By Ed Muniz-Photos by Kathy Jones
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
The Orland Park Pioneers entered week 5 of the River Valley Youth Football League sporting three unbeaten teams. Super Lightweight, Lightweight and Varsity either led or shared the lead of their respective divisions.
The Pioneer program had lost just two of the 13 games they had played on the season and that was at Junior Varsity.
October 2 saw the Pioneers hosting the hard-hitting New Lenox Jr. Warrior. Each year, the Jr. Warriors field some of the most talented and aggressive teams in the league.
After Sunday’s conclusion of games, the Pioneers sole unbeaten was at the Varsity level, after dropping 3 of 4 games to the visitors.
The Jr. Warriors showed up to play and play hard they did, punching the Pioneers in the mouth in three of the four games, using hard tackling, swarming, aggressive play all day.
The Pioneers didn’t know what hit them with players seemingly unable to respond in two of the three losses. The Pioneers also saw a slew of injuries to key players or illnesses effecting their efforts.
The Super Lightweight Pioneers foe was also yielding an unblemished record. The battle of unbeatens came down to one team unable to convert an extra-point, losing 7-6 is a hard-fought tussle for the top spot.
The First half saw each team score once.
The Jr. Warriors second possession led to an 18-yard touchdown run, plus powering in off right tackle for the extra-point, gave them a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the Pioneers found success in the second quarter when Luke Krokos found a wide-open Carter Erwin streaking towards the end zone and zipped him the tight-spiral touchdown pass from 9-yards out. Unfortunately, the Pioneers were stopped on the extra-point try and trailed 7-6.
That was all the scoring of the game.
The Pioneers were caught by surprise on the Jr. Warriors score, the defense simply isn’t accustomed to giving up big runs that end in the end-zone.
All season, the Pioneers have been stellar and limiting opponent successes against them. This game turned out much the same except for that one play.
Beginning the game, Cole Baldridge grabbed the first tackle for a loss on the Jr. Warriors first try. That was followed up by Lucca Morandi getting to the backfield and grabbing the tackle for a 2-yard loss.
When the Pioneers first went to their offense, they couldn’t get the first play off due to consecutive procedure penalties.
Backed up, the Pioneers went to the air, but Krokos pass was intercepted, setting up the Jr. Warriors only score.
A pair of punts, one by each team, followed with each team giving next to nothing to their opponent.
The Pioneers saw tackles by Owen Garrity, Carter Erwin, and Vinnie Spizzirri displaying the defense that had stymied every opponent to date with many of them creating losses for the Jr. Warriors.
Using a running attack of Michael O’Connor, Jason Erwin and Jase Enstrom, the Pioneers managed to move downfield setting up the Krokos to Erwin touchdown pass.
O’Connor, Jason Erwin and Baldridge again closed out the first half giving the Jr. Warriors nothing.
The second half featured a lot of defense.
The Pioneers had chances though, but repeatedly, they tried running outside only to lose yards every time.
The Jr. Warriors crowded the box defensively with 9 men near the line of scrimmage. If the Pioneers motioned, a Linebacker would shift over while corners never budged no matter the circumstances.
It was impossible to get to the edge before the defense made the stop.
The third quarter Pioneers defense played all out. Christian Paulson, O’Connor and Baldridge each came away with tackles with Owen Garrity recovering a fumble to stop the Jr. Warriors.
The following Pioneer offensive series started with O’Connor having his best run of the day going 14 -yards, unfortunately, the Pioneers stalled and punted three-plays later.
After another Jr. Warrior punt the Pioneers would go back on offense to begin the final quarter still trailing by a point.
The Pioneers had their best chance of the game beginning the fourth quarter just 17-yards from the Jr. Warrior end-zone.
A 3-yard run by O’Connor plus a penalty moved the ball to the Jr. Warrior 9. On the next four plays, the Pioneers ran for minus 3 yards, missing an opportunity they won’t soon forget.
The Pioneers never came close again and suffered their first loss of the season.
The Fifth Quarter Pioneers didn’t fair any better and they were outscored three to one .
Offensively, Jason Erwin sprinted 28-yards on one run while Adam Krokos ran in for a score from 12 yards out. Others rushing for yards included Thomas Richardson, Zane Judeh and Zach Ballouta.
Defensively, the Pioneers couldn’t avoid giving up two long touchdown runs plus an additional score. Tackling by Laith Hammammi, Thomas Sutter, who made a tackled for a 5-yard loss, Austin Flynn’s Tackle loss two yards. Ballouta, and Ellis Hubbard.
Other Pinoneers that saw action included Jack Dubois, Taylan MorandiWyatt Kipper, Cayden Caldwell, Noah Cordoba, Chris Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Andrew Richardson, Jordan Ulaszek, Gavin Garrity, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Scott Gumienny, Laith Hammami, Cody Godlewski, Nick Pomonis, YousefYasin, James Okrasinski, Nolan Burke, Aaron McCarthy, Michael Ordman, Thomas Richardson, Nathan Campos, Rayder Slabenak and Maximus Bauer.
Cheering the players on were the Super Lightweight Pioneer Cheerleaders which included Juliana Corsi, Madison Davis, Violet Fredin, Brynn Fregeau, Mia Fregeau, Martin Groark, Hadley Hanrahan, Quinn Heinze, Alaina Holoubek, Vera Joda, Margot Joda, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Ella Kluever, Gemma Laniosz, Brielle Lenzen, Aubrey Mason, Amanda Mathis, Brailey McDonough, Annabella Milosovic, Ayya Ramadani, Avery Seliga, Peyton Tomasik and Moira Troy.