By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p464650052 **
Age and skill are never a clear one to one correlation.
Talent has a way of announcing itself, regardless of a birth certificate. Everything fits within a larger whole, like the accuracy and strength of a gifted quarterback, or the fast and explosive actions of a running back.
As the coach of the 9U iteration of the Jr Celtics, Dave Brown has what might be called an embarrassment of riches.
His roster is filled with playmakers and young talent with an intuitive talent or facility for making things happen on the field.
“We try to keep the kids together and keep them moving forward, next player up, next player available, move kids around and let them all have fun,” Brown said.
“We can hit our heads against the wall, but when the kids are having fun, they show the power of that, and we try to keep everything as clean and open as possible.”
The Jr Celtics showed off the full complement of their versatility and elite talent with a 45-6 victory over NorthWest Tide in a Pop Warner League game at Main Park here Sunday morning, September 10.
The Jr Celtics (3-0) scored five first half touchdowns in running out to a commanding 38-6 halftime lead.
Running back Tyson Gagan was the first youngster to steal the spotlight, taking a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation on the second play from scrimmage and cutting down the left edge for a breathtaking 60-yard touchdown run.
“I just like to run,” Gagan said.
“One of their players tried to get off his block, and get me on that play. I just ran straight into him, and he fell down. I just took off, and I saw the whole defense down there, and I just told myself I was gone.”
Ryder Runia was the most dominant and versatile talent who offered a stark illustration of the talent divide between the two teams. Athletic, mobile and overpowering, the two-way star dominated both sides of the line on scrimmage.
Offensively he teamed with Liam Kruse and Camden Dvorak to open the gaping holes or provide time for quarterback Rhett Johnson to find his receivers.
Defensively he had four tackles for loss, annihilating the Tide’s offense before it could even get untracked.
“I’m quick and big, and I can get through the line really fast,” he said. “Nobody can really stop me. I can plow over people, or just do anything that my team needs.
“With Camden, we’ve been playing together a long time now, and we are really good friends and just come together. I love playing the line, pancaking and just dominating people.”
Most impressively, Runia provided extra scoring punch by converting four kicks worth two points apiece.
“I just started kicking the ball last year,” he said. “Once a week, I have a competition with one of the coaches on kicking the ball. That gets me competitive, and it helps take away the stress.”
The Tide also overcompensated trying to slow down or neutralize the powerful and dynamic running attack of the Jr Celtics, stacking the line of scrimmage and opening up the vertical passing attack.
Athletic and heady, Rhett showed different aspects of his ability, executing a perfect play action sequence and connecting with receiver Ryan Ripoli for a 55-yard touchdown pass on the second drive.
“Rhett threw a great pass to me, and I was open,” Ripoli said. “I was just gone. With Tyson’s first run, I think that play got everybody all fired up, and that just opened up the floodgates.”
The team is sharp, confident and comfortable with their roles, and how they play off of each other.
“Everybody has each other’s backs, and we are all teammates and brothers,” Ripoli said.
Rhett Johnson is the connective thread.
“My favorite player to watch is Patrick Mahomes,” Johnson said. “I like getting the ball in my hands, and then being able to either run it or throw it.
“With the long pass play, Ryan ran a great route, and he ended up being wide open. I think we executed our blocks really well, and our offensive line shut their defensive line really well.”
Johnson also showed off his electric first step, gashing off a 26-yard run that set up the third touchdown, a 19-yard run by William Guinea.
“I just like running.” Guinea said. “It’s my favorite thing to do. Our offensive coordinator is really good, and we just go out there and play hard. We run fast, and we hustle, and we never take a play off. We get touchdowns.”
Not to be upstaged and saving his best moment for the punctuating action of an electric first half, Johnson ripped off a 64-yard touchdown run.
Gagan brought everything back to the beginning, closing out the virtually flawless opening half with a 45-yard touchdown run.
The big-play, fast strike offense tore the Tide part with its relentless pace and fast tempo. The Jr Celtics never gave the program from Elgin a chance to breathe or get settled in.
Running back Brayden Luczynski provided the only second half touchdown with a 35-yard touchdown run.
“We pride ourselves in family-first football,” Brown said. “We stick close to the fundamentals with blocking and tackling. We hit it every year. We have had a lot of the same core for a long time.
“We jell really well on the offensive and defensive side.”
The 9U team of the Jr Celtics had many key contributors in the 45-6 victory. The other crucial participants were Casey Gahan, Dean Copack, Gabriel Glover, Andrew Darnell, Jake Tompkins,Vincent Bennett, Knixon Hazdra, Evan Doman, Geno Vosholler, Christian Carlson, Thomas Kroll, William Janik, Michael Lehnerer, Brady Lindholm, Cameron Richards and Dominik Brown.
The Junior Pee Wee cheerleaders also brought a beautiful energy and grace with their passion and routes. Their members are Elizabeth Costello, Angel Delgau, Reese Erickson, Olivia Gonzalez, Brooklyn Gorenstein, Ava Gorman, Liliana Gotkowski, Emmy Holland, Brooke Jacobson, Brynn Kaplan, Charlotte Kelly, Harper Kloiber, Adrianna Magana, Natalie Mellon, Ella Pearson, Briella Price, Mariana Santoro, Valentina Santoro, Valentino Santoro, Josselyn Smith, Mckenna Smith, Mackenzie Tunney, Maya Varnado and Lillian White.
