South Elgin outscores Glenbard East in wild game

To look at South Elgin's 61-47 win Friday at Glenbard East, one might think no defense was played in this football game. That would be incorrect.

Defense got the Storm back into the game and over Glenbard East to capture the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division victory.

"Our kids fought through a lot of adversity. They did an excellent job of seizing the moment and making sure that they had a short-term memory," said South Elgin coach Patrik Pistorio.

Trailing 26-12 at halftime, South Elgin (5-1, 2-0) scored 4 unanswered touchdowns and 27 straight points. The string featured two consecutive teamwork interceptions by the same two Storm defensive linemen, Brian Medina with the batted pass and Michael Ribando with the interception.

Then came Joey Rohde's two consecutive punt blocks.

Almost needless to say, South Elgin scored on each subsequent possession, on Jake AmRhein touchdown passes to Derek Kumerow, Andrew Kamienski and Jeff Kamienski, and on a 4-yard touchdown run from Shawn Griffin, who ran 25 times for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns.

"I have not been part of something like that in a while," Pistorio said. The closest thing that I've ever been a part of with that many turnovers and just the change of pace and momentum goes back to Arena Football (as a Chicago Slaughter coach). That was unbelievable."

At that point, with 2:01 left in the third quarter, South Elgin led 39-26 - far from over.

Glenbard East (4-2, 2-1) scored twice within 40 seconds to pull within 40-39, but that was countered by a 34-yard Griffin touchdown run.

Glenbard East quarterback Phil Abruzino mounted yet another charge, an 11-play drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Zach Walsh. Justin Murphy's kick tied the scored 47-47 with 3:44 left to play.

Griffin answered yet again with a 41-yard touchdown run to make it 54-47 with 3:09 remaining and South Elgin wouldn't trail again.

"We just had great blocking on the perimeter, we were able to get the pitch out really quick. We were trying to manage the clock but I saw a crease and hit it," Griffin said.

Then the Storm defense delivered the silencer. First Dominique Woods intercepted a pass and after the Rams' defense held, Nikiel Williby returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown with 49 seconds left.

"You get a couple punts blocked, two tipped balls that turn into interceptions, they turn it into 28 points," said Glenbard East coach John Walters. "Our guys rally back, we get this thing tied, we just couldn't finish it."

Abruzino threw for 412 yards and 5 touchdowns, 3 to Walsh - and lost.

"It was nuts," Walters said.