South Elgin gets back on track, shuts out Larkin
South Elgin burst into the win column with a 56-0 thrashing of Larkin Friday night at Memorial Field in the teams’ Upstate Eight Western Division opener.
The Storm ended all eight drives in the end zone.
“I was very excited for the players. They deserved it. They worked very hard for it,” South Elgin coach Patrick Pistorio said.
Quarterbacks John Ginnan and Carter McDonald took turns guiding the offense for South Elgin. The duo, a senior and a sophomore, together completed seven of nine passes for a total of 133 yards. Ishmael George hauled in five of the tosses for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
“Both had played this season, and we wanted to give both of them a series or two tonight. They were amazing and I’m happy with both of their performances,” Pistorio said.
Running back Darrion Thurman led the ground game, rushing for 106 yards on 15 carriers and crossed the goal line twice.
“He had a great game, running physical. I was excited to see him run between the tackles,” the South Elgin coach said.
“We didn’t execute,” Larkin coach Vincent Ray said. "“We had a game plan. Offensively, we let some things up. Defensively, we gave somethings up.”
George put South Elgin (1-2, 1-0) on the board at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter. The senior hauled in a 22-yard pass from John Ginnan (4 of 6 for 42 yards) in the right corner of the end zone.
South Elgin’s Nicolas Barkho intercepted a pass by Royals QB Julius Yandell to set up South Elgin’s second score at the 37-yard line. Brandon Berrios ended the drive with a 3-yard scamper with 47 seconds left in the first frame.
Thurman completed the Storm’s third possession on a 3-yard run with 6:13 left in the second quarter. With 2:10 left until halftime, Carter McDonald (3 of 3 for 91 yards) connected with George for a 55-yard TD for a South Elgin 28-0 halftime lead.
The Storm wasted no time increasing their advantage in the third quarter. Berrios caught the opening kick off of the second half and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown.
“I muffed it, but I picked the ball up and my blockers led the way,” Berrios said.
South Elgin’s remaining three touchdowns all started with interceptions of Yandell passes.
“We won the turnover battle,” Pistorio said. “That was very impressive.”
Berrios wrestled away the ball from Larkin (0-3, 0-1) receiver Tizairian Johnson-Williams at the Royals’ 31-yard line to set up the Storm’s sixth score, Thurman’s 1-yard plunge at the 9:59 mark of the third quarter.
Picks by Zacharia Barkho and Larry Smith also ended in Storm scores: a 1-yard run by Tyson Riley late in the third quarter and a 2-yard rush by Derek Thavisay in the fourth frame.