By Miles Toogo- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p317784853 **
BUFFALO GROVE— One thing winning football teams seem to always have is defense. A defense that can stop the run, defense that swarms to the ball and a defense that can create turnovers.
The end result is usually a victory.
When the Central Rockets Middleweight Big10 team traveled to Buffalo Grove on October 10 to take on the host Bills in TCYFL play, the defensive formula fit the script of winning teams and after the Rockets put up three scores, the Offense and Defense combo they brought with them secured the 19-6 victory.
“There was a liitle bit of frustration there, we turned over the ball a couple of times and a little slow to get things going,” said Coach Brad Porto of his Rockets. “We had a good drive to end the half an started off strong on the third quarter and came away pretty good. I think we had some lapses in pass coverage in the fourth quarter. These are kids, I don’t think they ever get truly tired; we were also moving guys out of position.”
“At the youth level, passing is always hit or miss and if you get someone open deep, those are usually the throws that they are comfortable making and more difficult covering on defense. We just didn’t get enough pressure on the quarterback consistently to keep them going backwards. Give them credit, they kept us off balance with direction of where they were going. They hit on a couple of deep fades. You’re aways happy for the kids to get a win, it’s nice leaving the game with a smile on their faces. A win is a win, it’s awesome. You can learn as much from a win as a loss, we will get better at the stuff we are good at and fix the mistakes and hopefully better for the next game.”
The big difference in this game turned out to be the defensive play of the Rockets although the offense surely contributed with big scores.
A shut down defense limited the Bills throughout the game, even in the fourth quarter where the Bills held possession of nearly the entire quarter. The Rockets eventually gave up a score with less than two minutes left in the game possibly due to fatigue, otherwise, the Rockets defense showed a bend but don’t break effort for the most part.
Two individuals made their pressence quite noticeable to the host throughout the game. Both Bennett Miller and Jesse Mendoza Jr. were key in shutting down the Bills.
Miller would lead the team in tackles. His ability to find the ball and direction a play was headed while getting to the point of impact quickly was a reason he came up with multiple tackles. He also appears to see the whole field well, allowing him to anticipate where to be to make the stop. He also knows how to finish a tackle. His impact and wrapping abilities rarely allows an opponent to get free once in his clutches.
“When I saw guys in motion, I thought most of the time they were going to go that way so I shifted to get the tackle,” said Miller. “I use my vision to get to the ball quickly. Usually our middle linebacker calls the strong side left or right and when he does, you just shift that way, thats where the ball usually goes. I kind of have an idea where the play is going. I thought I did well guarding people for the little check downs they had, I’m pretty sure I did that pretty good today. I also think my coverage was good along with my tackling. I also commit to making the tackle once I get going on a play.”
Mendoza Jr. is not a big guy but he finishes like one. His tackling is second to none. As a safety, you would think he is just finishing off others tackling efforts but not so. Sure he can be seen assiting on others but he too can make a finality to a play and did so in this game several times. He reacts quickly to the ball movement and seems to be a step ahead to make a tackle, beating most of the folks assigned to block him. He is also as quick as they come to swarm to the ball. He truly seems to enjoy being a stopper on the defensive side.
“I was just really watching the quarterbacks’ eyes and seeing where he was going to go with the ball.” said Mendoza Jr. “I was also making sure on my tackles that he wasn’t going to get rid of it at the last second, then I crashed down to go make the tackle. I usually make sure he isn’t going wide out and then go make the tackle. I think I’m a good finisher, I tackle well with my initial hit. I like playing safety because I think tackling is the best part of my game, but I also like getting pick-six’s but that doesn’t happen too often,”
Offensively, the Rockets backfield duo of Elijah Wesemann and Dante Feliciano were a rushing hazzard for the Bills.
Each was able to find yard after yard to advance their offense. It took a little time but once they got going, the Rockets were chomping yard after yard off the legs and agility of both.
Each would find the enzone and deliver plus yards nearly on every carry.
Feliciano would end up leading the offense. Tall and lanky, he was a difficult task for the Bills defense. His stature played to his advantage and Bills defendered that tried to stop him never really got a good shot at him. Feliciano is the type of runningback that seems to slither through the line if he runs up the middle and possesses enough speed to get outside the edge and blister by defenders. he is deceivingly fast. His two scores went 39- and 41-yards and he made it look easy heading both left and right.
“The blocking was really well today,” said Dante. “I always try to see the hole and get through it and get the most yards that I can. I think im pretty fast, so I always try to use that especially when I’m headed outside. I try my best. I think my size makes it hard for guys to tackle me. I always try to get them off me because of course it’s easier when someone isn’t hanging on you. I think today I was an “A” grading myself and I think the team did really well too. It was a little rocky to begin with but in the second half we played really well, executed the plays and ran the defense. I think a lot of us got tired in that last quarter but we still stopped them.”
