Hellcats 7U Face a Tough Challenge of Super Seminoles in 12-0 Defeat

By Miles Toogoo- Photos by Lauren Gray

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NEW LENOX— A sports teams character’s true nature is revealed and tested when they face difficult choices, pressure, or adversity without an easy option.

For the Chicago Hellcats 7U of the United Football League, led by Coach Walter Lackings, that character would be tested when they hosted a cross-over game facing Missouris top 7U team out of the Show Me League, the Super Seminoles out of the St. Louis area.

The Seminoles are considered one of the top 7u and 8u Youth Football programs, with the 7u team led by Coach Frank Davis, and the Fourth ranked team in the entire Midwest.

The Hellcats knowing this coming in, weren’t intimidated and played toe to toe with the highly ranked visitors, matching them in every aspect of the game. The outcome of the highly anticipated match-up came down to one thing, the Hellcats inabiity on two fourth downs to make a stop.

Two fourth down touchdown runs gave the Super Seminoles a highly covetted 12-0 win on September 5 in New Lenox.

“I thought we got it going on the defensive end,” said Coach Davis. “Thats a very good team we just beat, They had their moments and are well coached. They are one of the better teams we have played this year. Nothing different we could have done; all we had to do is figure it out because they are 7-years old. We preach next man up. Overall, I’m proud of my team because we played a very good team and managed to win with just 13-kids here after some couldn’t afford to come.”

Although the Hellcats lost, both Coach Walt and Coach Jaylin Williams have plenty to be proud of. The Hellcats took it to the Seminoles and played them very even . They countered with their own speed and their own tenacity. They displayed gang tackling and getting to the ball quickly. To this obsever, the Hellcats were the equal of the Seminoles in nearly every phase of the game.

Winning programs tend to find a way to win whether by their own doing or by a mistake by their opponent. That was the case in this game with the Seminoles taking advantage of coverage mistakes on fourth down twice and turnovers, resulting in scores for the ranked visitors.

“We just have to execute and make sure we do the little things right,” said Coach Walt. “We match up well with them. We need to improve our snaps and execution along with firing out and blocking to the end of the play. We are right there, not far off at all.”

Coach Williams added. “Our turnovers hurt us, if they get the ball on the 20-yardline, it’s hard for the defense to stand up over and over again. I think the defense did their job today. We will see them again.”

Beginning the game at their own 35-yardline, the Seminoles tried to establish the run. The quickness of the Hellcats defense along with their swarming to the ball didn’t allow the St. Louis team to get things started. Tackles by Deaunte Dickerson, Antauwn Harris and Khalil Carodine limited them to just four plays, resulting in a turnover on downs.

On that first series of the game, you saw how the Hellcats defensive speed and quickness counter that of the the Seminoles’ Ace Costello and David McFerren who were difficult runners to snag.

Beginning with a short field, the Hellcats sat just 38-yards from opening up the scoring.

Unfortunately, the Hellcats fumbled the first snap and musterd just 3 positive yards on Carodines’ run before Antwan Easley III lost big yards on a run. turnover the ball on downs. Heavy pressure from Seminoles’ Austin McCowan, LJ Wines and Caiden Meeks ended a great scoring opportunity for the Hellcats.

It wasn’t long before the Hellcats regained the football. A tackle by Marques Shepard followed by a hard hit the resulted in a fumble recovery by Carodine, again saw the Hellcats with a scoring chance beginning at the Seminoles 43-yardline.

The opening quarter ended with Easley III gaining a couple yards, inching the Hellcats closer. An aggressive Seminole defense made short work of the Hellcats offense, forcing a punt after facing a fourth and 9 by the Hellcats.

After several tackles by the Hellcats’ Easley III, Corthell Taylor Jr., Harris and a pair by Carodine, the Seminoles pulled off a reverse by Costello on fourth down that took them from the Hellcats 31 to the 15-yardline.

The Seminoles now were hitting full gear and got to the Hellcats 11, but were faced with another fourth and goal after a penalty. Somehow, Costello found the endzone, juking in then popping outside right and cutting back in, out manuvering the Hellcast defense for the touchdown and a 6-0 advantage.

The Hellcats went to the air with not much time remaining in the first half but the pass fell into Seminoles’ Costellos hands. A touchdown saving tackle by Dickerson and a solo by Carodine along with a sack by Easley III staved off the threat of falling behind two scores at the conclusion of the first half.

What was evident from the get-go is that although trailing, the Hellcats had the talent and skill to stay with the Seminoles high powered offense. Dickerson showed the speed to match the fleetest of Seminoles, displaying a sharp closing speed to make a stop.

Carodine was an Energizer Bunny who dominated play at the line, making the Seminoles have to engage him or give up a tackle. On the otherside, leading at half, the Seminoles used hitting the edge and cuting in and out to out-pace the active Hellcats defense, still, just a single score seperated the two teams.

