Bierman delivers Town Jug to alma mater
ELGIN -- Emotions were running high for Elgin High coach Dave Bierman following his team's stunning victory against rival Larkin on Saturday.
A 1981 graduate of Elgin, Bierman is familiar with both sides of the Town Jug series after playing for the Maroons and coaching both teams.
Bierman went 3-0 against Elgin as Larkin's coach from 2005-07. The 28-21 Maroons win Saturday marked Bierman's first Town Jug victory since returning to his alma mater.
For Bierman, the thrilling finish was par for the course in a series that always seems to bring out the best in both teams.
"For years this used to be the last game of the year," Bierman said. "It usually was one team had a chance at the playoffs and the other one didn't, and I can't tell you how many times the team that didn't get to go (to the playoffs) would knock the other team out. It has that type of history to it.
"Obviously it's not the last ballgame anymore, but everybody was talking that this is a perfect time for a game like this because you can tell the kids to keep believing. But when they don't see the results, sometimes doubt can come in."
Postseason push -- Elgin improved to 2-4 with the win and kept its faint playoff hopes alive going into next week's game at Waubonsie Valley. The Maroons play their final three games on the road.
Meanwhile, Larkin's postseason hopes took a significant hit with the loss. The 3-3 Royals must win two of their final three games to become playoff eligible, but a playoff spot can only be guaranteed with six wins.
Larkin hosts Streamwood, East Aurora and South Elgin in that order to finish the regular season.
"We have to win these three games to get in the playoffs," Larkin senior Jalen Williams said. "We're going to work hard Monday at practice and hopefully grind it out and hopefully make it."
Injury blues -- With senior linebacker Leandre Lee sidelined with an injury coming into the game, Larkin got another dose of bad news when senior Reid Ellis left the contest for good in the first quarter with an injured right leg.
Ellis, who is a key target at receiver and an important member of Larkin's defensive backfield, was especially missed on kicker Alex Munoz's 34-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Ellis is normally the holder on kicking plays.
The Royals led 21-20 when coach Matt Gehrig called for the field goal try that was ultimately blocked and returned by Elgin's Jordan Dean for the game-winning touchdown. Gehrig wasn't second-guessing his decision after the loss.
"Alex has a good leg and he's hit field goals longer than that this season," Gehrig said. "If we go up four, they can't even tie the game with a field goal if it comes down to the wire. So strategically speaking, I thought it was the right thing to do, but we didn't get our snap down."
Another timeless Town Jug game -- For the second year in a row, the clock on the scoreboard at Memorial Field was not in operation during most of the Town Jug game.
The officials kept the time on the field and relayed it to the coaches at periodic points throughout the contest. The problem has also occurred in other instances this year, according to Elgin athletics director Gwen Poore.
"Some conduit needs to be replaced, from what I understand," Poore said. "Hopefully it can be fixed soon. Apparently it is worse when it rains."
