By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Renee Kaspar
Every team has its own style or brand. Some have a glancing or invisible style that gathers force and power.
Some teams are blessed with elite playmakers or dynamic athletes who have the natural talent, drive and ambition to simply take over a game.
The Jr Celtics 8U is composed of the later qualities. They don’t sneak up on teams. They show who they are, and force the opposition to stand up and give their best effort to try and slow them down.
The Algonquin Argonauts never had a chance.
The Jr Celtics celebrated Homecoming in grand style with a series of breathtaking big plays for the convincing 30-0 victory in a Pop Warner league game at Main Park on Saturday, September 16.
“The backs played great today,” running back Mason Akileh said. “We were just running upfield the whole game, not stopping at all. Everybody on offense was doing their job.
“The line also did great.”
Akileh was a big part of the rout, gashing the Argonauts’ defense with a big scoring run at the start and punctuating the victory with a gorgeous 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Camden Fitzgerald in the second half.
“I try just to run hard upfield, and not juke too much,” he said. “That’s all you have to do. After that first big running play by Holden, we were all very confident, and knew it was going to be a good game.”
Holden Reid was the catalyst, igniting the five-touchdown day with a sharp and exhilarating 25-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes of the first quarter.
“I was just thinking that we have to put some numbers on the board to win this Homecoming, and get these guys pumped up for the rest of the game,” Reid said.
“Scoring touchdowns is my favorite part.”
Reid was also part of a dominant defensive show that disrupted the Argonauts’ attack, eliminating quickly and decisively any chance of a comeback.
Akileh, Reid, Fitzgerald, Cohen McCarron, Keaton Kastys, Henry Bass and Michael Salem were the leaders of an athletic and quick defensive effort that created six plays of negative yardage in the first half.
“We were all blowing people up, and going after the ball,” Reid said. “We had some good tacklers, and we got in there and did what we were supposed to do.”
Reid’s big scoring touchdown set in motion a big-play attack that showed the ability to inflict damage from anywhere on the field.
After the defense forced a loss of downs on the Argonauts, the Junior Celtics showed no mercy. Akileh took off for his first touchdown, a 36-yard jaunt down the left sideline for the 12-0 lead with 8:02 remaining.
Kastys found the ideal inspiration, working off the early examples of Reid and Akileh to impact the game in his own manner.
Utilizing another short field possession, he exploded for a one-play scoring drive, a 30-yard dash down the right edge for the 18-0 halftime lead.
“We ran really well, even when the hole wasn’t there, or we missed the blocks,” Kastys said. “They couldn’t really stop us.
“After Holden scored that first touchdown, I was hyped, and I was ready to score on my own.”
The only downside to the first half was not converting any of their point- after attempts. Even dealing with a rare mistake, the Jr Celtics found a way to make it work in their favor.
Following the only blemish of the game, a fumble on the exchange to start the second half, Kastys had his own devastating response.
He brilliantly dissected the Argonauts’ attempted screen in the left flat. With perfect timing, he jumped the route, and grabbed the interception for the backbreaking 58-yard return touchdown.
“I like to jump on fumbles, or get interceptions, and it feels great to score touchdowns,” he said. “I caught the quarterback’s eye when I saw that No. 11 going out for a screen.
“I watched the play, and I got the interception.”
The natural leader of the team, Fitzgerald plays with poise and composure. He rarely gets rattled, knowing he has a full complement of terrific players at his command.
“I have great backs,” he said. “I like handing off the ball, doing the QB sneaks and I love throwing the ball to my wide receivers. I also love throwing the screen passes, or doing the jet sweeps.
“It’s great to have all of these playmakers in the back with me.”
The connection of Fitzgerald to Akileh was the sublime and wonderful conclusion to a beautiful day.
The lopsided margin allowed the entire roster to see action. Quinton Collins, Angelo Cameo, Zachary Bal-Denton and Mason Miller contributed to the shutout with some excellent second half play.
Cohen McCarron helped close out the game with some hard running that burnt out the clock, igniting a team-wide burst of fun.
“We were very well conditioned, and we just kept running the ball upfield,” Cohen McCarron said.
The Jr Celtics 8U team had many critical participants in the 30-0 victory. Those other players include Aiden Cesek, Zakai Obeng, Daxton Radja, Alexander Wallace, Zachary Obeng, Porter Ronk and Colin Petty.
The Mitey-Mite cheerleaders brought their own grace and original routines that contributed greatly to the celebrative atmosphere. Those cheerleaders featured Gabriella Bal-Denton, Madelyn Breymeyer, Lily Burke, Julianna Capadona, Leah Doman, Lucia Garofalo, Shea Kelly, Annabelle Osborne, Lilly Pearson, Emma Price, Olivia Richards, Ellie Roberts, Rylie-Ann Runia, Tessa Taylor and Liliana Wood.
