Foster leads Elgin to 1st home playoff game since 2000 when his dad was on the team

Football has always been the bond that connected Elgin’s Anthony Foster with his father.

His dad, also named Anthony, played receiver, defensive end and kicker for the Maroons.

“We talk about it all the time,” Foster said. “He always pulls me aside and wants to talk football in the morning. That’s his thing.”

The elder Anthony Foster was on the team the last time Elgin hosted a playoff game at Memorial Field, a 38-15 win over East St. Louis back in 2000.

Flash forward to Friday at 7 p.m. and the younger Foster will be leading the Maroons (5-4) on the field at Memorial Stadium for a Class 7A opening-round game against Reavis (4-5).

Appropriately enough, the winner travels to face East St. Louis in next week’s first round.

“That was our mission the whole offseason,” Elgin coach Anthony Mason said. “Trying to make that happen and be successful Friday night.”

Foster is a big reason the Maroons are in this position. The senior running back got injured in the regular-season finale against Bartlett last year, forcing him to miss a playoff loss to Barrington.

Foster also tore his ACL at the end of his freshman season. That sidelined him as a sophomore.

“This is an absolutely amazing opportunity because to be honest, in the offseason, we weren’t even sure we were going to have him,” Mason said. “Having a second ACL injury, most kids are done — quit.

“He’s fought so hard and he’s had an amazing year. It’s definitely paying off.”

Senior quarterback Jacob Rufino pointed out Foster’s toughness has rubbed off on the Maroons.

“It gave us more of a reason to play for each other,” Rufino said. “It showed that he didn’t just want to play for himself. He wants to play for the team. I had a big talk with him over the summer.

“He was really excited to come back and play with us again.”

Foster has been the lead back for Elgin, picking up 1,087 yards and 15 touchdowns on 127 carries. He’s also reliable receiver out of the backfield with 11 catches for 87 yards and a TD.

He rushed for 629 yards and five TDs before getting injured last season.

“I can do anything, catch the ball out of the backfield,” Foster said. “I don’t shy away from contact. I can get through the gaps. I’m a little elusive as well and can make some moves.”

The Maroons aren’t one-dimensional, either. Rufino has passed for 1,359 yards and 12 TDs. And Rufino is happy to have Foster as an outlet.

“I feel pretty confident out there with my receiving corps,” Ruffino said. “Having Anthony just being in the backfield, my dump-off if I need him, I can make any read I want. It makes me feel confident, especially if the pocket is breaking down.

“I can always count on him to make a big play.”

That big-play element is what Mason loves to see out of Foster.

“Foster is definitely dynamic,” Mason said. “You can bring him out of the backfield and catch it, play receiver as well. He’s dynamic all around. We’re not a run team. We’re not a pass team.

“We’re an offensive team trying to score as many points as we possibly can.”

Elgin will be without its student section Friday night following an incident in last week’s 62-14 win at rival Larkin.

Nonetheless, Foster will walk out on Memorial Field and get to experience the same feeling his dad did 26 years ago..

“I’m really excited,” Foster said. “It feels great, especially being able to play here for the first time in 26 years. It’s a great feeling to do something like that.

“I haven’t experienced it, so I’m excited to see what it’s like.”