Elgin takes Town Jug with 28-21 victory over Larkin

Dust off a spot in the Elgin trophy case. For the first time since 2001, the Town Jug resides on the east side.

Trailing 14-7 at halftime, Elgin rallied for an improbable 28-21 Upstate Eight Conference victory over crosstown rival Larkin at Memorial Field Saturday to snap a 7-game losing streak against the Royals.

Though the Maroons (2-4, 2-1) gained just 14 total yards in the second half, they scored on a 26-yard fumble return by Craig McKenzie, a 10-yard interception return by Cory Michalik and an 80-yard field-goal block return by Jordan Dean.

"Going into the half losing we were kind of down, but we came out (in the third quarter) with better intensity than we have all year," said Dean, who, overwhelmed with emotion, dropped to his knees and shed tears of joy after the game as his teammates hoisted the Town Jug trophy in celebration. "We found ways to score on defense, and defense wins championships.

"This is the greatest thing possible in sports. This is the biggest rivalry in high school that I can think of. It's great taking home the Jug, especially after all the years it's been on the west side. To take it back to the east side is the best thing ever."

Larkin (3-3, 0-3) led 21-20 with 4:30 left in the game, when the Royals lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt by kicker Alex Munoz. But the kick was blocked by diving Elgin junior Dan Muenzer and picked up at the 20-yard line by Dean. The speedy junior took off down the left sideline untouched to put Elgin ahead 26-21 with 4:09 to play.

"I saw it coming, I sensed it," Muenzer said of the block. "We had a designed play to bust the field goal. Cory (Michalik) and I lined up outside the end and Cory took out the wingman, which allowed me to try to use my speed to get in there and make the block. Jordan picked it up and scored. I'm just so happy for our seniors, for our captains."

Larkin wasn't able to put its best foot forward on what turned out to be the game's decisive play.

"We didn't have our starting holder in there because Reid Ellis hurt his leg in the first series of the game," Larkin coach Matt Gehrig said. "So we had a guy with not a lot of reps doing it. It was a pretty good snap, maybe a little bit high, and he just didn't get it down. The timing was off. (Munoz) had to double clutch and they blocked it."

Elgin quarterback Ryan Parks hit open receiver Tim Newcombe for the 2-point conversion to give the Maroons a 28-21 lead.

Following a 30-yard kickoff return by Jalen Williams to the Larkin 45-yard line, the Royals drove to the Elgin 27 on 4 running plays. But Elgin junior lineman Toby Schimel sacked Larkin quarterback Kyle Newquist for a 7-yard loss, setting up fourth-and-11 with 1:22 to play.

Newquist rolled to his right and connected with junior receiver Trevor Whitehead, but he was brought down by Dean 3 yards short of the first down marker. The Elgin offense ran 2 plays before Parks knelt in victory formation.

"It's just outstanding, a great thing," said Elgin coach Dave Bierman, who won the Town Jug for the first time as coach of his alma mater. "I don't know what to say other than I'm just glad for these kids. All three days this week have been good. They practice so hard and well and you keep telling them to believe, but when things aren't going right on the field it's hard. For them to do it on the field today is a remarkable day for the kids. They did a good job."

Larkin took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 39-yard run by Williams, whose 171 yards rushing on 34 carries elevated his season rushing total to 1,012 yards.

Larkin's Jordan Perez intercepted Parks at the Elgin 44 and returned it to the 38-yard line. The Royals scored 4 plays later on an 8-yard swing pass from Newquist to Whitehead. Munoz's point-after kick made it 14-0 with 5:24 to play in the first half.

Elgin halved the deficit on the second play of its ensuing possession, when Dean slipped a tackle and raced 55 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Elgin's defense tied the game on the second play from scrimmage in the second half. Williams was hit 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage and was stripped of the ball, which McKenzie picked up and returned 26 yards for a score. Nakil Satish's extra point knotted the game at 14.

After Larkin was pinned at its 2-yard line by a Jeremy VanDerPluym punt, Newquist's pass intended for tight end Alex Wahl was tipped into the hands of Michalik, who cut left and followed his blockers to the end zone with 5:34 left in the third quarter.

"I was waiting for it, waiting for it," Michalik said of the pass over the middle. "Adrian (Martinez) tipped it up and I just got it and started running. My last Elgin-Larkin game - it feels great to go out like that. I can't explain how happy I am right now."

However, Satish's point-after attempt was blocked, leaving the score 20-14 in Elgin's favor.

The determined Larkin offense struck back on its next possession, marching 59 yards in 8 plays, capped by Williams' 18-yard touchdown run and an extra point by Munoz that gave the Royals their last lead at 21-20 with 11:47 left in the game. But even Williams' second touchdown run wasn't enough to offset a 4-2 turnover disadvantage and a blocked field goal in the waning moments.

"It was just a battle at the end," Williams said. "We both gave it our all and were trying and trying, but they had that blocked field goal return. I thought we had it when I came back and scored, but penalties and turnovers killed us today."

Said Gehrig: "You have to give all the credit to the Elgin football players, coach Bierman and the Elgin football staff because it was clear that their kids were ready to play this game. Elgin-Larkin games are always back and forth games, hard fought competitions. My hat is off to Elgin for really playing a hard-fought football game."