South Elgin handles rival Bartlett to stay perfect in Upstate Eight West

Final score: South Elgin 42, Bartlett 7

Records: South Elgin moves to 4-1, 3-0 in the Upstate Eight West; Bartlett drops to 0-5, 0-3.

Player of the game: Storm quarterback Carter McDonald. The senior didn’t put up video game numbers but was very efficient. He completed 10 of 11 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns to Julian Huerta. McDonald also ran for 25 yards.

Other statistical leaders: Tailback Jeremiah Torres was equally efficient, rushing for 112 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries and catching a short pass for another score. Huerta finished with four catches for 51 yards. Sophomore quarterback Parker Mulhall did it all for Bartlett, throwing for 102 yards and the Hawks’ lone score while also rushing for 46 yards.

Turning point: With the Storm ahead 7-0, Bartlett, hoping to tie, faced third down in its own territory. But Max Tanksley picked off an errant pass at the Hawks’ 25. Seven plays later, Lamari Smith took it around the right side for the score.

First-half highlight: With less than three minutes left in the half, McDonald and South Elgin moved 70 yards in just eight plays. McDonald’s pass to Huerta capped the drive and put the Storm up 21-0 at the break.

Second-half highlight: The Storm broke the game wide open in the third quarter with three touchdowns in less than five and a half minutes. Torres sprinted 41 yards for a score. After another South Elgin interception, McDonald found Huerta again for 21 yards. A turnover on downs gave the offense another chance, and backup quarterback Oliver Johnston found Torres for the score to make it 42-0.

X-factor: The South Elgin pass defense, which registered two interceptions, five sacks, and numerous pass breakups. Patrick Belk, Jacob Hapanionek, and Carlos Campos all registered sacks in a short span. The Storm held Bartlett to 10 completions on 25 attempts. The run defense wasn’t bad, either, with the Hawks managing just 56 yards on 26 tries.

Quote: “The kids played aggressive and really just tackled well tonight,” said Storm coach Pat Pistorio.“We brought some pressure and did some things schematically that I think put them in a bind. (Offensively) the plan was to continue to establish a positive run game up front. Our whole line’s pretty young but they’re coming through for us and doing a pretty nice job.”