South Elgin’s Adolfo Pacheco runs over Geneva in upset win

Updated: October 15, 2011 7:31PM

Circumstances were ripe for a big performance from South Elgin’s Adolfo Pacheco on Saturday, and the senior tailback delivered with a record-setting performance.

With Pacheco leading the way, the Storm’s ground attack had its way with visiting Geneva from start to finish in a 36-21 upset victory in Upstate Eight crossover play that keeps South Elgin’s hopes of reaching the playoffs alive.

Pacheco finished the contest with a school-record 318 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries. The Storm shredded the Vikings for 458 total yards, 415 of which came on the ground.

“Right away from the start the holes were there, and we kept getting them until the fourth quarter,” Pacheco said. “I’m telling you, those holes were unreal.”

A big reason for the success was the return of senior offensive lineman Jon Slania, who missed the past two games with a knee injury. After playing both tackle positions earlier in the year, Slania moved to center to cut down on his lateral movement and helped create gaping running lanes along with junior tackle Zachary Saldivar and senior guard Kevin Jakowitsch.

The Storm also went to a two-fullback set as DJ Greene joined Geno Passarelli as an extra blocker in the backfield, helping South Elgin (4-4) spring 13 rushing plays of 10 yards or more.

The outcome marked a rough end to a trying week for Geneva (6-2), which was without three starters who were arrested for underage drinking last weekend. Two of those starters were defensive linemen, but coach Rob Wicinski wouldn’t use that as an excuse after this team lost for the first time in four meetings with the Storm.

“We had guys that just didn’t make plays,” Wicinski said. “Usually by this time I have an idea of what kind of team I’m dealing with, but we’re having a little bit of an identity crisis both offensively and defensively. We’ve got a couple games to put it together and figure it out.”

The Vikings started with a burst as quarterback Matt Williams scored on a one-yard plunge to cap a 13-play, 74-yard drive on the game’s opening possession.

The Storm had an immediate answer, though, as Pacheco scored on an eight-yard run to knot the score at 7 less than 90 seconds later.

“We came out kind of slow the last couple games, but once we punched that in on our first drive I knew we were going to bring it the entire game,” Slania said.

The Storm used a 16-play, 98-yard touchdown drive capped by a two-yard Pacheco run to tie the score at 14 shortly before halftime, and it took the lead for good on the first play of the third quarter.

Pinned at its own six-yard line after misplaying the opening kickoff of the second half, South Elgin got out of trouble in a hurry when Pacheco bounced around right end, weaved through traffic and took off for a 94-yard touchdown run. The play broke the program record for longest rushing gain.

“It was a 31 lead and (Pacheco) just bounced into everything and then bounced it out to the right,” South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. “But that doesn’t happen unless everyone is blocking to the whistle. If the guys don’t stay on their assignments, he bounces it back and loses four yards.”

The Storm got interceptions from Michael Bahena and Jonathan Ortega as the Northern Illinois-bound Williams completed only 6 of 18 passes for 68 yards in windy conditions. Parker Woodworth and Bobby Hess added touchdown runs for Geneva while Passarelli had a 14-yard touchdown run for South Elgin, which needs to win at Waubonsie Valley next week to become playoff eligible for the third straight year.

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