New Jug, same result - it's Larkin's
New Jug, same result.
Larkin football players hoisted the new Town Jug in victory after holding off Elgin for a 15-6 victory at Memorial Field Saturday afternoon.
Larkin has won 7 straight meetings against the rival Maroons and 14 of the last 16. The Royals now lead the all-time series 29-17.
The original Town Jug was retired to Larkin after last season because space to record final scores ran out.
"It's a new Jug, and we wanted the first writing on it to be in blue," Larkin running back Jeff Saurbaugh said.
The Upstate Eight Conference victory kept Larkin (4-4, 2-2) in the playoff hunt. The Royals must win next week at Waubonsie Valley (5-3, 4-1) to become playoff eligible.
The Royals rushed 47 times for 195 yards, led by running back Jalen Williams. The junior carried 21 times for 164 yards.
"It feels great because it was against a rival team," Williams said of his personal-best rushing total. "We just tried to pound the ball as much as we could and get them tired because most of their players go on both sides of the ball. We just wanted to wear them out."
Elgin (1-7, 1-4), which took the field without star receiver Jamal Cook due to what coach Dave Bierman termed "a personal issue," turned the ball over 4 times (3 fumbles) and muffed a punt.
"Turnovers and miscues on special teams, a lot of broken assignments," Bierman said. "But you have to give (Larkin) coach (Matt) Gehrig a lot of credit. The kids played hard, and they had the ball a lot that second half. That third quarter they ate up a lot of time.
"Until we learn to drive shoulders instead of tackling with arms, the ball keeps moving forward, 3, 4, 5 more yards."
The Larkin punt coverage team came up with the first big play of the game. Senior Justin Kalusa stripped Elgin's Tom Roth of the football during the return and Cody Schue recovered at the Elgin 42-yard line.
An 18-yard run by Saurbaugh and a 16-yard burst by Williams set the stage for Brandon Cooks, who stiff-armed his way to an 8-yard touchdown run with 6:14 left in the first quarter. Cooks also rushed for the 2-point conversion to stake Larkin to an 8-0 lead.
Elgin punted and fumbled on its next 2 possessions before coming to life offensively in the second quarter. The Maroons took over at their own 47 after a Larkin punt and drove 53 yards in 10 plays, capped by Deandre Forrest's 3-yard scoring run with 3:48 left in the first half. A 2-point conversion pass failed.
Roth kept alive with a 7-yard run on fourth-and-2 at the Larkin 24.
The Royals dominated time of possession in the third quarter with 2 drives that took 8:40. Larkin marched 70 yards in 11 plays on the opening possession of the second half, but the drive ended when the Maroons stopped Kalusa for a short loss on fourth-and-goal at the 3-yard line.
Following an Elgin three-and-out and a 19-yard punt return by Saurbaugh to the Elgin 26, the Royals pushed to the end zone in 5 plays. Saurbaugh found paydirt with a 15-yard scoring run to make it 14-6 with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
"I got in the huddle and said, 'Guys, if you get a good block, I'll be in,'" Saurbaugh said. "There was a big hole. Anyone could have run through that hole and scored. It was all the line right there."
Anthony Dimiceli kicked the point after for a 15-6 Larkin lead.
Elgin's final 3 possessions ended in a punt, a turnover on downs at midfield and a lost fumble. The Maroons also touched a Larkin punt that the Royals recovered midway through the fourth quarter.
"We were real frustrated with the turnovers," Roth said. "Against a team like Larkin you can't turn the ball over and expect to win. We just had too many mistakes today, bottom line."