Catching on

South Elgin senior Jake Kumerow might not be the fastest or strongest wide receiver Dale Schabert has coached, but he does rank at the top in one key area.

"I don't know if I've ever had anybody with better hands than Jake," Schabert said. "When you really need it, if he can get his paws on it, he catches the ball."

Those reliable hands were on full display during the Storm's comeback win at Larkin last week as Kumerow made six key catches in the fourth quarter. All of those receptions went for at least nine yards, four resulted in first downs and one went for a game-tying touchdown.

Performances like that are a big reason why Kumerow is the area's leading receiver with 38 catches for 688 yards and six touchdowns.

When South Elgin takes the field for its first-ever playoff game against St. Charles North on Saturday at Millennium Field, rest assured that junior quarterback John Menken will be looking Kumerow's way if the going gets tough.

"I have all the trust in the world with him," Menken said. "It's a great weapon to have. When we need a big play, we know he's our playmaker."

Kumerow was the No. 2 option in South Elgin's passing attack last year as he caught 14 passes for 267 yards. According to Schabert, a dedicated training regimen in the off-season helped Kumerow become the player he is today.

"We challenged him and told him he needed to get faster, so he got a speed coach and worked on that," Schabert said. "He's done a better job with his routes this year and he's really become a good player."

It also didn't hurt that Kumerow grew about four inches since the start of his junior year, filling into the 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame he carries now. The growth spurt wasn't a complete surprise considering Kumerow's dad, Eric Kumerow, was a 6-7, 264-pound linebacker with the Miami Dolphins from 1988-90.

In addition to the size increase, Kumerow is also benefitting from a good rapport with Menken, who leads the area with 1,241 passing yards in his first varsity season.

"Now that I'm taller it's a lot easier because if I'm a little bit covered, (Menken) will still give it a chance knowing that I'm a big receiver and I'll go up for the ball," Kumerow said. "John always puts it right on the money. He's a good quarterback, he knows where to put the ball and he makes good choices."

While Kumerow is a dangerous receiver, he is far from the only threat in South Elgin's offense.

Junior receiver Domico Failla and senior receiver Sheldon Chaney both have at least 13 catches, and junior running back Bradley Birchfield gives the Storm a formidable ground presence.

For Kumerow, the help is more than welcome.

"When teams key up on me, we've got other receivers and other guys we can go to," Kumerow said. "Johnny will throw it good every time. It feels good knowing that he doesn't have to go to me every time."