There's some added meaning to Elgin-Larkin this year

The annual football battle between Elgin and Larkin for the Town Jug trophy always matters from a rivalry standpoint, but this year's game holds deeper meaning on both sides of the Fox River.

For the first time since 2001, Elgin (2-2, 1-1) and Larkin (2-2, 1-1) enter the game with .500 records.

The winner of Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game at Memorial Field puts itself in prime position to chase a playoff berth with four games remaining and stays at least within a game of first-place Geneva (2-2, 2-0) in the River Division of the Upstate Eight Conference.

The loser will have to win three of its last four games just to reach the 5-win playoff qualification threshold.

If the Royals and Maroons expect to reach the playoffs, this game holds the key.

"That's the plain truth and that's what we've been preaching," Larkin coach Mike Scianna said. "We were probably the better team last year, but Elgin beat us (28-21). That took our playoff hopes away so neither team from Elgin got to go.

"I've been telling my kids, 'Let's try to be the better team, win it and get to the playoffs.' People were picking us to win one game this year, so this is our time to step up."

The view is the same from the city's east side.

"It's not do or die playoff-wise, but it's getting there," Maroons coach Dave Bierman said. "Obviously, you want to get six (wins). You don't want to be sitting there on (selection) Saturday night at 5-4 wondering are you or aren't you. It's big for playoff potential.

"Then you add the cross-town rivalry aspect on top of it. I don't think the kids from either side are going to need much to get pumped up. It should be a great game."

Entering the 50th meeting between these teams, Larkin leads the all-time varsity series 30-18 (the Royals and Maroons first played in 1962, when Larkin's junior varsity faced the Elgin varsity).

Last year, Elgin snapped a 7-game losing streak to their west-side rivals. The Town Jug has been nestled in a trophy case outside Chesbrough Field House for the past year, which is where the Maroons intend to see it remain.

"To keep it here would mean a lot," Elgin senior linebacker and receiver Dan Muenzer said. "I've never lost to Larkin in my three years (including the lower levels). Coach Bierman has put it on our backs to beat them, so hopefully we don't let it happen on our watch."

This particular meeting also holds an underlying motivation for the Maroons. A victory would be the 500th in the history of the Elgin football program.

"It would mean a lot to come out and get the 500th win for Elgin," senior running back Jordan Dean said. "It means more than a lot, especially with playoffs right around the corner. Every game counts at this point. With two losses, every game means so much."

Dean and Muenzer combined for the key play in Elgin's victory last season. Larkin led 21-20 with 4:30 left in the game, when the Royals attempted a 37-yard field goal. But a diving Muenzer blocked the kick. Dean scooped the ball up and returned it 80 yards for the winning touchdown.

The Royals are well aware of Dean's athleticism. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound speedster, a returning all-area performer and the focal point of opposing defenses each week, has rushed 43 times for 245 yards (5.7 avg.) and 2 touchdowns. He has also caught 7 passes for 69 yards and a score.

To this point Dean hasn't turned in the big play like he did a year ago, but the potential for a game-changing dash remains.

"I've been warning everybody about it, that this kid carried their team last year on his shoulders," Scianna said. "We know he's that good. He didn't have a great game against Geneva (last week), but we know he's going to show up in this game. Any down that kid's in he's 100 percent.

"Our approach is to play as hard as we can go for six seconds and, hopefully, we can cover him with second effort and shut him down. But he's going to get his yards."

The Royals' biggest regret this season is a 35-34 loss at Oswego East, a game they led on four occasions before succumbing with 3:35 left to a team that had lost 13 straight.

"We should be 3-1, but that's life," Larkin receiver Trevor Whitehead said after Saturday's victory over St. Charles East. "You've got to deal with it."

Elgin must deal with Whitehead, a senior who leads the Fox Valley area in receiving, and junior quarterback Kyle Newquist. Whitehead has 37 receptions for 622 yards and 5 touchdowns. Newquist (6-2, 185) has completed 50-of-79 attempts (63 percent) for 819 yards and 5 TDs and has been intercepted three times.

Whitehead is an excellent route runner with hands like an iron trap. The onus on containing him will be on Elgin safeties Dennis Moore and Earl Holloway and cornerbacks Will Wood and Devin Gilliam. Dean will see time at safety in certain situations.

"He's a very good player, but we've been working on all the routes we've seen him run," Moore said of Whitehead. "We've all been working as a team, the corners and safeties, talking with each other and communicating. I think we can do a good job if we all work together."

The Maroons will be strengthened by the return of key two-way linemen Toby Schimel (6-2, 240) and Adrian Martinez (5-11, 210), both of whom missed the Geneva game. Larkin's defensive line has been strengthened of late by the emergence of tackle Devonte Joshua (6-2, 235). He was a disruptive force at tackle in the 16-14 victory over St. Charles East.

Elgin will try to win the Town Jug game in consecutive years for the first time since 2000-01.

"We want to keep it here for a while," Moore said. "We're starting the tradition right now. Hopefully, we can keep it and keep it rolling."

ELGIN VS. LARKIN

Larkin leads varsity series 30-18

1962 - Larkin 27, Elgin 26*

1963 - Elgin 26, Larkin 13

1964 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0

1965 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0

1966 - Elgin 13, Larkin 12

1967 - Larkin 37, Elgin 7

1968 - Larkin 21, Elgin 7

1969 - Larkin 22, Elgin 6

1970 - Elgin 26, Larkin 24

1971 - Larkin 33, Elgin 6

1972 - Elgin 8, Larkin 6

1973 - Larkin 17, Elgin 0

1974 - Larkin 35, Elgin 0

1975 - Elgin 8, Larkin 0

1976 - Elgin 19, Larkin 14

1977 - Elgin 47, Larkin 6

1978 - Elgin 22, Larkin 0

1979 - Larkin 33, Elgin 6

1980 - Larkin 35, Elgin 0

1981 - Larkin 48, Elgin 20

1982 - Larkin 14, Elgin 7

1983 - Elgin 22, Larkin 21

1984 - Elgin 21, Larkin 0

1985 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0

1986 - Elgin 16, Larkin 7

1987 - Elgin 21, Larkin 20

1988 - Elgin 33, Larkin 8

1989 - Larkin 14, Elgin 7

1990 - Larkin 26, Elgin 14

1990 - Larkin 21, Elgin 20**

1991 - Elgin 14, Larkin 8

1992 - Elgin 34, Larkin 20

1993 - Larkin 28, Elgin 0

1994 - Larkin 27, Elgin 14

1995 - Larkin 40, Elgin 0

1996 - Larkin 42, Elgin 15

1997 - Larkin 21, Elgin 15

1998 - Larkin 32, Elgin 7

1999 - Larkin 21, Elgin 14

2000 - Elgin 41, Larkin 12

2001 - Elgin 28, Larkin 7

2002 - Larkin 41, Elgin 7

2003 - Larkin 9, Elgin 6

2004 - Larkin 28, Elgin 0

2005 - Larkin 49, Elgin 35

2006 - Larkin 47, Elgin 28

2007 - Larkin 53, Elgin 35

2008 - Larkin 15, Elgin 6

2009 - Elgin 28, Larkin 21

* - JV game

** - State playoffs