Elgin bolts to big lead then hangs on for win
Elgin and East Aurora entered Friday night's contest at Memorial Field each searching for their first victory of the season.
Elgin found it, but barely.
The Maroons cruised into halftime with a 20-0 advantage thanks to 3 touchdowns by nifty junior running back Jordan Dean.
But East Aurora came storming back in the second half and when junior quarterback Bryan Robinson scored his third touchdown with 2:52 remaining the Tomcats trailed by one.
East Aurora elected to go for the 2-point conversion and the lead, but Elgin's Dan Muenzer stopped Robinson short of the goal line and the Maroons squeaked out a thrilling 20-19 Upstate Eight victory.
"It's good to get the win, but they're not happy," said Elgin coach Dave Bierman. "Taking nothing away from East Aurora, they played a heck of second half, but our kids know they can do a better job."
Dean electrified the home crowd on the Maroons' first offensive play going 58 yard for the score and early 6-0 advantage.
Dean then ended the first quarter with a 68 yard score giving Elgin a 13-0 lead.
The junior running back rushed 24 times for 254 yards and added a 1-yard score with 2:46 remaining in the first half staking Elgin (1-3, 1-0) to a 20-0 halftime advantage.
"The blocking was amazing the first half," added Dean, crediting his offensive linemen. "I run with my eyes and the holes were there all half."
But Elgin's good fortunes suddenly turned sour in the second half as the Maroons turned the ball over three times and had 5 penalties for 55 yards, including one that negated a 25-yard touchdown by Dean.
East Aurora (0-4, 0-2) capitalized scoring on all three turnovers. Robinson rushed for 164 yards on 24 carries and had scoring runs of 1, 23, and 3 yards.
The junior quarterback had a coming-out party leading the Tomcats comeback.
"He's starting to learn what it takes to be the quarterback," said East Aurora coach Bill Bryant. "He's starting to mature, he's taking that leadership role. But the offensive line gave him plenty of help."
East Aurora recovered Elgin's third turnover of the second half with 3:56 remaining. Junior Tinard Thompson (18 carries for 98 yards) gained 13-yards to place the ball at the 3 yard line, and Robison converted.
But Muenzer, who also had a blocked punt in the first half, ended the Tomcats' comeback with his game saving tackle and Elgin was able to run out the clock.
"A lot of kids at the half were celebrating like the game was over," added Dean, "We needed to play a 100-percent in the second half and we didn't do that-and we barely came away with a win."