Larkin comes alive in 2nd half
The Larkin football team spent Saturday afternoon breaking records and breaking Elgin hearts.
Trailing the cross-town rival Maroons 21-14 at the half, the Royals exploded for 39 second-half points and their defense held Elgin star running back Kenny Williams in check to earn a 53-35 victory in the 44th meeting for the Town Jug at Memorial Field.
The win gave Larkin possession of the Town Jug for the sixth straight year. The Royals have won the crosstown game 13 of the last 15 seasons and lead the all-time series 30-17.
Larkin's 53 points were a record for one team in the series as were the 88 points combined, edging out an 84-point game in 2005.
More importantly, the win evened Larkin's record at 4-4 overall and 4-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference, giving the Royals hope of qualifying for the playoffs with a win against Waubonsie Valley next Friday at Memorial.
"I just wanted to get that Jug, that was the main thing," said Larkin senior receiver Nick Bee, who grabbed 8 catches for 212 yards and 5 touchdowns. "The best part? We're still in the playoff hunt."
Elgin can no longer say the same. The loss dropped the Maroons to 3-5 and eliminated them from playoff contention for the sixth straight season.
Larkin quarterback Cam Kinley enjoyed another huge day statistically. Kinley completed 25-of-33 passes (76 percent) for 411 yards and 6 touchdowns without an interception. The 6 touchdown passes give Kinley 34 for the season, shattering Matt Schabert's school record of 30 set in 1999.
"Stuff started clicking," Kinley said of the 39-point, second-half barrage. "Receivers were getting open and we were finding the open guy. It was easy."
While Bee was Kinley's main target, he also connected with Jake Kane, Ryan Shriver, John Banks, Alex Giardino and running back Dillon Smith for 17 completions and 199 yards combined.
"Those receivers are faster than people think and they catch anything," Elgin coach Tom Kim said. "They have unbelievable hands and they did a great job. I knew they could play. And their offensive line did a good job of protecting the quarterback and opening up the running game.
"That's a good offense. You have to tip your cap to them. It's not like this is something new. They've been putting up points all year."
Smith also ran for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 carries.
Larkin took control of the game by turning its first 4 possessions of the second half into scoring drives of 61, 81, 54 and 36 yards. The Royals went ahead 39-21 on Kinley's 30-yard strike to Bee on a fly pattern with 9:32 left in the fourth quarter.
Elgin's Williams rushed for 112 yards in the first half but was limited to 11 yards on 7 carries in the second half, though he did record 117 receiving yards on 6 catches.
"They stacked the box," Williams said of Larkin's defense. "After a while you've got to hit it outside. We just didn't take advantage of it."
Elgin junior quarterback Tom Roth completed 20-of-39 passes for 395 yards and 3 touchdowns, and he ran for another score. His 39-yard scoring pass to Jamal Cook pulled the Maroons within 46-35 with 3:41 to play, but the onside kick was fielded by Juan Villanueva and returned to the Elgin 10-yard line. Smith scored on a 1-yard run 2 plays later to provide the final margin.
With 8:45 to play in the second quarter, Larkin took a 14-6 lead on a 31-yard pass from Kinley to Bee. But Elgin roared back with 15 points before halftime. Roth tied the game at 14 with an 18-yard scoring jaunt followed by his conversion run.
The Maroons then took a 21-14 lead to the intermission after Jamal Cook out-leaped a Larkin defender to haul in a 35-yard touchdown reception with 33 seconds left in the second quarter.