Big return lifts Waubonsie over S. Elgin
Two potent offenses squared off, but it was the defenses that stepped up as Waubonsie Valley and South Elgin squared off for a share of the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division football title.
And it was the Warriors' special teams that struck the final blow to the Storm as Waubonsie Valley topped the host Storm 20-10 on Friday night at Millennium Field in Streamwood.
The Warriors (7-2, 5-1) held just a slim 13-3 advantage heading into the fourth quarter, but Jakobi Johnson gave his team all the breathing room needed as he returned a punt 74 yards with 11:39 left to play.
"They blocked really well on the left side of the field, and I saw it and went that way," Johnson said. "That pretty much was what we needed to end the game."
The Storm (6-3, 4-2) got some life on the ensuing kickoff as Brad Birchfield set up a short 38-yard drive with a nice return. Quarterback John Menken capped that drive with a 1-yard run to pull to 20-10 with 9:59 remaining.
However, the South Elgin offense had struggles throughout the night sustaining drives and was held to just 182 total yards.
"I thought our defense really had a nice game, and we really stopped ourselves on offense," said South Elgin coach Dale Schabert. "The kids battled all night, and it's a tough loss."
The Warriors' secondary played a large part in the Storm's offense holding Menken to 5-for-13 and 73 yards. Trey Waldman had 2 interceptions and Johnson one as well for the Warriors.
Waldman's first pick set up a 71-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter which Austin Guido capped with a 9-yard run for a 13-3 lead. That interception came right after the Storm's Robbie Green gave his team great field position with a pick.
"Our defense bailed us out," said Waubonsie Valley coach Paul Murphy. "Our secondary has been our strength, and we put our strength up against their strength."
The first half was rather quiet as each team scored just once in the second quarter.
Warriors' quarterback Tommy Kolzow connected with Demetrius Gray on an 8-yard TD pass, but the was a bad snap on the extra point. Storm kicker David Reisner hit a 31-yard field goal.
The Storm will be limping into the playoffs after losing three of their last four after a 5-0 start.
"There's been a lot of pressure on them after that quick start," Schabert said. "But they're battling, and they'll be ready next week."