By Ed Muniz- Photos bby Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p275971387 **
Arlington Hts- When you head home for your Homecoming Celebration, the one thing that makes it all worthwhile if you’re a football player or a cheerleader or the parents of either, is to close the day’s event with a coveted victory.
After all, the day’s festivities begin early and for the Arlington Dawgs, parading around in or on vehicles making all kinds of noise is all part of the fun of the day.
The only thing that tops that is a win at home.
The 9U Arlington Dawgs were the first to hit the field in the tackle portion of the Arlington Dawgs program.
Sometimes there’s pressure leading off as it could set the tone for the day.
The 9U Dawgs didn’t falter and handled whatever the visiting Ottawa Wolfpack threw at them in their 14-6 Homecoming win.
“We came out with a win, we’re 4-0, we’re always satisfied with that,” said Head Coach Tom Raguaskis. “This team is starting to feel a little adversity week after week. The opponents are getting bigger, faster, stronger and I think it’s good for them to feel that a little bit. We had a little bit of a dog fight today and we came out on top, I’m happy.”
After starting off with a 14-0 lead, the offense seemed to sputter in the second half.
“I think we both made some good adjustments; they were tough off the edge on us, and we made a couple bad decisions, but it happens, they’re 9-years-old and they’re fun to watch. The kids are playing well, and I think this year they’re ready to go.”
The Dawgs shut the Wolfpack down on their opening series. Tackles by William Gilbert, Max Reyes, Grayson Walger and Miles Austermuehle forced a turnover on downs.
Three plays later, Quarterback Thomas Ragauskis connected via a pass with Kellen LaPorta who raced 35 yards for the touchdown. LaPorta converted the kick which gave the host an 8-0 first quarter lead.
After Ragauskis and Gilbert stuffed the Ottawa first two tries for losses, LaPorta came up big again, recovering a fumble and giving his offense an early gift.
On the first play of the second quarter, the Dawgs upped their lead when AJ Herbert took off up the middle and didn’t stop until he reached the endzone on the 45-yard touchdown run to increase the Dawgs lead to 14-0.
The Dawgs defense was toying with the Ottawa offense as it once again forced the Wolfpack to lose the ball on downs behind the tackling of Thatcher Rasar, Gilbert and Johnny Ramion.
The Dawgs offense began to sputter as their next series saw them grab just 5 yards on three tries.
Defensively, the Dawgs were still stellar. For the third time in the first half forcing another turnover on downs due to the tackling of Gilbert, Reyes, Lucas Lima and LaPorta which saw Ottawa lose yards.
Looking to score just before halftime, the Dawgs went to the air. And incomplete pass followed by a 10-yard sack of Raguaskis left them only time for one last play, Raguaskis did complete his pass to Trent Larkowski, but the 15-yard pass fell short of the endzone to finish off the first half.
The visiting sideline got all excited when a Raguaskis pass early in the third quarter was intercepted and returned for a Pick Six. The scoring play gave life to the Wolfpack as they now trailed by one score at 14-6.
The Dawgs followed the interception with ball control running, using the rest of the third quarter and entering the last quarter still possessing the football. Runs by Thomas Swiatkiewicz, Herbert and a 10-yard completion from Ragauskis to Dominic Lima saw the dawgs sitting in the redzone.
Unfortunately, a key penalty and a 7-yard sack stalled the promising drive and forced the Dawgs to release the football on downs.
Working on not giving up the tying score, the Dawgs defense upped its play as time dwindled down in the fourth quarter.
Again, the stingy Dawgs defense was stifling every play the Wolfpack ran. LaPorta, Herbert, Reyes and Austermuehle were there to finish tackles and give nothing to the visitors on another turnover on downs.
Arlington’s offense then used the remainder of the clock and held on for the Homecoming 14-6 win.
Thomas Raguaskis was proficient in leading the offense. His ability to get plays off and direct the offense is what a good quarterback does. A mixture of passing and running plays saw him captain the offense to the win, but he is hard to please.
“I think we could have been better running up the middle,” said Thomas. “When we ran certain plays, I thought we passed pretty good. I like being the quarterback and leading the team. I think we tackled pretty good too. Happy we won.”
For Kellen LaPorta, he felt he had things he needs to improve while also satisfied with some of his play during the game.
“I’m big man so tackling is hard for me, I tackle too high so, I need to improve on tackling lower, I guess I need to improve on everything.” said LaPorta. “On RPO (play) it’s a Run-Pass option, I score every time, it’s my favorite play. I think defense is fun too but tackling is hard also, but I like it too. I also work on kicking every practice.”
The other dynamo on the offense was AJ Herbert, his long touchdown run sealed the win for the Dawgs. He led the Dawgs running attack using his weaving style of running, always looking for an opening to get through.
“I think the way I run works for me. I have big legs and can pick up yards a lot,” said Herbert. “Something I want to improve is holding on to the ball better, sometimes it gets loose as I run. I don’t usually fumble but sometimes I feel the ball get loose which is a problem. I think we move the ball downfield pretty good as an offense.” There were others that helped bring the Homecoming Victory, they included Franco Cossentino. Noah Klaus, Charlie Lillwitz, Teddy Miller, Greyson Odonnell and Sammy Lamonica
