By Ed Muniz- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additionall Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 Weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p220988404 **
TINLEY PARK– The River Valley Youth Football League continued its 2024 campaign with games throughout the South suburbs on the weekend of September 28 and 29.
Week 7 saw the Pioneers visiting the Tinley Park Bulldogs for games at the Super Lightweight, Lightweight and Varsity levels.
Under gray skies, the Pioneers played much like the skies above, quite cloudy at best, finishing the weekend slate of games winless.
The early game saw Coach Pat Richardson’s Pioneers take the field first.
Starting the season 1-3, the SLW Pioneers were looking to right a ship gone aground and get back into deep water with a win. Unfortunately, the Pioneers struggled to get their offense going and succumb to the Bulldogs relentless defensive attack, losing 18-0.
Starting the game offensively, the Pioneers tried to get their running game going but a quick, swarming Bulldogs defense quickly limited the Pioneers to just 5 yards on three carries, forcing a Pioneer punt.
Lawson Capps sent a booming kick 33 yards as the Pioneers highlight of the first half.
The Pioneers returned the favor on the Bulldogs first possession. Tackles by CJ Hufford and a stops by Sean Kikilas forced Tinley Park to also punt.
A 15-yard pass from Gavin Garrity to Bennett Kersten got the Pioneers started in their second series but a positive beginning soon fell apart after a sack by the Bulldogs and a holding penalty stalled the Pioneers to end the opening quarter with no score.
Punting to the Bulldogs to start the second quarter, the Pioneers defense was called on to continue their aggressive play. They remained aggressive but were now giving up chunks of yards to the host offense.
Tackles by Martin Groark, Nate Abbs, Hufford, Garrity and Kikilas slowed the Bulldogs march but didn’t stop them.
A penalty would cost the Pioneers on the next play when the Bulldogs found the endzone on the 9-yard run, grabbing the 6-0 lead.
The first half ended with the Pioneers sputtering on offense gaining 6 yards on the ground and missing on two pass attempts on their third offensive series.
The Bulldogs maintained a 6-0 advantage going into the break.
Opening the second half, Tinley Park executed a long touchdown run to up their lead to 12-0, surprising the Pioneers defense with the score.
Trying to get back in the game, the Pioneers went to work using a ground attack and a little help from Bulldogs penalties. Garrity tried sparking the offense with consecutive runs that produced 7 yards but a fourth down attempt was stuffed and forced the turnover on downs.
The Pioneers were having difficulty getting to the edge. At this level many large runs come from sweeps to the right or left edge but in this game, the Bulldogs speed closed off the edge quickly and limited the Pioneers runs all game.
The Pioneers were back offensively after two plays by the Bulldogs. A fumble was recovered by Dominic Maurella and gave the Pioneers another chance to close on the Bulldog lead.
“One of our players ripped the ball from the guys hands, I seen the ball and I jumped on it, came back up with it and got the ball back to us,” said Dominic. “I like playing defense, the best part is getting tackles. I’ve had a lot this year. I think we need to get better at blocking and not stop moving our feet when running, also tackling better.”
The fumble recovery went for not as two plays later, the Pioneers also fumbled and lost the coveted football.
Kikilas limited the Bulldogs after the fumble with tackles, forcing the host to punt.
“My dad has helped we with some tips because he played football too,” said Kikilas of his stellar play. “I try making tackles and see where the ball is going to get there. I also like running the ball because I like breaking tackles and gaining big yards to help my team. On defense I need to stay outside and not stop my feet when I go make a tackle. I saw where the ball was going quickly.”
After the Pioneers failed to move the football again deep in their territory, the Bulldogs were knocking on the touchdown door once again.
From the Pioneers 24, the Bulldogs took advantage of poor tackling and scored their third touchdown of the game, elevated their lead to 18-0.
One last offensive series by the Pioneers resulted in negative yardage as they simply had no answer for the Tinley Park defense in this defeat, dropping to 1-4 on the season.
The Pioneers Fifth Quarter team fared much better.
Two scores by speedster Sean Johnson highlighted the offensive side of the game for the Pioneers. His quickness to the outside and ability to avoid tackles saw him twice score from 43-yards and 11-yards.
“I was trying to stay up when they are trying to tackle me,” said Johnson. “I keep running and not stopping. I go to my hole and then I look for any openings then I go through the open spots and then I’m off. I like scoring the touchdowns, its fun because you get all your teammates excited for you. I like that too.”
Johnson also added a 20-yard run.
Others adding to the offensive play were Paxson Leithleiter, Vinny LaPapa, Scooby Ballouta and Henry Wade with a good pass.
Defensively, the Pioneers held the Bulldogs scoreless with tackles by Thomas Richardson, Zach Ballouta, Jonathan Mizera, Jordy Kolodziej, Johnson, Michael Maurella, Scooby Ballout and Leithleiter.
Others trying to help the Pioneers in these games were Payton Barbee, JJ Abuzir, Taylan Morandi, Moody and Zakariya Jaber, Luke Bosack, Wyatt Kipper, Xyan Bell, Brady Higgins, Alex Kopec, Shane Sternberg, Luke Holoubek, Bennett Kersten, Michael Patterson, Michael Ramos, Lorcan Redmond, Arthur Slabenak, Ian Frost, Quinn McCarthy, Ammar Abdelmuti, William Jordan, Michael Sweis, Paul Ryan Davies, Luke McDoniel and Amari Adigun.
Cheering on the Pioneers and performing at half time were the SLW Pioneers Cheerleaders. They include Sofie Annerino, Nora Astor, Aleena Badwan, Lea Barbee, Luch Bohanek, Stella Bristow, Gianna Bryk, Evelyn Byrne, Charlotte Dorigan, Zoey France, Normandy Golden, Sadie Griffin, Stella Guerrero, Alaina Holoubek, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Eleanor Koehn, Kennedy Krokos, Siena Lang, Mia Mizera, Savannah Molina, Hazel Nicholas, Grace Poore, Falyn Simon Elena Schmaling, Scarlett Sternberg and Isla Zelensek.
