By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
Celebrating the Eighth-grade participants in their final year, the Orland Park Varsity Pioneers players and cheerleaders, honored their parents and presented them with a gift prior to the clash with the New Lenox Warriors on October 2 at Sandburg HS.
“Folks probably think that Tinley Park is our rival, but for me, it’s always been these guys,” said Pioneers Head Coach Todd Shelton. “Every year they give us a battle more than any other program, so yeah, beating them means more to me and that’s what we plan on doing.”
The Pioneers entered week five as one of three unbeaten teams at the Varsity level. At no point during the season have they really encountered many difficulties.
Featuring a potent offense and a “Bend but don’t Break” defense, the Pioneers have shown no matter the situation, in the end, they’ll be on top on the scoreboard.
The Pioneers would use their experience and years of playing together to earn a 20-8 victory and remain unbeaten at 5-0, but frustration and mistakes showed its face to the Pioneers several times in the game.
Penalties and turnovers stopped several scoring opportunities which frustrated Shelton and he showed it on the sidelines Three interceptions thrown by Quarterback Sean Ruisz fueled his frustration along with penalties that took scoring plays off the board.
Yet with the issues that plagued the Pioneers in this game, they showed with good teams still manage to do, WIN!
After forcing a punt to open the game, the Pioneers worked quickly and jumped ahead when highly touted running-back Quinn Durkin took a Ruisz handoff and raced 94-yards untouched for the opening score. Jack Clifton added the conversion-kick for the 8-0 lead.
Ruisz and Toddy Shelton dominated the Jr. Warriors first series offensively, each grabbed two tackles and were also aided by Brody Wontroba and Barret Sigel. Sigel would take the Jr. Warrior punt and return it 23-yards.
The Pioneers quickly moved downfield, Ruisz connected with Jake Drew and then followed that with 20 more yards with his completion to Durkin as the first quarter ended.
Jad Jaber added 6 more yards to open the second quarter. Rusiz then bolted 35-yards for the apparent touchdown, but the score was called back due to a penalty.
The spot foul still gave the Pioneers a first down to continue their drive. A perfect pass from Ruisz was then dropped by Drew who had no one between him and the end-zone. No matter, Rusiz dropped back again and found Sigel for 17-yards with the drive finished off by Durkin scoring from four yards out.
The touchdown put the Pioneers up 14-0.
The Pioneers were quickly back on offense after Kendall McDowell stepped in front of a Jr. Warrior pass for the interception.
Durkin added 35-yards to his running tally two plays later, moving the Pioneers to the visitors 15-yard-line.
Ruisz would throw his first interception targeting receiver Jake Tomczak. The Warrior defender saw the play develop and snatched the pass a step ahead of Tomczak for the pick.
Nolan Torgerson concluded the first half with a tackle for the Pioneers
Opening the second quarter, Ruisz went to the air, his pass was on target but a Jr. Warrior defender with his back to the pass was struck in the helmet and deflected the pass in the air which was dove for and intercepted by a teammate at their own 30-yard-line.
Toddy Shelton and Keegan Kirk made their presence felt by the Jr. Warriors on the ensuing series and quickly forced a punt.
Ruisz called his own number and ran for 19-yards on first down. Ruisz next threw a quick-pass to Sigel which went for 14-yards followed by Tomczak running for another 9.
Advancing to the Jr. Warrior 4, On first down, Ruisz thought he had an opening but tossed his third interception inside the 5-yard-line, missing a scoring chance.
The Jr. Warriors found some success after connecting on a pass-paly for 23-yards, but Toddy Shelton, Briggs Corona and Adam Danko shut that down ending the third quarter.
The Pioneers added another score in the final stanza after Durkin intercepted a pass attempt by the Jr. Warriors. Sigel, Luke Krusynski and Shelton each made tackles prior to the turnover.
A 79-yard romp by Durkin elevated the Pioneer lead to 20-0 shortly thereafter.
The Pioneers went to second unit defense the final two minutes of the game which gave the Jr. Warriors a shot at scoring which they did going 67-yards for their only score of the game. The final score of 20-8 gave the Pioneers their fifth win of the season.
Although the Pioneers didn’t play at the level they have most of the season, they still managed to win convincingly as good teams tend to do. This is a team that has the ability to overcome mistakes despite not being at their best.
Fifth Quarter play again saw Quarterback Taylor McDoniel impressing folks. He connected on two touchdown passes and ran one in himself. Not big in stature, the first-year player is cool and collected even when being pursued by several defenders.
He isn’t the only offensive threat, Jad Jaber is elusive and slippery as they come. Loaded with jukes, spins and moves, the Pioneer running-back is fun to watch. Matthew Durkin has shown to be a reliable receiver. Again, he made an impact with a run of 14-yards and reception for 23-yards.
Carson Conrad also showed he too can contribute to the depth of the Pioneers running attack. A shifty runner, he too makes defenders miss gaining yards on his chances.
Defensively, the Pioneers saw great efforts and tackling from Torgerson, Egan Kelly, Will Beeler, Nolan Rodriguez, Cash Phillips and Henry Selof, all had tackles and limited the Jr. Warriors to one score.
Several other Pioneers have added to the win streak which include Devin Stefanos, Logane Kondziolka, Zayne Salah, Ethan Krueger, Chase Czerwonka, Othman Mizyed, Mohammad Ghadban, Ibrahim Yasin, Rami Agha, David Klimaszka, Cade Koehler, Jax Arocho, Blake Wagner, Rocco McCarthy, Jake Buechele and Stephen Caxton-Idowu.
The Varsity Cheerleaders were in full force at home and did what they do so well, keeping the sidelines entertained. Among them were Ava Brennan, Madeline Carrier, Mia Franzese, Emery Gasa, Sophia Gasior, Ella Groark, Chloe Havens, Tayla Lovitt, Lily Masino, Audrey Mitchell, Rain Murphy, Fiona Sejud, Bella Senese, Kiera Ulaszek, Summer Vahl, Giselle Velasco, Kylee Votteler, Julia Werner and Anna Woloszyk.
