South Elgin hopes hard work means a playoff berth

Third-year South Elgin coach Patrik Pistorio can't hide his enthusiasm when speaking of his team, a group whose overall talent, he says, is matched by its off-season dedication to improvement.

Following four seasons without a playoff berth, he believes South Elgin is poised to improve on last year's 5-4 record and can qualify for the postseason for the third time in the school's 10-year football history.

"The amount of work and overall passion that comes from this group will be hard for future groups to mimic because I don't know a group that's worked harder," Pistorio said. "I've been with these kids for three years and their eyes are set on the playoffs and beyond."

Pistorio's optimism stems from a big offensive line, a handful of proven, hardworking wide receivers, a pair of talented quarterbacks, a speedy third-year running back, a tall, athletic secondary and an improved defensive front designed to better stop the run.

What should be a prolific offense begins with arguably the biggest line the school has ever fielded, led by three returning senior starters: athletic right guard Mike Ribando (6-foot-4, 250 pounds), left guard Matt Zimmerman (6-4, 270) and center Ian Happel (6-0, 265). Zimmerman has drawn interest from Stanford and Ivy League schools, his coach said.

Joining the offensive line - a unit now coached by former Larkin and Huntley head coach Matt Gehrig, who played at Eastern Illinois - is senior Brian Medina (6-6, 245). Medina started on the defensive line last year and played a bit at tight end. He impressed the coaches at Northern Illinois' camp this summer, Pistorio said.

The line is rounded out by junior Jeremy Jenkins, who added weight in the off-season to his 6-foot-7 frame and now weighs 256 pounds.

The line will protect two quarterbacks: senior Jake AmRhein and Nate Gomez, who Pistorio said will both see playing time. AmRhein returns from a torn ACL suffered on a sideline hit late last season. Before he was injured, the 6-3, 220-pound multisport athlete completed 28 of 40 passes for 474 yards and 6 touchdowns without an interception, and he rushed 37 times for 142 yards and 2 scores.

Both quarterbacks have the luxury of throwing to talented receivers Andrew Kamienski (5-11, 185), Derek Kumerow (6-3, 190) and Jeffrey Kamienski (6-0, 175), all of whom trained in the off-season with J.R. Niklos of Acceleration Sports Performance in Naperville, an organization that trained, among others, Illinois receiver Mikey Dudek when he was at Neuqua Valley.

Andrew Kamienski finished an all-area junior season with a team-high 41 receptions, 545 yards and 5 touchdowns. Kumerow led Storm receivers in yardage (647) and touchdowns (9) via 35 receptions.

However, an opposing defense that drops eight men into coverage to limit South Elgin's passing game risks being burned by third-year running back Shawn Griffin. A track sprinter with 4.5 speed, Griffin battled injuries last year but still rushed 77 times for 577 yards (7.5 avg) and 9 touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior also made 31 receptions last season for 268 yards and 3 scores.

Defensively, the Storm will roll several of its offensive linemen through the defensive front, particularly Medina at left end or nose. Junior wrestler Billy Wywialowksi (6-0, 315) is expected to plug the run for a defense that allowed 218 rushing yards per game.

Third-year linebacker Justin Nutof switches from inside to the outside, while "super athletic" Joey Rohde takes over at mike linebacker. Also a snowboarder with excellent balance, Rohde registered a standing broad jump of 9 feet, eight inches, said his coach, who called the senior "kind of crazy but in a good way."

The secondary features good size in senior cornerbacks in 6-1 CJ Bradford and 6-2 Larnell Brown, a Streamwood transfer. Kumerow and the Kamienskis will see time at safety.

Pistorio is optimistic the Storm can compete for their first Upstate Eight Valley title and reach the postseason.

"We've got to take things one game at a time, but (the postseason) is one of our goals and I know we've worked hard to get there," he said.