Elgin nabs 1st win for Bierman
A fast start was exactly what the Elgin football team needed to earn its first victory of the season.
A touchdown 50 seconds into the game Friday night would qualify as a fast start.
The Maroons used the momentum to score six times on their first seven possessions en route to a 47-13 victory over East Aurora at Memorial Field.
"We came out ready to play," Elgin's Tom Roth said. "We put big numbers on the board right away. That's what we really needed to do."
On the second play from scrimmage, Elgin's Deandre Forrest took a handoff up the middle, cut back to the left and scampered 40 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 50 seconds in.
The Maroons (1-6, 1-3 Upstate Eight) went three-and-out on their next possession. That would be their only punt of the game.
Roth scored on a 15-yard run with 4:49 left in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Roth then hit Jamal Cook across the middle and Cook outran the Tomcats' defense for a 73-yard score for a 21-0 lead with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter.
Elgin scored on all three of its possessions in the second quarter. Roth hit Cook for a 20-yard strike. Roth added his second rushing touchdown, a 1-yard dive. Forrest also scored his second rushing touchdown on an 8-yard run with 1:32 left in the half, ensuring the second half would be played with a running clock.
"I was happy with the way we ran the ball because we have struggled doing that," said Maroons coach Dave Bierman, who won his first game as EHS coach. "We need to be balanced. We may not be a run-dominated team, but we need the balance to play off each other."
Roth completed 5 of 8 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. The senior added 32 yards rushing. Forrest rushed for 114 yards on 17 carries. Elgin finished with 174 yards rushing on 35 attempts.
Ryan Parks added a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Maroons.
East Aurora (2-5, 1-3) got a 5-yard touchdown run from Leon Harden and a 40-yard pass from James Jones to Paul Calderon. The Tomcats had only 119 yards of offense, 47 in the first half.
"It came down to everyone doing their job," Elgin defensive back Joe Wade said. "Everyone tackled and wrapped up. Everyone was getting to the ball. The defense was a big part of the win tonight."