GENOA – Marengo running back John Lesiak expected to be tackled. It was just a matter of time. The line of scrimmage had clogged into a dam, and he couldn’t find the leaks.

“I just kept my feet moving, and my linemen kept their feet moving,” the Indians junior said. “Then I saw a hole to the left.”

Genoa-Kingston’s defensive line had jammed the middle, but it left the outside unprotected. Lesiak took advantage of the opening, popping out of a pile for a 36-yard, second-quarter touchdown. The score gave G-K a six-point deficit it never recovered from, losing 40-17 to Marengo on its senior night.

“He was stuffed, dead to rights,” G-K coach Travis Frederick said of Lesiak. “But he made a play, kept his feet and spun out. He’s a good running back, there’s no doubt.

“You just got to wrap up. It’s fundamental stuff here. It comes down to it. Of course, we’ve got to coach them up, but what it comes down to when they’re on the field is we’ve got to make a play.”

The play put G-K’s (1-7, 0-4 Big Northern Conference East) season in a nutshell. Even when the Cogs get in position to make a play, they’ve been unable to finish. That was never more evident than Friday night.

G-K had a chance to take momentum and field position early, but a Chris Camargo punt down to Marengo’s 1-yard line was called back because of penalty. The second attempt was blocked and returned 22 yards for an Indians touchdown, opening the scoring.

In the fourth, Marengo got its second return touchdown with a 27-yard fumble return.

“It’s a great lift for our team,” Lesiak said of the Indians’ two return touchdowns. “It gets everyone’s heads up and our self-esteem going. It’s good for everyone.”

The loss put a fitting and disappointing end on the Cogs’ senior home season. G-K will close its regular season 7 p.m. Friday at Harvard.

Frederick regretted the seniors not being able to get a home win during their final season.

“We wanted to send them out on top,” Frederick said. “I’ve always rooted for those kids and that class. They’re always had low numbers and haven’t always had the best success, so I was sure rooting for them.”