Getting the Creeps in Wilmette: A game that was dead on arrival

To all you football coaches out there, if you’re looking for a concept to really spook the competition, check out the 500 block of Washington Avenue in Wilmette.

There you will find a pass play strong enough to wake the dead.

The display is courtesy of the Genke family and specifically 13-year-old Nate Genke, who combined his love for football and Halloween into a frighteningly fun front-yard scene.

“We just thought it would be really cool to have a football game going on in the front yard,” he said about the idea he first had about three years ago.

Also frightening, the Genkes are Packers fans, so the scene depicts a game between the Packers and Bears with posed skeletons sporting the appropriate jerseys.

In this game, it appears Packers QB Bart Starr has zipped a pass in the direction of his teammate who is alone in the end zone. The ball hovers on its path to the skeletal receiver, while a blind referee — complete with an assistance cane — tries to find the action.

While other skeletal players are tussling in the background, a group of fans is field-side enjoying a barbecue. One of them sports a cheesehead and a PBR, another a Bears hat and a Budweiser.

Nate said setting up the display takes a weekend, and it gets quite the reception, as plenty of folks stop by the house for photos or to quickly play on the field. Stephanie Genke said kids love to try to get in on the game and even grab the midair ball.

The Genkes plan to add to the display before gameday (Halloween night). Stop by and look for a scoreboard, werewolf and spider superfans, and possibly a tunnel and fog machine.

Make sure to read our other Getting the Creeps pieces — Skokie | Highland Park | Glencoe | Northfield — all publishing before Halloween night.

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