Genenbacher, Peters play backyard football as Central rolls over Nokomis for first-round victory

CAMP POINT, Ill. — That pass-and-catch connection between Elijah Genenbacher and Nate Peters goes way back.

“Nate and I grew up playing backyard football together, and I’m sure that helps now,” Genenbacher said.

Their familiarity with one another’s abilities was in full display on a wind-swept Saturday afternoon when the longtime friends each played essential roles in Camp Point Central’s 34-6 first-round Class 1A playoff victory over Nokomis in front of a crowd of about 850.

The victory opened Central’s defense of the state championship it won a year ago and improves the Panthers’ record to 36-2 since 2022. The win was also Central’s 24th straight at home.

Genenbacher and Peters teamed up for a 30-yard touchdown play midway through the second quarter that provided the first score of the game. It was all downhill from that point on for the Panthers, who raised their record to 9-1. Nokomis ends 5-5, having lost its last five games.

Genenbacher found Peters three times for 118 yards on the strength of three first-half receptions that helped Central to build a 20-0 lead by halftime.

But those Genenbacher-to-Peters aerial antics were only a part of the story. Genenbacher, who moved from running back to quarterback earlier in the season, also ran for four short touchdowns and gained a team-high 81 yards rushing. He also accounted for a two-point conversion.

Peters added a 45-yard kick return to set up a second-half touchdown, rushed for 24 yards and added a two-point conversion. His overall numbers would have likely been much gaudier if not for limited playing time in the second half due to cramping issues.

Central’s passing game, which continues to evolve, was again a major factor in the Panthers’ victory — their eighth in a row following a 14-13 Week 2 loss at Hardin Calhoun. 

“Nate and I being able to hook up on some completions freed up other plays,” Genenbacher said.

Genenbacher finished with 135 yards through the air, and now has 383 for the season, most of that total coming in recent weeks.

“We couldn’t move the ball in the first half with our running game, so we had to do something,” Genenbacher. “I think our passing game was what wound up separating the two teams today. We’ve always felt we had that pass option, but it has really (come together) with the way some (opponents) have tried to stack their defenses against our running game.”

Central normally rotates seven running backs during a game en route to averaging 326 yards per game on the ground. The Panthers have rushed for 46 touchdowns this season.

Peters, who missed roughly half the season with injury issues, is now averaging 25.6 yards a catch from Genenbacher. Of his nine late-season grabs, four have gone for touchdowns.

“We work a lot together in practice, and I think you can see how we are developing (as a tandem),” Peters said.

Peters was then quick to point out his Saturday numbers could have been better. He dropped a wide-open pass from Genenbacher that had 45-yard touchdown written all over it.

“Yeah … I missed that one,” he said, a bit sheepishly.

Central coach Brad Dixon had nothing but praise for the Genenbacher-Peters duo.

“We couldn’t use Nate as much as we normally would have in the second half because of the cramping issues, but he had a big day,” Dixon said.

Dixon said he was impressed with the way the Genenbacher-controlled Panthers offense took advantage of the Nokomis defnese.

“Nokomis was loading up the box on us, so we were able to loosen things up with our passing game,” he said. “Moving Eli to quarterback earlier in the season looks like a pretty good move with the way (he continues to develop). He makes a lot of good decisions out there.”

Almost lost in Central’s victory was the performance of its defense, which shut down a potent Nokomis ground game. The defensive front three of Kadin Niekamp, Wyatt VanDeVelde and Nathan Post were ringleaders in holding the Redskins to 54 yards on the ground and 120 yards of total offense.

Nokomis entered the game averaging 308 yards on the ground, led by 1,100-yard back Nolan Herpstreith, who was limited to 63 yards on 13 rushes on Saturday.

A 25-yard touchdown pass from Nokomis quarterback Kannon Jonas to Kadynn Petty prevented Central from posting its fourth shutout of the year and the 16th over the past three seasons.

Central advances to play second-round opponent Toledo Cumberland (8-2) at 2 p.m. next Saturday, also in Camp Point. 

“There’s nothing better than a home playoff game on a November Saturday afternoon,” Dixon said.

Cumberland ousted Tuscola 28-6 on Friday night, and also shows Nokomis as one of its conquests. Cumberland whitewashed Nokomis 42-0 on Oct. 18.