JV Pioneers Rebound and Shutout Wildcats 18-0 at Home.

By Miles Toogo- Photos by Laura Stubbs

**Additional Photis are Avilable for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p369466350 **

Orland Park-The Junior Varsity Pioneers were back at it only this time, they would play hosts to the Frankfort Square Wildcats in their second game of the season.

Last weekend, the JV Pioneers were the only team in the Orland Park program that played. Unfortunately, visiting the Frankfort Falcons didn’t turn out so well, dropping the game via a shutout.

The 12-0 loss was surprising considering the talent level within Coach John Duckhorn’s team.

Chalk it up to first game jitters or a lack of experience at the level. The Pioneers struggled to score in the 12-0 loss.

Enter week two of the RVYFL season, the JV Pioneers would welcome some home style atmosphere as the Frankfort Square Wildcats came calling, opening up their own season.

Much like the Pioneers the previous week, their overall play was tepid at best experiencing the same things the Pioneers had in their first game.

The result saw the Pioneers playing a better game, show-casing the talent within that led to 18-0 shutout of the Wildcats, and gave Coach Duckhorn and his Pioneers their first win of the 2024 season.

“The kids have been working unbelievably hard,” said Coach Duckhorn. “By getting one more week of thinking about what Frankfort Square could throw at us, and having answers to all those questions, it worked for us. That’s a tough team and a good program. They were coming after us as you saw in the second half.”

Defensively, it helps to have a player like Nicholas Peisker in the middle of defense. His ability to react quickly to the ball and make a path to it, has him seemingly making the tackle or assisting in it.

“The kids a throwback, he’d play football with a leather helmet, heck, without a helmet,” said Coach. “He’s a good, talented, tough kid with a good football IQ.”

“I felt that we were able to open up the middle and I was able to read the plays quick,” said Peisker. “I was able to flow and not always blocked, so I was able to wrap up and get low. I wrapped up and if I didn’t make the tackle, I waited for my teammates to finish it off.”

“I feel like I have good vision and can react to the play quickly, focusing on the QB and the running backs.”

Offensively, it doesn’t get any better than the backfield tandem the Pioneers sport.

Running backs Enzo Angone and Ben Snider are a duo that are threat to score from anywhere on the field at any time.

Each provided positive results each time they touched the ball. Angone was “Top Star” offensively, scoring twice in the first half. Once taking a pitch and streaking around left end, racing 48 yards down the sidelines and returning a punt nearly untouched, going 68-yards.

“I think the plays that had me go to the outside really worked,” said Angone. “On the punt, I didn’t want to catch it on the fly because I was worried if I dropped it, I didn’t want the other team to get it so I let it bounce right to me, I got to the sideline and was gone.”

Being one of the veterans of the level, and having some physical growth, benefited both player and team. His quickness and sharp cutting, along with excellent field vision, Angone has improved his game.

Angone mentioned what helped out in this game was changing up the defense some and spreading players out, simply to keep play in front of themselves. He felt it worked because the defense gave up no big plays.

Another key player who excelled defensively was Hudson Doftert. New to the JV, Doftert showed no signs of being a rookie at the level. His commitment to disrupt play or make a tackle, was an ignitor for the Pioneers.

With several tackles throughout the game, his play frustrated the visiting Wildcats. Doftert was stellar as a running back at the lower level, so he is skilled at rushing the ball, but on this team, he’s found a comfort that has worked well in the early going.

“I’m on the younger side, plus there’s a lot of good players on the offense ahead of me,” said Hudson. “Defensively, I do well because my reads are good plus I have a little talent, so it’s been pretty good so far.”

In between Enzo’s two scores, the Pioneers provided a defensive score via a “Pick Six” provided by Logan Helman. Reading the pass well, Helman stepped in front of the intended Wildcat receiver and dashed untouched the opposite way, 55-yards for the touchdown.

With an 18-0 halftime lead, the Pioneers were never threatened the rest of the game.

The Pioneers offense didn’t produce many yards and the defense bend, but didn’t break much of the second half.

Give credit to the Wildcats for stalling the Pioneers offense, not willing to give in. The offense stalled twice and even had a punt blocked.

Defensively, the Pioneers continued to gain tackle after tackle. Peisker, John Werner, Cade McNulty, Drake Ulaszek, Angone and Doftert continued to pile up tackles.

One player had a special day as he grabbed two Wildcat turnovers. Snider came away with a fumble recovery and an interception in the second half, the latter as the game was nearing its end.

After the Snider pick, the Pioneer offense claimed the victory with a final knee.

The Fifth Quarter saw the Pioneers also have great efforts from several players.

Anthony Baniewicz at quarterback impressed Coach Duckhorn. “He does a great job of managing the offense and leading it. He’s only a fifth grader.”

Noah Maslowiec also got credit from Coach Duckhorn considering he is a first-year player. He felt his player has improved and is steadily learning the game on the defensive side and has found a home and a sport he will excel at.

Duckhorn also saw a great effort from his corner’ Charlie Miele, feeling he’s going to have a great future in football. Dylan Gavin and Nicky Dertz also got mentioned as doing excellent in Fifth Quarter play.

Others also adding to the two successful games included Maximus Streets-Pruitt, Marco Orozco, Gavin Loman, Dylan Butler, Vinny Ficaro, Charlie Enstrom, Evan Lavelle, Luke Tonra, John Sweis, Finn Redmond, Carter Peluso, Panos Kyros, Karam Olyyan, Nick Mase, Zackary Salah, Gavin Connors, Maverick Vander Veer, Jacon Hyla, Brock Lenzen, Qais and Adam Naser, Steven Mullins, Ryan Duckhorn, Nicholas Herzog, Dylan Ahmer, Avery Vermilyea, Justin McNamara, Erik Baran, Jayden Spiotto, Brian Curran and John Sutter.

Cheering and performing at halftime were the Pioneers Junior Varsity Cheerleaders. They kept the home crowd into the game in the intense heat, giving their all. They include Kaelyn Albright, Aubrey Baran, Brittney Blazys, Brooke Blazys, Aviana Briseno, Annabelle Briseno, Oliwia Burda, Hayden Campbell, Giulia Cangelosi, Avery Carroll, Ellyana Connors, Charlotte Day, Annabelle Deloya, Darcy Dorigan, Frankie Ficaro, Emma Golonka, Arabella Hernandez, Ariana Hinton, Leah Janota, Bianca Kapusciarz, Flora Lane, Brinley Laniosz, Malayna Marable, Addison Meyers, Serena Murray, Sofia Murray, Emma Overman, Gia Parisi, Emily Pastiak, Charlotte Raubolt, Maklaya Roman, Emma Ruisz, Luciana Rupp, Alyse Sparacino, Kamilla Ulaszek, Kassandra Vazquez-Gutierrez, Nora Velez.