Friday night lights return to Town Jug rivalry
By Erik Jacobsen ejacobsen@stmedianetwork.com September 6, 2012 10:36PM
Elgin quarterback Ryan Sitter helps lead the Maroons into their annual showdown against Larkin on Friday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media
ELGIN (0-2) AT LARKIN (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: Larkin 22, Elgin 21
Erik Jacobsen’s pick: Larkin
ALL-TIME TOWN JUG GAME RESULTS
2011 – Larkin 22, Elgin 21
2010 – Elgin 28, Larkin 7
2009 – Elgin 28, Larkin 21
2008 – Larkin 15, Elgin 6
2007 – Larkin 53, Elgin 35
2006 – Larkin 47, Elgin 28
2005 - Larkin 49, Elgin 35
2004 - Larkin 28, Elgin 0
2003 - Larkin 9, Elgin 6
2002 - Larkin 41, Elgin 7
2001 - Elgin 28, Larkin 7
2000 - Elgin 41, Larkin 12
1999 - Larkin 21, Elgin 14
1998 - Larkin 32, Elgin 7
1997 - Larkin 21, Elgin 15
1996 - Larkin 42, Elgin 15
1995 - Larkin 40, Elgin 0
1994 - Larkin 27, Elgin 14
1993 - Larkin 28, Elgin 0
1992 - Elgin 34, Larkin 20
1991 - Elgin 14, Larkin 8
1990 - Larkin 21, Elgin 20**
1990 - Larkin 26, Elgin 14
1989 - Larkin 14, Elgin 7
1988 - Elgin 33, Larkin 8
1987 - Elgin 21, Larkin 20
1986 - Elgin 16, Larkin 7
1985 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0
1984 - Elgin 21, Larkin 0
1983 - Elgin 22, Larkin 21
1982 - Larkin 14, Elgin 7
1981 - Larkin 48, Elgin 20
1980 - Larkin 35, Elgin 0
1979 - Larkin 33, Elgin 6
1978 - Elgin 22, Larkin 0
1977 - Elgin 47, Larkin 6
1976 - Elgin 19, Larkin 14
1975 - Elgin 8, Larkin 0
1974 - Larkin 35, Elgin 0
1973 - Larkin 17, Elgin 0
1972 - Elgin 8, Larkin 6
1971 - Larkin 33, Elgin 6
1970 - Elgin 26, Larkin 24
1969 - Larkin 22, Elgin 6
1968 - Larkin 21, Elgin 7
1967 - Larkin 37, Elgin 7
1966 - Elgin 13, Larkin 12
1965 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0
1964 - Larkin 14, Elgin 0
1963 - Elgin 26, Larkin 13
1962 - Larkin 27, Elgin JV 26*
* - Junior varsity game
** - State playoff game
Larkin leads varsity series 31-19
Larkin leads all-time series 32-19
Article Extras
Related Stories
Updated: October 9, 2012 2:09PM
While the time and date of the annual showdown between Elgin and Larkin are different this year, the stakes remain the same.
Bragging rights and possession of the Town Jug will be on the line Friday night when the Maroons and Royals renew their crosstown rivalry for the 51st time at Memorial Field.
Not only is the Week 3 date earlier than usual for an Elgin/Larkin matchup, but the contest also moves from Saturday afternoon to Friday night for the first time since 2002. The Royals won a 22-21 thriller in last year’s meeting to extend their lead in the all-time series to 31-19.
“You can throw records out,” Larkin coach Mike Scianna said. “I know that’s a cliché, but I remember one year where (Elgin) had less than 100 yards and still beat us. The kids on both sides are going to play hard on every play, and the team that plays the toughest throughout is going to win.”
The early September meeting marks the Upstate Eight River opener for both Elgin (0-2) and Larkin (1-1).
The Royals wrapped up the nonconference portion of their schedule with a 24-7 win at West Chicago last week, and now they set their sights on chasing their lofty goal of winning a UEC River championship.
Meanwhile, the Maroons are simply looking for any kind of positive momentum after suffering back-to-back blowout losses to start the season. Elgin endured a running clock for the second straight game last week during its 49-7 loss against Bartlett.
“It’s no fun when you’re struggling,” Elgin coach Dave Bierman said. “We’re 0-2 and we haven’t exactly been losing by just a few points. Personally, I don’t know if I like (having the Town Jug game) this early, but with where we’re at right now, I think it’s a great boost for us as far as trying to get things back together a little bit.
“The Friday night thing just adds to the atmosphere even more. There were some years where we were starting this thing in the morning. Being under the lights is going to add a tremendous amount of excitement for the kids.”
Larkin gave up 60 points in a Week 1 loss against McHenry, but Scianna said a simplified game plan worked wonders as the Royals showed vast improvement on both sides of the ball against West Chicago.
Junior Damion Clemons starred in the victory as he ran for 182 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. He also had an interception return for a touchdown.
Clemons’ big game on the ground was spurred on by strong play up front by a formidable offensive line led by seniors Alex Schabert and Adam Hamiel. The emergence of Clemons also gives opposing defenses another player to worry about in addition to senior Mo Jackson, who has garnered extra attention so far this season after a big junior year.
“It looked like the first two teams we played knew who our running back was and were going after him pretty good,” Scianna said of Jackson. “We’re looking for some of the younger guys to step up, and it was really nice to see (Clemons) do that.”
Neither Elgin nor Larkin have particularly deep rosters, but the lack of numbers seems to be especially affecting the Maroons.
With the majority of players seeing time on both sides of the ball, Elgin’s defense has had major trouble keeping up with its first two opponents while yielding more than 40 points in the first half of both of its games.
On offense, senior Jaylen Clemons has been one bright spot with 144 rushing yards and all three of his team’s touchdowns on 26 carries. The Maroons typically haven’t had much room to operate, though, and five dropped passes on throws from junior quarterback Ryan Sitter in last week’s game didn’t help matters.
“We can’t be one dimensional,” Bierman said. “I don’t care how good our running back is. We’ve got to be able to throw the ball and throw it with some consistency.”
Follow Erik Jacobsen on Twitter @JacobsenECN
