winner.” And this year’s team is not done yet! To me, this team has the most heart, with seniors like (Andrew) Hayes, (Luke) Sutter, (Seth) Dufendock, (Derek) Allgier, (Chris) Cuevas, (Matt) Murphy, and the rest of those young men! These kids just team tackle, and will do whatever it takes to pull out a win. And you saw that last Friday night against O.G. Blue-collar work with a lot of heart.”
—Art Eli

“I have been in Genoa since the 2006 season, and I never rank the teams as “best,” or “second,” or “third.” That being said, I give the credit for our current success to the 2007 team, because they had to believe in a new system, and new coaches. They had to believe they could win.”
—Mike Hayes

“I also liked the 2008 team, which was all about Zack Apel making circus catches, and Blair Skilliter breaking off long runs, and Greg Hillabrand running through people, and Matt Bassitt, who never seemed to make a mistake at quarterback. He ran Coach Vicars’ offense to perfection! And then there’s this 2010 team, which has given us a young team, and a changing of the guard. They’ve done a very good job this year. There’s just no quit in Kyle Nutter! He’s gained many, many memorable yards, even when there’s a very little, or no hole to run through! There certainly is no “I” in team with a Mike Vicars-coached team. Every member of the team is important, and there is no prima donna. There sure are a lot of smiles on the faces of people from the Genoa School District.”
—Jim Hill

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