By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
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MOKENA— One of the key lessons for constructing the proper winning habits is never letting the other team hang around. Put them away when the chance is offered.
If victory is the ultimate applied skill, so is paying attention to the details and having the discipline and toughness to carry out all the relevant points. On top of that, the Jr Celtics 11U had a score to settle.
Neyland Robinson rushed for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Jr Celtics 11U 20-6 Homecoming victory over the Tri-City Wolverines in Pop Warner League play at Main Park on Saturday, August 31. A week after suffering a heartbreaking overtime loss against the Joliet Steelers, the Jr Celtics put themselves on the proper side of the scoreboard.
“It felt good to get a win and get our anger out,” Robinson said.
His electrifying 64-yard run on the second play of the third quarter broke the 6–6 halftime tie. Robinson is the breakaway threat of the attack. He had nine carries for 75 yards in the first half.
His 31-yard run set up the Jr Celtics’ opening touchdown in the second quarter. Robinson completed the scoring possession by darting around the left edge from the 10-yard line.
Both of his touchdowns, and the 31-yard jaunt came off the same play where he starts in motion and takes the pitch in space from quarterback Garrett Hansen. “Before the play even happens, I know he is going to take it for six,” Hansen said.
The play design gives Robinson a running start, and the chance to survey the entire field.
“The second touchdown developed with the blockers getting really good blocks,” Robinson said. “There were three guys there, but I was able to make a move on two of them. I was able to spin out of the tackle, and I had daylight.”
Getting the lead is crucial. So is the confidence and support of feeling in control of the game. “I think it helped with the momentum, and it got some of our players more hyped and pumped up,” Robinson said. “After the score, we definitely wanted to go out there and get some stops on defense, and keep up the momentum on defense.”
The Jr Celtics made sure not to repeat the lessons of the first Robinson touchdown. In that example, the Wolverines answered the first tally by mounting their own scoring sequence. The Jr Celtics allowed a deep pass, and a 15-yard run by the Wolverines’ massive running back. Their quarterback completed the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
Collectively the players decided enough was enough. Gavin Collins, Bryce Kaplan, Lucas Gravitt and Adekunle Bobade were part of a swarming and aggressive defense that shut out the Wolverines for the final two and a half quarters.
After Robinson’s second touchdown restored the lead, the defense settled in and helped assert control. The Jr Celtics forced the Wolverines to turn the ball over on downs on each of their three second half possessions.
“After what happened last week we didn’t want to let up any more points after they scored,” Collins said. “When Neyland scored the long touchdown, we were really pumped up, and we didn’t want to start the season losing our first two games.”
Gravitt ended the Wolverines’ opening scoring drive by forcing and recovering a fumble. “Nobody gave up when they had that drive to start the game,” he said. “Getting that fumble felt great. ”It gave the offense a chance to get some plays down and get them moving.”
Colin Guisinger, Collins, Hansen and Kaplan turned back the Wolverines’ drive following their go-ahead score.
The overtime loss was compounded by the worst kind of defeat of surrendering a late lead. The team made sure there was no repeat. Playing off the edge, Kaplan was especially effective with his backside pressure. He had four tackles for loss in the second half.
“I think we bounced back and never quit,” Kaplan said. “With that big number No. 15 running back, we made sure to get bodies on him. I think in the second half, we intimidated them, and they couldn’t really run the ball.”
The Jr Celtics also did an admirable job of not being satisfied with a one-score advantage. The 11U side put the game away with a late fourth quarter touchdown.
Collins and Gravitt were again the instigators, creating the pressure that denied the Wolverines’ fourth down conversion. After Hansen and Robinson ripped off seven-yard runs, Colin Bailey scored his first touchdown of the season with a one-yard dive with 4:24 remaining. Hansen also booted the two-point conversion kick.
“After last week’s game, we knew we had to work more with our offensive line,” Hansen said. “Once we did that, the offense started to click. The offense did better and better, and Neyland had a great game.”
If Robinson is the outside threat, Bailey is the perfect inside complement. “That touchdown felt amazing,” he said. “I was happy we had good blocking, and we played really hard. I was trying to help get everybody hyped so we could get this win.”
The fact the first victory of the year happened before a massive and joyous crowd deepened the fun. “It feels great,” Kaplan said. “Now everybody is really excited to party and celebrate.”
The Jr Celtics 11U team had many standout contributors in the Homecoming victory. They included Carter Bellik, Charles Fletcher, Micah Barnett, Easton Breen, Elliott Bodine, Nikko Triolo, Adeykinka Bobade, Nathan Quiroz, Lorenzo DeCarlo, Grant Smith, Andrew Chudzinski, Asher Kokolus, Broderick Wallace, Matthew Curry, Kristian Willis, and Travis Deslisle.
The PeeWee cheerleaders also brought elegance, grace and power through their routines and enthusiasm. Their members were Angelica Enright, Gabrielle Migacz, Luciana Kolenko, Teagan Smith, Bevin Scanlan, Mia Rhodes, Charlotte Fowler, Madison Baker, Anya Stojak, Alexis Vollman, Eloise Morrison, Madison Varnado, Ashlyn Woods, Olivia Freyer, Gianna Ponzi, Abigeal Shaughnessy, Gianna Picciola, Jessica Short, Penny Oeser, Chloe DiBennardi, Brianna Adair.
