Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.
How about we give defense a try?
Those weren’t the words — verbatim — that Geneva senior Jackson Reyes heard from coaches heading into his junior season. But after coming up short in his bid to win the quarterback job back for a second straight season, that was the gist of it.
A similar scenario played out for Mason Luker, Reyes’ buddy going back to grade school.
Now, they’re playing key roles on the other side of the ball, with Reyes at outside linebacker and Luker at defensive end.
“Both were quarterbacks previously,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “It’s funny how things change. Both accepted different roles, and as they grew older, they really flourished.
“They’re team players. You win with guys like that.”
The second-year coach, according to Reyes and Luker, knows what he’s talking about as he prepares his team for a second straight Class 7A playoff appearance.
Geneva finished 6-5 and squeaked into the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015 but beat Collinsville (8-2) in the first round. The Vikings bowed out with a 28-7 loss to St. Rita in the second round.
This season, Geneva (6-3) left no doubt but drew a 7A first-round assignment at St. Rita (7-2).
Geneva’s senior class began its varsity career with little fanfare after going winless as freshmen and sophomores and having little success in junior high.
The Vikings’ varsity struggled as well, going 0-9 during Reyes’ freshman year. He was promoted to varsity at quarterback as a sophomore, and the team went 2-4 in a spring season delayed and shortened by the pandemic.
Luker, who played running back as a freshman, started that season at quarterback for the sophomore team.
“I’ve been all over the place,” said Reyes, who played mostly safety as a junior and also sees spot duty this season at running back. “I like where I’m at right now.
“I had played defense earlier in my career, too. I like to say I got back to the defensive side of the ball. I can guard the flat, which is how I got my two interceptions this year, and fill holes on the run.”
Both interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Reyes also has returned a fumble for a score.
“He’s been making a ton of big plays for us,” Thorgesen said. “He’s really been the spark plug we need.”
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Reyes is third on the team in tackles with 37 and is tied for the lead with seven tackles for loss, including two sacks.
“It’s a testament to how good an athlete he is that he can read and react that well,” Thorgesen said. “Those TFLs are a huge asset for the defense.”
Reyes scored Geneva’s lone TD last year against St. Rita, taking the snap in Wildcat formation for what he termed a “Philly Special.”
He handed the ball off to Nate Stempowski, who’s now the quarterback. A receiver then, Stempowski ran a sweep wide before stopping to throw back to Reyes out in the flat.
The 6-2 Luker, who said he moved to defense because he wanted to be on the field, is looking forward to the rematch with St. Rita.
“We were down 3-0 at halftime and learned we can play with them,” Luker said. “The DuKane is just as good as their conference. I felt they had more power up front.
“I played at 190 last year and so did our other D-end. We were smaller and scrawnier up front. I’m 215 now. It’s worked out. I love the position.”
Luker and his fellow seniors also have bought in to what Thorgesen is selling.
“I’m so happy for them,” Thorgesen said. “We tell kids all the time to keep working — on the field, in the classroom, in life. They stuck with it and earned this.”