Wesemann did have several good runs including 10-and 13-yards plus a 3-yard dive for a touchdown which opened the game scoring.
Guiding the offense and being the field general for the Rockets was Nicholas Therault. Nicholas isn’t a flashy player, he isn’t the fastest or the most talented on the team but he knows how to get the job done and plays his leader role to perfection. The team flows as he does. He doesn’t panic when things don’t go well, he simply reloads and gets back at it as a leader would do. Calling plays and getting them off does require one who is steady and reliable. In this game he showed exactly what a plus he is to the Rockets success.
“Sometimes I feel a little pressure playing quarterback especially when I roll out,” said Therault. “We just have to contain our blocks to have time to make the right throw and score. When I was doing these passing drills of me rolling out, sometimes I couldn’t see so I would just try and throw it to the right person. I just need to improve on rolling out and not having difficulties getting outside. I think everybody has to improve on something for our next game. I thought we played really good on both side of the ball but I thought offense was a little better today, we struggled on defense in the last quarter. I think I need to work on passing and as a team, running the right routes too, but I’m still happy with the win. I’m going to work hard at being a better quarterback too. I like playing that position.”
The Rockets started slow in this game. They punted after three plays that produced very little. Defensively, stops by Eli Porto, Miller, Feliciano and Brady Turk forced a turnover on downs.
The second Rockets series did see Therault connect with Cameron Coleman but that went wasted as the Rockets fumbled the ball away.
Defense started the second quarter for the Rockets. Again, stops by Grant Taylor, Tate Adamson, Wesemann, Miller and Teddy Martin got the ball back to their offense soon after.
Back with the ball, a Feliciano run began their drive at the Bills 48-yard line. A reverse by Feliciano grabbed 7-yards then was followed by four straight runs by Wesemann. Aided by a couple penalties, the Rockets sat at the Bills 3-yard line. On Wesemans fourth consecutive carry he dove in for the Rockets touchdown. Feliciano added the extra-point to give the Rockets a 7-0 lead.
The Rockets defense continued to be stellar, stifling the Bills runs and their passing game. Martin grabbed a solo tackle and was followed by Feliciano defending the pass attempt and Wesemann elevating to block another.
Prior to the conclusion of the first half, the Rockets again went on offense but gave it back to the host after a pass was intercepted. Miller and Turk finished the half with each making stops.
The secomd half opened with the Rockets defense back at it. Nothing the Bills tried was working and continuous swarming defense by the Rockets kept shutting them down. Tackles by Coleman, Mendoza Jr., Wesemann and Feliciano produced another loss on downs.
The ensuing play by the Rockets saw Feliciano sweep right, find the sidelines and run to the endzone 39-yards away for the Rockets second touchdown. Just like that, the Rockets led 13-0.
Ampped up and ready to continue their dominance, the Rockets defense made short work of the Bills following series. Mendoza Jr. made a stop on their first try, but a hard hit by Miller jarred the ball free from the Bills runner and was recovered by Coleman.
That would later lead to the Rockets extending their lead to 19-0 on their next series.
A series of runs by Feliciano, Eli Porto and Wasemann moved the ball to the Bills 25-yard line but a couple of penalties moved them back to the 41. From there, on third and long, Feliciano took a handoff, started left and raced 41-yards for the touchdown and a 19-0 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
The Bills took over to enter the final quarter and proceeded to go on a 15-play drive. Tackles by Martin, Feliciano, Mendoza Jr., Dawson Brunner, Tommy DuLaney, Miller, Liam Wezdecki, Taylor Murphy and Adamson added to the tackle tally but it didn’t prevent the Bills from finally scoring on a 3-yard plunge up the middle.
With just 1:41 left in the game. The TCYFL start possessions on the 35-yard line but they do allow a declared onside attempt after a score. However, it’s not a kick but a pass of 10-yards or more and if completed, they retain possession at midfield.
The Bills trailed by two scores and successfully completed a long pass of 40-yards to get another series of offense back at midfield.
They did complete another pass of 24 yards two plays later but eventually coughed up the football that was recovered by Porto to seal the 19-6 win.
Other Rockets giving their all in the win include CJ Wieser and Grant Miller.
The Central Rockets offense started slow, for one quarter and excelled the rest of the way, The Rockets defense was the flipside, starting in dominance for three quarters and slowed at the finish. However having more points at the end is the key to winning football and as Coach Porto said, ” A Win is A Win”.
