Not being able to cross the goal line was a recurring problem for South Elgin during the first three weeks of the season.
That problem was solved Friday when the Storm scored six touchdowns in a 42-28 win against Elgin at Memorial Field.
The Storm came into the game without a touchdown since Week 1 and having scored only 13 points for the season, good for a 4.3 average. South Elgin exceeded that season total in the first quarter against the Maroons, scoring 14 points on a pair of rushing touchdowns by junior Trevor Hansley.
It was just a matter of time before the Storm's spread offense found its footing. Moving the ball hadn't been a problem through the first three games, but critical mistakes cost South Elgin scoring opportunities. Those mistakes were limited against Elgin, and the end result was an impressive performance.
Coach Dale Schabert's system ran like a well-oiled machine, with a lethal passing attack combining with an effective running game. Quarterback Pat Rae threw for 312 yards, and the Storm also racked up 170 rushing yards on 41 carries.
While there was little doubt that South Elgin was the better team on the field Friday, there was also little argument about who were the most talented players on the field. Those distinctions would go to South Elgin receiver Josh Smith and Elgin receiver Jamal Cook.
Every time those players touched the ball they were a threat to score. Smith finished with eight catches for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Meanwhile, Cook had five catches for 135 yards, good for an average of 27 yards per catch. Cook had a receiving touchdown and on defense stripped the ball from South Elgin running back Kelvin Ware and returned the fumble 80 yards for touchdown.
With the Storm and Maroons struggling early on this year, Smith and Cook sort of get lost in the shuffle. But make no mistake about it. These two players are two of the most exciting playmakers in the Upstate Eight Conference and their value to their respective teams can't be understated.
MOST IMPRESSIVE WIN
Narrowing down this category this week isn't easy, so I'm going to give credit to three teams.
St. Edward looked outstanding while running the ball for 487 yards in a 42-7 win against Aurora Central Catholic. The Wave showed a lot of character by bouncing back from a disappointing loss at Immaculate Conception in Week 3.
Another team showing character was Huntley. I figured the Red Raiders would beat Jacobs, but I didn't see it coming in the form of a 36-0 rout, especially after dealing with the District 158 teachers' strike earlier in the week. Jordan Neukirch continued to build his reputation as the top player in the area, running for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
I'll also give Hampshire a nod for most impressive win after beating Byron 20-6. It would have been easy for the Whip-Purs to become discouraged after their 0-3 start to the season. Instead, Hampshire took care of business and breathed some life into its hopes of reaching the playoffs with a key win in its final tuneup before the start of Big Northern Conference play next week.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK
I can't say there were any huge surprises this week, but the one prediction I missed came in the game I covered between South Elgin and Elgin. I thought the Storm's offensive woes in the first three weeks would continue, but I was definitely wrong.
South Elgin had the look of a team that might catch some more talented opponents off guard in the second half of the season, while Elgin had the look of a team that might need to go back to the drawing board before picking up its first win of the year. The Maroons definitely have talent, but much of that talent plays every down on both sides of the ball, which can be a hard thing to overcome.
