By Ed Muniz- Photos by Renee Kaspar
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The Ottawa Wolfpack was the Invited guest of the Mokena Jr. Celtics 7U team.
In the midst of their Homecoming celebration, the Jr. Celtics didn’t mind hosting the Wolfpack as long as they didn’t overstay their welcome.
Making the 57-mile trek on I-80, the Jr. Celtics were happy to have them visit especially since a 9am football game was preplanned.
After some head-knocking and a few touchdowns and tackles, by both teams, the Jr. Celtics bid farewell to the folks from Ottawa and sent them on their way. The next 57 miles would be extra long after the 7U Jr. Celtics doubled-up the Ottawa guest, 27-13, evening up their season record at 1-1.
“Last week I think it mostly first game jitters, a lot of these kids its their first game playe d and really didn’t know what to expect,” said Coach James Mellon.
“Today they came in and played hard. Practice was a little bit better during the week, they came to work, and they did just that, practicing well. We work as a team, team tackling, several bodies to the ball and just playing tough all around. Still room for improvement, no one is perfect, yet.”
Offensively, Westin White was a dynamo that didn’t stop, running in perpetual motion, it seemed the more he ran, the faster he got.
Along with using his speed and elusiveness on offense, he also was found around the ball assisting or making tackles.
His day included two impressive touchdown runs of 57- and 66-and 48-yards while also showing off his ability to make a cut and avoid being touched. White also nearly scored a third touchdown but was somehow flanked after running 69 yards.
“I was seeing the holes pretty good,” said the soft-spoken White. “After I get by everyone, I just get the touchdown. I think I can work harder and play harder every game.”
After the Initial touchdown by White and a 6-0 lead, the Wolfpak responded quickly. A 7 play drive , capped of by 61-yard touchdown run, even the game at 6-6 but with the added extra-point, the Wolfpack led 7-6 after one quarter.
Trying to prevent the equalizer was the tackling of Bear Petrocelli and White, each had three tackles during the Ottawa scoring drive.
Just a few plays into the second quarter, the Jr. Celtics struck again. White raced 48 yards for his second touchdown of the game, regaining the lead at 12-7.
Petrocelli an white again teamed up and forced a turnover on downs, It also helped that the Wolfpack fumbled the snap twice but regained possession.
After Whites’ 69-yard romp, James Mellon pushed in from a yard out for the Jr. Celtics third score of the game and a 20-7 lead after Whites extra-point run.
Petrocelli and Mason Comise closed out the first half with each grabbing a tackle.
The second half saw the Wolfpack go on a long 14-play drive that ended in a touchdown halfway into the fourth quarter.
The Jr. Celtics were tackling, and the Wolfpack was using a lot of time on their drive but that didn’t seem to bother the Jr. Celtics
Again, Petrocelli, James Dillon, White, Maximus Lepore, Thomas Fischer, Mellon and Braxton Bellik all made tackles, but William Fitzgerald led them all with three tackles and a pair of assists.
“I was not really seeing the ball very good in the first half like I was in the second half, I could see where it was a lot better,” said Fitzgerald. “I react off the block so I can make all these tackles, but I could do it faster and take angles, I think. I’ll practice more.”
Defensively for the Jr. Celtics, no one had more stops in the game than bear Petrocelli. When asked why he’s called Bear he said it was because he doesn’t like being called Nicholas, his actual name.
“I was seeing the guy with ball running each way, then I’d go make the tackle, I’m the second fastest on the team,” said the proud runner-up of speed called Bear.
After being juked on one play, Bear gave his advice on how not to let that happen again, “Just wait until you see the ball and what way the person is going. I’m pretty happy leading the team in tackles today.”
With the score now at 20-13, the Wolfpack defense needed to make a stop and not allow another score. Unfortunately for the visitors, that didn’t happen.
White had his longest touchdown run of the day going 66-yards for this third score of the day, and with the extra-point added by Mellon, the game was out of reach at 27-13 with little time left.
The last four plays of the game saw tackles by Petrocelli, two by Francis Zalud and a solo byLandon Brown.
Other Jr. Celtics contributing with their efforts on the field include Gannon Christos, Camdyn Brigham, Thomas Fletcher, Nolan Smith, Jacob Palacios, Jaxton Yaeger, Oliver Bogle, Rocco Luliano, Ronan Gleason and Mario Williams.
The Homecoming event is where the Cheerleaders are at their best entertaining the big home crowd and enjoying performing.
The Jr. Celtic Tiny Mite 7U Cheerleaders are Vivienne Brunette, Maggie Lepore, June Smith, Kelsey Niemeyer, Brooke Copack, Lucy Nelson, Brooklyn Firlit, Cora Smiley, Mila Cox, Niki Pflug, Juliana Jachymiak, Savannah Heim, Ella Angelini, Olivia Esposito, Lucy Oswald, Mia Bennett, Peyton Leo-Johnson, Grace Hartnett, Ella Salvador, Elizabeth Garcia, Kenzie Duggan, Sadie Griebel, Carleigh Waszak, Aubrey Crescent.
