Larkin makes easy work of Streamwood
Larkin got back to the .500 mark and kept its playoffs hopes alive with a 43-8 homecoming win against visiting Streamwood at Memorial Field on Friday night in Upstate Eight River Division action. The Royals (3-3, 1-3) will need to win 2 out their remaining 3 games against St. Charles East, Batavia, and Elgin to have a shot at the playoffs.
Quarterback DJ Ball rushed for 76 yards on 13 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. Kindrell Morris had a team high 82 yards rushing on 15 carries while Jahari Stubbs had a night to remember with an interception return for a touchdown, a fumble recovery that set up a touchdown, and a spectacular Odell Beckham-like one handed diving catch that set up another score.
"I really liked the way we were able to move the ball on the ground," Larkin coach Dragon Teonic said. "The O-line continues to get better and better. We are getting that team aspect up front. This is the best line I have had since I have been here. "
As a team the Royals rushed for 185 yards.
"DJ and Kindrell have become a really good combination for us," Teonic said. "DJ is a kid that refused to play quarterback at first, but January came around and maybe it was knowing his senior year was coming up but something clicked. He came to us and said I'm willing to do whatever the team needs and we needed someone to step in at quarterback. He has come a long way in a short time. He is such a talented athlete and continues to work hard to get better. So does Kindrell. Our running attack is really coming around."
Ball had touchdown runs of 1, 10, 7, and 1 yards.
"This is the biggest win in the 4 years I have been here," Ball said. " We really got the running game with the quarterback draw and the pitches to Kindrell. It was just great to go to war with my brothers and get the win."
The Royals marched 61 yards on the opening drive of the game and scored on a 20-yard touchdown run by Travis Farley. An onside kick recovery then gave the Royals great field position and resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Ball to make it 14-0. Ball added a 10-yard touchdown run that was set up a play earlier by Stubbs' spectacular 34-yard catch. Stubbs then ran back an interception 55 yards for a touchdown.
"I just saw the quarterback looking right the whole way and as soon as he threw it I made a break for the ball." Stubbs said. "I've never had a game like this, It was exciting. There was a lot of energy and it was a great team win."
Ball added a 7-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to make it 36-0 at halftime. Stubbs' fumble recovery at the Streamwood 5 to start the second half set up another 1-yard touchdown run by Ball to make it 43-0 and gave the Royals a slaughter rule running clock.
Streamwood fell to 0-6. The Sabres' lone highlight came when backup quarterback Stephen Deike scored on a 1-yard sneak.
"We just had too many mistakes," Streamwood coach Don Guindon said. "And against a well-coached team like Larkin this is going to be the result. We just have to keep moving forward and try to be become more consistent."