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South Elgin tops East Aurora, now 2-0

In one of the many conversations Dragan Teonic had with one of his coaching mentors, former longtime Harper College coach John Eliasik, it was a good probability that dealing with logistical challenges came up.

Teonic, a reserve quarterback at Harper, was a member of back-to-back conference and regional title teams in 1998 and 1999. He served as offensive coordinator on Eliasik's repeat NJCAA non-scholarship teams in both 2003 and 2004 before succeeding him in 2006 to start his head coaching career where he led the now-defunct program to its third and final national crown two years later with his mentor serving as his offensive line coach.

Eliasik, who turned 80 this past Wednesday, would often tell the story of having been hired to launch the program 50 years ago this spring with no on-campus field and only an old horse trailer to keep equipment in.

As a result of one of the heavier winter snowfalls of the past 20 years and its impact on their home grass field, Teonic and his South Elgin program will be using its first home from 2006-12, Millennium Field on the campus of Streamwood High School this season for their home schedule. The Storm joins fellow Upstate Eight Conference members Bartlett and Fenton in the same predicament.

In addition to facility sharing with other sports at SEHS, there's been a roof leak in one of the school gymnasiums plus having to share Millennium when they get to have twice weekly practice sessions under the lights.

"Our kids have never once wavered from the challenge and they've never complained about it," Teonic said. "They've just handled their business."

Which they did in its 'home' opener as the Storm streamed past Aurora East 62-0 Saturday afternoon.

South Elgin (2-0 overall and Upstate Eight play) scored in each of their five first-half possessions in building a 41-0 halftime lead. The Storm put the visiting Tomcat attack in the deep freeze.

South Elgin held East Aurora it to negative 30 yards total offense in the first half and 3 yards of total offense in half number two while allowing East Aurora (0-2 overall and UEC) only one trip into Storm territory all game.

The Storm amassed 289 yards total offense on the afternoon.

Senior running back Davion Cherwin helped fuel the scoring with a trio of touchdowns with TD runs of 1 and 5 yards in addition to a 43-yard punt return that found pay dirt on the first play of the second quarter that gave the Storm a 19-0 advantage.

Mingling successfully with Cherwin's day, junior signalcaller Ben Karpowicz totaled 100 yards passing and rushing as he tossed a pair of TDs to Jalen Jones (11 yards) and Dylan Marquis (23 yards) while adding an 8-yard scoring run of his own.

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