By Francisco Avila-Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p887880802 **
ORLAND PARK— In every sport, the spotlight often lands on the ones who score, the goal scorers in soccer, the touchdown makers in football, the Home Run hitters in baseball, but true success on the field comes from more than just points on the board. It’s the blocks, the tackles, the runs, the passes, and the defensive plays that set the stage.
That’s what Orland Park Pioneers Varsity Head Coach Andy Rybak emphasized following a dominant 24–6 win in their season opener over the New Lenox Jr. Knights on a August 20 at Sandburg High School.
While David Burgert stood out with an electric performance, scoring four touchdowns and making key tackles, Coach Rybak was quick to credit the full team.
“I think it was a full team effort,” said Rybak. “I was trying hard to find things to correct, and it was very difficult to do. That’s what happens when everybody does their job.”
“For sure, one guy gets a lot of the credit because he’s scoring touchdowns and making big plays, but there are a lot of guys setting that up. The execution tonight is a credit to the players, the focus, the work, and the coaching staff. It all came together on our first Wednesday night game. A lot of new players stepped up. It was awesome to see.”
The Pioneers struggled to find their rhythm early in the first quarter, with defensive penalties and a few incomplete passes stalling momentum. But those early mistakes served as fuel.
“It’s a motivational thing,” said Rybak. “These kids need to understand their roles. As long as they go out there and execute, things will start going our way, and that’s exactly what happened.”
And happen it did. Just one minute into the second quarter, Benjamin Schwarz found Burgert for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put the Pioneers on the board. The chemistry between the two was evident all game.
“We talk all the time. We’re always partners in drills,” said Schwarz of his connection with Burgert. “Huge chemistry.”
The Pioneers’ defense quickly followed up, with standout tackles from Drake Ulaszek, Michael Sraga, and Burgert halting New Lenox’s progress. But the Jr. Knights struck back, tying the game at 6–6 midway through the second quarter.
Still, the Pioneers responded with three key defensive plays to close out the half. Diego Aguilar delivered a chilling tackle to stop a drive.
“I saw the guy and the ball coming, and I just reacted,” said Aguilar. “It felt great.”
Then, with the Knights threatening to score, Schwarz made a touchdown-saving tackle with just 18 seconds on the clock. On the very next play, Gavin Loman read the quarterback perfectly and came up with a huge interception to send the game into halftime tied at 6-6.
“We work on that coverage in practice,” said Loman. “I stayed close to my guy and made the play.”
Orland Park came out strong in the second half, anchored by tough defensive stops from Brandon Castillo and Liam West. Then the offense broke the deadlock in a big way, Schwarz dropped back and hit Burgert for a 70-yard touchdown to give the Pioneers a 12–6 lead.
“That was all about the team,” said Burgert. “It was an outside run look, and everyone held their blocks.”
In the fourth quarter, the Pioneers continued to take control. Another precision pass from Schwarz to Burgert turned into a 10-yard touchdown to make it 18–6.
“These guys have been playing together for years,” said Coach Rybak. “It’s great to see that connection on display in Pioneer Blue and White. It’s only their first game, and they looked that sharp, they’re only going to get better.”
Soon after, John Werner stepped up with a perfectly-timed interception to stall another Jr. Knights’ drive.
“Coach told me to stay back, so I did,” said Werner. “I saw the ball, timed it right, and made the pick.”
With just two minutes remaining, Burgert put the game to bed. Reading the quarterback’s eyes, he jumped a short route, picked off the pass, and raced 40 yards to the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the night.
“I was a little late reading it, but I just went full speed and got there,” Burgert said of the pick.
The Pioneers capped off a strong all-around performance, for a statement 24–6 win. And while Burgert filled the stat sheet, he was quick to praise his teammates.
“Yeah, it was a big game for me,” he said. “But we won because everyone did their part. That’s what makes this team special.”
The Orland Park Pioneers Varsity side had many key contributors in the 24-6 win. The other crucial participants were Syncere Preshon, Riley Atzman, Brock Lenzen, Dylan Butler, Cade McNulty, Sean Buer, Charlie Enstrom, Evan Lavelle, Justin McNamara, Luke Rybak, Ben Snider, Finn Redmond, Jake Marzullo, Logan Helman, Gage Cucci, Adam Naser, Enzo Angone, Maverick Veer Vander, Ryan Duckhorn, Malcolm McGonegal, Mohammad Abedalrahman, Gianluca Arceo, Aidan Rios, Ahmed Ali, Steven Mullins, Michael Stefancic, Nicholas Hertzog, Camden Czarnecki, Yousif Dahdal, Julian Trevino, Ryan Pempek, Erik Baran, Brian Curran, and Qais Naser.
