By Bobby Narang
** Additional Photos are Available at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p1061639020 **
GILBERTS— Early in Saturday’s game, the 7U Algonquin Argonauts had momentum on its side.
The home team moved the ball down the field on their first possession, chewing up the clock on an eight-play drive.
Then, on their second drive, the Argonauts had similar good fortune with a nine-play possession.
Even on their third time with the football, Algonquin managed to produce 10 plays.
On paper, the Argonauts dominated the time of the possession, racked up the yards to overpower the Rockford Wolves and had the game in their favor for the first half.
Yet, the outcome of football is always determined by statistics alone.
Rockford rode a few big plays to a 13-2 win over Algonquin on Saturday morning.
Algonquin 7U coach Jon DeCoste said his players improved after falling into an early 7-0 deficit in the first quarter. The Argonauts also allowed a touchdown in the first few minutes of the third quarter, but managed to hold the visitors scoreless for the final quarter and a half.
“It was tough giving up a first touchdown like that because we had to reset our mindset,” Decoste said. “Sometimes you are able to do it and sometimes not so much. We need to get to practice and work on our toughness. Overall, I thought my running backs were running hard once they were able to figure out north and south. The offensive line showed up some downs and got their hands in there and drove guys out. Our tackling was good for the most part.”
Trailing 7-0 late in the opening quarter, the Argonauts directed a nine-play march down the field. Quarterback Malachi Simmons opened up the possession with short gain on a keeper. Giovanni Palermo had a memorable run, hitting the left side with a burst of speed for a 32-yard run to the 9-yard line with 8:35 left in the second quarter. Palermo was a standout throughout the humid game, playing a big part on the offense and defense.
“I ran really good and juked a lot of people out,” Palermo said of his long run in the second quarter. “I liked my run where I cut in and went forward. I felt really good about today. I liked offense because I get to run the ball more and get touchdowns.”
Aiden Vega kept the drive going with a five-yard run, but the Argonauts couldn’t finish the drive. Palermo was stopped on a fourth down run to end the drive. Still, the Argonauts gained some positive when Vega blew up the line and tackled a runner for a safety to slice the deficit to 7-2 with 3:38 until halftime.
Now with the ball after the safety, the Argonauts gobbled up more time before halftime with a 10-play drive which ended the half. Palermo moved the chains with a five-yard run on the third and fifth plays of the possession. He added a six-yard run on the outside with 27.2 left for the third first down of the drive.
Rockford added a touchdown on the first possession of the second half with a 58-yard TD run that stunned the home crowd.
But Palermo had the best play of the game with a stunning run after starting going the wrong way, then waving his way through a host of defenders. Renzo Garno helped free Palermo with a big block on the 40-yard run. Palermo rumbled all the way down to Rockford’s 25-yard line at the 5:57 mark of the third quarter.
On the seventh play, Vega made a shifty move but was tackled on the fourth down play right before reaching the first-down marker. Algonquin’s defense stiffened up by holding the visitors to a three-and-out, helped by big tackles from Vega and Palermo.
Vega said he was happy about how his team performed on offense.
“I had a favorite play and liked running the ball,” Vega said. “I feel tired, but I’m happy with how I did on offense because I kept running for a lot of yards.”
Coach DeCoste said the team played well, but they have improve on their red zone offense.
“Aiden ran the ball really well and played hard,” DeCoste said. “Giovanni also ran hard. Him and Aidan are our big boys. They run hard, see the ball get to the play. Wyatt Pelkey and Jaden Dambra both ahd a good day blocking and getting hands on the chest of their opponents.”
The Algonquin Argonauts had a team full of players helping them, including Carter Hopkins, Quinn Dzieman, Andrew Williams, Renzo Gamo, Santiago Ocampo, Ericson Rangel, Daniel DeCoste, Jeremiah Bradford and Isaiah Craddock.
The Argonauts also had sideline entertainment during this game. The Argonauts Sideline Cheer Team was there shouting out cheers and showing support for the boys on the field while also giving a performance at Halftime. They included Grace Botta, Miranda Brito, Penelope Cole, Milani Gamo, Leylani Gutierrez, Dorothy Kramer, Nora Kramer, Mia Martinez, Charlee Namm, Angelina Perez, Alycia Perez, Genesis Sanchez, Eden Schmitt, Victoria Varda and Ashley Wiltberger.
