By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p347503932 **
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS— Time was on the wrong side for an Arlington Dawgs 13U team that was trying to turn around its fortunes.
The team tried feverishly to work the game to their advantage and make the plays for a positive outcome. In a cruel twist, fingertips and early missed chances ended up creating a much larger void.
“I feel like after watching the scoreboard, we just got upset with ourselves, and we kind of gave up by the end of the game,” Dawgs’ quarterback Wyatt Roux said.
The lack of time and missed chances haunted the Arlington Dawgs 13U in their 28-0 Homecoming loss against the Ottawa Wolfpack in Pop Warner League play at Christian Liberty Academy on Saturday, September 14.
Ottawa had two long and clock-grinding drives during the first half that kept the Dawgs’ offense off the field and off the scoreboard.
The Dawgs fell behind 16-0 in the first half. That proved too great of a deficit to work out of.
“It’s been the whole story of our whole season so far of going down early and then playing from behind,” two-way standout Graeme Laufenberg said. “I think we’ve done a good job during the second half. From there, we start having injuries, our running backs or wide receivers go down, and then we struggle.”
The Dawgs’ offense showed optimistic signs, especially during the first half. The passing of Roux was a highlight. He has a sharp arm, excellent mechanics, and found sufficient time to allow his receivers to get open in space.
After going down 8-0 following the Wolfpack’s opening scoring drive, Roux responded with a couple of sharp 18-yard passes to Teeghan Dart.
“I feel like our running game is very good,” Roux said. “Our blocking was very good today. Our throwing game is pretty good. If we have time and the right people there, we have some good connections. If we have the right blocks and the right routes, it could definitely help.”
The Dawgs showed off some early nervousness, for instance, committing a couple of false start penalties on their opening drive. On fourth and 13, Roux avoided the rush and threw a beautiful ball over the top that just missed the outstretched hand of his receiver.
The moment symbolized the team’s plight.
“I think the game was a mix of both good play by and some breakdowns by us,” running back and linebacker Nick Antonucci said. “At times we were able to break through, and other times it didn’t really work out. I think I struggled on defense in the first half, but that just fueled me to keep going. Their defense did well for their team, and our offense did well, sometimes struggled, and sometimes we made the plays.”
Joe Marsh, Declan Georgacakis, Lucas Siena, Demetri Demos, Laufenberg, Antonucci and Dart demonstrated promise and athleticism in trying to slow down the Wolfpack.
A recurrent problem was outside containment, where the Dawgs were repeatedly victimized by the ability of the Wolfpack skill players to get to the edge.
The Wolfpack used a long run and two fourth down conversions to punch in a score on their second possession. Time got away from the Dawgs, who had the ball during the first half for only about 15 percent.
The Dawgs also dropped a potential touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half. That marked their best scoring threat of the day.
Two potential scoring drives in the first half instead became incomplete passes and failed opportunities.
“A couple of times, I felt like it was a lack of execution, but their defense had some good players,” Roux said. “One time I was throwing the ball, and the guy got to me. I feel like we’re going to work harder. Use this feeling to light a fire under us.”
At the start of the second half, the Dawgs worked very hard to establish their running game and create a more consistent and unified offensive rhythm.
The offense came to life again, with Antonucci ripping off a 12-yard run. His size and power is a sharp contrast to the speed and elusiveness of scatback Doniven Smith.
Smith is an excellent open field runner who uses his speed to find open spaces. Against the Wolfpack, those opportunities were few and far between. Every time he touched the ball, he was seemingly swallowed up by a host of Wolfpack tacklers.
“They were able to get pressure or get through our line, and there’s not a whole lot you can do about that,” Smith said. “It was frustrating. Every play we just keep working hard. We’re just trying to get better and have some positive results. Right now, we just remember the games we’ve lost, and let those memories keep driving us. We’re going to keep working harder, and push every play.”
The defense had to plug a lot of holes, and be on the field for long stretches. Isolated or individual moments stood out, especially in the play of Nicolas Siena, Hunter O’Donnell, Marsh and Laufenberg.
“We were getting to their running backs and quarterback, but we couldn’t always finish up on the tackle,” Marsh said. “We came up short on those big plays on defense that we needed out there. Some of those plays where it gets out of your reach, and they were able to get to the edge.”
A 43-yard run by a Wolfpack running back set up their third touchdown.
Even in the bright moments, like a sack by Lucas Siena, the Wolfpack exploited the fatigue of the Dawgs, never more apparent than the 80-yard touchdown pass on their final drive.
“It was just frustrating the way our defense allowed some of those 30-yard rushes, especially on third down,” Roux said. “It kind of upsets you.”
Many times the players were in the right position. Something went wrong in the execution.
“We played okay, but at times on the outside our linebackers or corners were not able to shed the blocks and make the tackle,” Laufenberg said. “It happened to me a couple of times when I was playing linebacker.”
The heat, conditions and the sense of a game getting away all conspired against the best intentions of the Dawgs.
“The majority of our defensive guys play offense, and we’d get tired from being on the field,” Marsh said. “We’re going to go back to practice, work harder and try to get the next game.”
Despite the Homecoming loss against the Wolfpack, the Arlington Dawgs 13U had many inspired contributors. They included Billy Dugan, Nolan Klehr, Robby Eckl, Jaden Jacob, Kyle Dugan, Lucas Austermuehle, Jake Simpson, Connor Kersemeier, Bradley Vaskovsky and Justin Georgacakis.
The cheerleaders also brought passion, energy and enthusiasm to the final play of the game. Their members are Violet Schmechel, Ally Swiatkiewicz, Elyse Bell, Claire Swierczek, Natalie LaPorta, Zoe Giorgas, Makenna Rahe, Olivia Casale, Mia Messer, Hallie Herbert, Natalie Calica, Lucy Ramion, Kate Swiatkiewicz, Lily LaCara, Jocelyn Ma, Bobbi Lyme, Jess Conner, Eleanor Heidkamp, and Maggie Kirkpatrick.