The most productive Hellcats runningback was Carodine. He used his size and power to get by or through Seminole defender in the first half. He also showed deceptive speed, racing quickly through holes or to the edge or simply outrunning Seminole defenders.

The Hellcats second half opening series saw Carodine grab 16-yards on three carries, as the coaches called his number three of the first four plays. The drive eventually stalled and forced the Hellcats to punt.

Defensively, the Hellcats knew they couldn’t give up another score and worked hard at it, while the Seminoles were trying to pick up where they left off in the first half, by hitting the edges or cutting back then out, very much as if they were testing where the holes were on the Hellcats defense.

Bending but not breaking, the Hellcats stayed in the game, giving up some yards and using penalties to keep the Seminoles at bey. Tackling also kept the Seminoles off the scoreboard. Taylor Jr., Dickerson, Easley III, Carodine, Kairo Lackings, Legend Williams, and Harris all contributed in forcing a turnover on downs by the Seminoles after Carodine penetrated into the backfield for the tackle.

At their own 21-yardline, the Hellcats fumbled a snap on the ensuing play which was recoverd by the Seminoles, which ended up costing the Hellcats extremely when three plays later, the Seminoles upped their lead to 12-0 on Costellos second touchdown. His in and out running made him a difficult target as he bound into the endzone from 5-yards out.

The Hellcats tried to score as quckly as possible but the Seminoles defense was stifling, allowing just 9- yards before a Hellcats fumble ended the game, giving the highly ranked Super Seminoles a hard-fought 12-0 decison against a quality Hellcats team.

The Hellcats showed toughness and a never quit mentality throughout the game and especially as the game wound down. One Hellcat the gave his all on both side of the football was Khalil Carodine.

Carodine was the Hellcats offensive star. His balance after a hit and willingness to endure more simply to get every yard possible for his team was impressive. Showing decptive speed, he was quick to the edge but also didn’t mind banging inside because he was a difficult stop. He excelled at draggng defenders with him. Defensively, he was a nusiance that had to be dealt with by the Seminoles because he was finding the backfield or the runner often.

“I like running guys over because I want to score,” said an emotional Khalil. “I am a strong runner too. If we blocked up the field, we would have scored and won. We didn’t do that good and thats why we lost plus we had a penalty on a big run and it didn’t count. We missed some tackles too.”

Legend Williams is a soft-spoken by nature but with the pads on, he shows what a football player he is. Williams showed good vision by being around the ball often while on defense. He too can be a huge contributor and a difference maker when left unattended. He added about the game.

“When I first ran the ball, I got stopped because we weren’t block that good. I think better blockig we could have scored. I think I can do better and run faster next time. Its hard to see the holes, I just need them to block for me.”

Among the most talented of the Hellcats is Deaunte Dickerson. When it came to speed and tackling, he matched the Seminoles talents. Trying to get outside, the Seminoles would be run down by Dickersons speed. His pursuit along with his vision ended several attempts by the Seminoles ace runner. Dickerson knows how to put the body on a hard tackle and showed it during this game. He was nasty in his tackling form.

“I was making tackles and hitting them hard to begin the game,” said Dickerson. “I was letting people get outside and thats when I lost my momentum. I could have made more tackles. What changed in the second half was we kept blowing in and I had to take on all the runners by myself when they did that, so that was hard. We need to work on staying outside so they don get those plays. I also think we are a better team but we didnt play like we could.”

Antuawn Harris was a staple on the defense. Beginning on the open series of the game, Harris showed his defensive prowess by grabbing two solo tackles. His play maintained at a high level throughout with a knack for finding the ball carrier and assiting others to make tackles. Coming away with four tackles in the game and assiting on several others, defense appeared to be his specialty.

“I thought I play well on defense,” said Harris. “I wait to see where they are going, I see that pretty quick and try to cut them off to make a tackle. I kept tripping in the second half and didnt make as many tackles. I sometimes got tripped by my teammates. I think we need to start hitting better and tackling without arm tackling.”

Several other Hellcats players gave their all in the hard fought game, they include Dash Butler, Aloni Williams, Ahmir MackZyaire Murray, Jamar White Jr., Jaiveon Campbell, Josiah Anderson, Damari Brown Jr., Trevion Griffin, Kyan White and Jadan Armstead.

The visiting Super Seminoles are worthy of their rankig both in Missouri and Nationally. They also saw contributions by several player in the win. Also participating or supporting were Khi Blake, DaMarion Chatman, Kodi Davis, Ashton Harvey, TJ Haynes III, Antae Furlow, Lathan and Liam Quinn, Zay Roundtree and Baby O Singleton.