Win No. 4 secures best season yet for South Elgin
South Elgin is off to the best start in the young history of the football program, notching a program-best fourth win of the season Saturday with a 24-10 nonconference win over Lincoln-Way North at Millennium Field in Streamwood.
The Storm can become playoff eligible for the first time with a win over Bartlett next Friday night at Millennium.
"This is a great start for us," said Storm coach Dale Schabert. "It is not only a great victory and start for us as a team but as a school in whole. The student body and faculty have been very supportive."
After losing a tough game last week to St. Charles East the Storm bounced back Saturday.
South Elgin took the lead for good with 1:32 left to go in the third quarter as the Storm went downfield 96 yards and took it into the end zone. The big play of the drive was on third-and 2 when Storm quarterback John Menken (11 of 20, 209 yards) connected with Jake Kumerow for a 34-yard gain. On the next play Menken took it in from 12 yards out for the touchdown and a 17-10 Storm lead.
"It is great to know when you throw the ball to (Kumerow), he will catch it," said Menken. "You don't realize how good that makes a quarterback feel."
The Storm opened the game with a 16-play drive that resulted in a 21-yard field goal from David Reisner that gave South Elgin a 3-0 lead with 4:56 left to play in the first quarter.
"It was nice to see the offense keep (Lincoln-Way's defense) out there," added Schabert. "We used up a lot of time. I wish we would have came away with more than just a field goal though but it kept their defense out there and it was hot."
Lincoln-Way got on the board to take the lead in the second quarter when the Phoenix used a trick play. Running Back Jim Hermle threw a 30-yard pass to Stephen Snedden with 7:33 left in the half for a score.
The Storm got the ball into the end zone on a 1-yard strike from Menken to Sean Kolber. But Kumerow's 38-yard catch on second-and-2 from the 43 got the Storm into scoring position. The ball was tipped and Kumerow did his thing and ran the ball down to the 5.
Lincoln-Way answered with a field goal to tie the game at 10 going into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Phoenix just manage 1 first down as South Elgin's defensive line held its own.
The game was put out of reach with just 1:46 left on the clock when Menken ran the ball in on a keeper. The drive was set up after the Storm's Bradley Birchfield (22 carries, 75 yards) ran back a punt for 50 yards to the Phoenix 22-yard line.