By Ed Muniz- Photos by Renee Kaspar
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p1061562866.**
In the Sports World, there’s nothing like “good medicine” to make you feel right all over again.
The sun is rising brightly, birds are chirping happy tunes, your steps have a pep to it again, you’re on top of the world and everything is just right. For a period of time, emotionally and physically, you’re in a perfect world where nothing bothers you.
The Leyden Bears visited the 13U Blue Algonquin Argonauts on September 14 and provided that “Good Medicine’ for the host.
A loss in the previous week had the Argos knocked them from the group of Chicagoland Pop Warner teams left unbeaten and were left reeling for a week.
For Coach Grant Lentz and his Argos, they needed to quickly rebound and get back to their winning ways. They did just that!
Dispatching the Leyden Bears via an unstoppable array of runners that churned up yards as if they were giving away PS5 in the endzone, 30-0.
“We control the ball, I am a “pound the rock” guy,” said Coach Lentz. “I want to run the ball down people’s throats, eat the clock and keep their offense off the field. We did that today, whoever we had in the backfield, somebody was running.”
“Our philosophy is “Trench Gang”, everything for us starts at the line. Our line sets the tone, I could put any running back in the backfield to run through big holes. Ronny (Ryan Smith) is one of our big dog blockers and is scary on defense and Max (Morgan) our center is so consistent at that position.”
Coach Lentz knows he has talent all around but also recognizes they have to fix things.
“Mental Mistakes, we have to eliminate mental mistakes especially in big situations where we can get a ball back. We create a penalty and give our opponents another opportunity, that’s the stuff I want to get rid of.”
From the get-go, as soon as the kickoff, the advantage was squarely on the Argos side, recovering an unsuspected onside kick. From there, it was showtime for the Argo offense.
A pass from Gavin Hall to Ryder DuMelle for 11 yards became the prelude to much more.
After two runs by Jayden Millan for 20 yards, the Argonauts opened their scoring on a 20-yard run up the middle by Jonathan Wagus. His quick hitter nearly went untouched for the touchdown. With Zak Engstrom’s conversion kick, the Argos led 8-0 just minutes into the game.
The Argos also play pretty good defense. The Bears first drive produced some yards but not many. The tackling of Millan, Anthony Cordone and Ryan Smith forced the Bears to eventually lose the ball on downs.
Using the blocking of their offensive linemen, the running attack of Millan and Daniel Lopez saw the Argos move steadily up field.
The Argos went to the pass after a bevy of rushes and completed a Hall to Millan 10-yard touchdown pass with just over 4 minutes left in the first half to up their lead to 14-0.
With a two-score lead and an amped up defense, it wasn’t long before the Argos were back on offense. The aggressive attack by Maddox Dunmore, Adam Piazza, Smith and Jayden Avila were too much for Leyden and punted after four tries.
With time almost up in the first half, the Argos got another opportunity to increase their lead and did so. The Big play that set up the score was 40-yard strike from Hall to Wagus.
Two plays later with 27 seconds left, the Argos went to Lopez who streaked in from 15-yards out for the Argos third touchdown of the half. Engstrom added the conversion kick for the 22-0 lead at halftime.
Opening the second half, the Argos offense was churning up yards again. A big sack by the Bears stalled the drive so, on fourth down from the Bears 22, the Argos attempted a field goal.
The 37-yard try by Engstrom went left leaving the score at 22-0.
With continued pressure and excellent pursuit and tackling, the Argos kept the Bears scoreless, forcing a three and out again to close out the third quarter.
It didn’t take long for the Argos to extend their lead entering the final stanza.
Starting with a short field after the Bears punt, two runs by Millan and Lopez grabbed 25 yards. On their next play, Millan weaved his way through the Leyden defense and raced into the endzone from 15-yards out for the fourth Argonauts touchdown and his second of the game.
Engstrom converted the kick and raised the Argo lead to 30-0.
With the game in hand, the Argos defense didn’t cease even subbing players in. Once again the Algonquin defense stymied the Bears offense with tackles from Lopez, Smith and DuMelle for another turnover on downs by the Bears.
The game concluded with the Argos taking a knee for the victory.
The running attack was doomsday for the Bears. Unable to counter offensively or stop the overwhelming ground game of the Argos, made for a one-sided display.
Under the guidance of quarterback Gavin Hall, the Argonauts offense was a machine simply working as designed.
“I took some hard hits during the game,” said Hall. “I need to work on my accuracy. I try to work on it every day at practice, just keep on going. I love being a leader, commanding this offense. It’s pretty much routine for me now after 5 years. Our O-line did really well blocking today including our tight ends. They did really well. We just all love playing together, I’m very happy with these guys.
The Argos running attack was in full go mode in this game, several running backs got their share of yards. Jayden Millan showed all what he can do with the ball throughout the game. He was a big catalyst of the offensive attack.
“All the running backs, it’s a competition, said Millan. “I only want positive yardage when I run, no negative. I want to stay on my feet more, once I run into another player, I tend to fall down, I want to have better balance, but I’m not easy to tackle. I love playing with this team, We have a great connection with each other, we are all friends outside of football too.”
Another that showed excellent running abilities is Daniel Alexander Lopez combined with Millan, the one-two punch is a handful for any defense.
“I love creating contact, just a thing I do when I run,” said Lopez. “I just run and if I get hit it makes me want more. I honestly don’t think we need to improve much of anything, nothing comes to mind. Just play hard like we do.”
Another Argos player showed big time speed. He’d quickly get through the line or outrace defenders to the edge and accelerated by them. Jonathan Wagus is a lanky speedster who has one speed, FAST.
“When you get to run with the ball, you get to hit people back and knock them back,” said Wagus. “It’s what I enjoy doing a lot when I carry the football. You hit them onto the ground and you score a touchdown, you get that adrenaline rush.”
Considering Wagus has been ill the last two days and was still not 100 percent, his performance was incredible.
“I feel better right now. I took a break during the second half. No matter what, I like to think I make an impact in the game even when I don’t get the ball, blocking or helping out how I can. I enjoy playing with these guys, our connection on this team is a plus for us.”
Other Argonauts contributing when called on are Quis Thumand, Dominic Birkner, Keaire Lindstroem, Aiden Johnson, Gannon Miller, Aiden Perez, Edison Niemiec and Nick Lentz.
Cheering on the Argonauts players and entertaining the fans were the Argonauts Junior Varsity Cheerleaders. They include Sophia Acevedo, Ava D’ Avanzo, Bella Gutierrez, Julie Guzman, Madison Hogan, Brooke Holm, Leilany Ibarra, Delaney King, Alisson Morales, Alivia Morales, Isabella Ruston, Etta and Jane Schillinger, Goldie Thrower and Amelia To.
