A strong senior season as a dual-threat quarterback by South Elgin’s Nate Gomez has created interest from college football programs.
It gives Gomez, a baseball standout, cause to pause and consider. It’s the only thing to slow him down all season.
Gomez has the Storm (6-0) on a roll heading into a 7:30 p.m. showdown Friday at Batavia (6-0). The Bulldogs are ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press’ Class 7A poll.
“I’ve had several schools in touch with me actually,” Gomez said of NIU, St. Cloud State and Wayne State. “I would definitely consider it. Of course, I love baseball. I’m weighing all options and seeing what develops.”
Gomez planned on playing baseball in college and committed in late summer to Wabash Valley, a highly successful full-scholarship junior college program.
For football, he’s considered “an athlete,” rather than specifically a quarterback. It’s appropriate considering his performance.
Gomez leads South Elgin with 979 yards rushing on 119 carries and 15 touchdowns, while completing 45 of 74 passes for 655 yards with 10 TDs. He also has two punt return TDs, and averages 18 yards a return.
More Top Picks Omega 3 Benefits For The Heart
“It’s what he can do when protection falls apart, when things don’t go his way up front and he has to escape, where he really puts people in a bind,” South Elgin coach Pat Pistorio said. “We’re expecting more and more to see teams spying on him with a linebacker.”
There’s more involved with Gomez than natural ability. Changes in South Elgin’s offense have aided his production.
Gomez ran for 367 yards last season. Pistorio altered the attack to include more pass-run option based on the offense used by Ferris State.
“They’re a Division II program we have a lot of respect for that invests a lot of time with quarterbacks in the running game,” Pistorio said.
Chicago Christian graduate Jason Vander Laan became the NCAA’s all-time top running quarterback for any level in Ferris State’s offense, and the first quarterback ever over 1,000 yards passing and rushing in four straight seasons.
“Their coaches were patient enough to let us pick their brains with extra questions at clinics,” Pistorio said. “We’re all in with that system. It does a great job keeping defenses guessing.”
The plan for Gomez was 12-15 carries a game, but he has 67 more than the rest of the team.
“My legs are a strength of mine,” Gomez said. “Being able to finally use them, I like that part of the offense. I like being able to run and pass.
“There are a lot of different reads to be made based on defensive guys in the box, their leverage and where the flat defenders are. It wouldn’t work without great blocking from the line, backs and receivers.”
It’s a drastically different approach than the first time Gomez faced Batavia’s varsity in 2015. He was in an ongoing starting battle with current Wayne State quarterback Jake AmRhein, and threw an interception late in the fourth quarter of a 35-28 loss.
“I actually got yanked by coach, and it was the last time I saw the field at quarterback as a sophomore,” Gomez said. “I don’t like that at all, and I want to bounce back from that. I’m very hungry right now for this upcoming game. “
It’s not entirely personal. Gomez and Pistorio see this as a team measuring stick.
South Elgin’s opponents have only 21 victories. Batavia counts wins over St. Charles East, Geneva and Lemont in its total. Another measuring stick will follow against Cary-Grove, which is ranked fifth in 6A.
“These next two weeks will be a test to see what we’re made of,” Gomez said. “We’ll see where we need to be heading into the playoffs.”
Twitter @genechamberlai2