Joliet Steelers 9U Shutout Jr Celtics 12-0 in Season Opener

By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill

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MOKENA— History sneaks up on football players quickly, especially young players discovering the beauty and power of the game.

Being the upstart is always the greatest struggle, one step forward and two back, or a couple of sideways. That is the nature of a hard and tough game that requires patience and skill.

In their breakout moment, the Joliet Steelers 9U program relied on a player with the beautiful and allusive nickname of “Loaf.”

“He was just a smooth baby who always just wanted to lay under a blanket,” said his father, Jeremiah Jobe, Sr., who is also the Steelers’ coach.

Given his family background, the younger Jeremiah was born to be a football player.

“When I first started playing football, my dad talked with me about how you get to be the leader, and you’re the one who gets the team together,” Jeremiah said.  “I wanted to do that, so I chose quarterback.”

His two favorite players are Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson. He made a proud impression and created his own signature moment for the Steelers’ program.

Jobe scored two rushing touchdowns and excelled in all parts of the game as the Steelers 9U team defeated the Jr Celtics 12-0 in the season-opening game of Pop Warner play here at Main Park on Sunday, August 25.

Wearing No. 7, like his idol Vick, Jobe flashed all the right moves with speed, precision and skill.

His seven-yard touchdown run on the opening play of the second quarter pushed the Steelers out to a 6-0 lead. He punctuated the historic win with a 30-yard score around the left end in the final minutes.

“This was so big, because this team had beaten us most if not all the other times we played them,” Jeremiah Jobe said. “It’s a big win to beat them for the first time.”

His father provided the necessary context of the achievement.

“It’s not only the first time we ever beat them, it’s the first time we’ve ever even scored a touchdown against them,” coach Jobe said. “This exceeds all of our expectations, beating one of the premier organizations in the Pop Warner league.”

The moment carried deep emotional pride and significance for coach Jobe, a former standout player and running backs’ coach at state power Providence High School in New Lenox.

“I was born and grew up in Joliet,” he said. “I played with the Joliet Raiders, and I’m just trying to give back to the community. We used to be a part of the Joliet Titans, and now we have switched over to the Steelers. I’m a counselor and social worker, and I’ve always believed in giving back, and helping families that need the resources.”

Coach Jobe played on two undefeated state championship teams in 2001 and 2002 with the legendary Celtics’ coach, Matt Senffner. 

Returning to the program as an offensive assistant, the older Jobe was part of the 2014 Class 7A state championship team. He also coached on the Class 5A state runner-up program in 2022.

Coach Jobe has turned his complete attention to the youth program.

“We started at 6U, and we’ve all come together,” he said.

The young team is showing tremendous growth and progress. Against the Jr Celtics, the team showcased speed, athleticism and discipline. The defense limited the Jr Celtics to just one first down.

Jeremiah Jobe, Dereon Johnson-Love, Ryland McMurtry and Noah Sims created constant havoc with their speed and ability to disrupt the Jr Celtics’ attack before it even began.

McMurtry had a sack and two tackles for loss. “I love tackling the quarterback,” McMurtry said. “We were executing off the ball really well. When they ran their plays, we knew what we had to do to stop them. Offensively everybody knew what they had to do. We just did what our coach told us.”

Jobe made the game-changing play not with his feet or arm, but hustling on special teams. After the Steelers’ game-opening drive stalled out, Jobe delivered a fierce hit on the Celtics’ punt returner that dislodged the ball.

He recovered the fumble at the Celtics’ 42-yard line.

With the second chance, the Steelers delivered. Running back Landon Ferguson picked up a crucial first down with a 19-yard run to the 17-yard line.

Jeremiah Jobe showed his versatility with a three-yard run and a seven-yard pass to Johnson-Love.

On first and goal, operating out of the shotgun, Jeremiah Jobe took the snap and burst around the left end with 9:20 to play in the second quarter. Ferguson delivered the crucial block to create the crease.

“That was a great play,” Ferguson said. “I was blocking for Loaf, and the coach told me to get the guy on the end, and I was able to do that. We got a touchdown.”

Due to the fumbled punt, the Jr Celtics never ran an offensive play in the first quarter. 

Jeremiah Jobe, Quinn Shelby, Johnson-Love, McMurtry, and Sims made sure the Jr Celtics never found their offensive rhythm. Shelby also had a big defensive play with a two-yard loss.

The Celtics’ first four possessions resulted in either a punt or loss of downs. The team had just one significant offensive play, a 15-yard pass, in the fourth quarter.

Jeremiah Jobe,Terren Burton, Ferguson and Simms made sure that was the extent of the Celtics’ damage. The Mokena program never ran a play in Steelers’ territory.

Simms and Jeremiah Jobe broke up a third-down pass attempt, and the pressure of McMurtry resulted in a loss of downs.

Simms also had a huge eight-yard to secure the victory. “Whenever their quarterback was trying to throw it, I just ran up and tackled him,” Simms said. “This was a great way for us to start the season.”

After the turnover on downs, Jobe needed just one play to put the game completely out of reach. At the 30-yard line, Jobe again broke free down the left sideline for the clinching score.

“This is my fourth year playing quarterback, and I like to utilize my speed,” Jeremiah Jobe said.

Coach Jobe has also drawn from the rich coaching tree at Providence. His defensive coordinator, Quintin Shelby, has the same title with the Celtics’ freshmen team.  His offensive coordinator is Kevon Johnson, a former standout at Joliet Catholic, the older Jobe has known since they were both 5-years old.

“From a personal perspective, I’ve seen all sides,” coach Jobe said. “I’ve coached private and public schools. I’ve played in and coached a state championship game. I’ve also coached a team that didn’t win a game the whole season. I understand that development doesn’t always equal wins. We’re looking at progress and goals, teaching technique, defensive stands, balance, how to move, and how to sculpt players.”

The Celtics victory is a promising step.

“We’re here to do everything,” coach Jobe said, “like win league championships. We might not get to the mountaintop, but we are going to work.  I coached high school for over a decade, and giving that up was tough. Having the chance to coach my son and his friends, it was an easy decision.”

The Joliet Steelers 9U team had many standout contributions in the 12-0 victory. Those players included  Ziaire Cowan, Asheem Shareef, Jaye Beavers, Corey Shelby-Williams, Robert Williams, Deonte Daniels, Jr., Ezekiel Cunningham, Jermal Bradley, Elijah McNair, Dimarrius Jimmerson, Ayden Pringle, Celso Delgado, Jr., and Elijah Delgado.

Although there were no Steelers Cheerleaders present, the Steelers Crowd was still loud and exuberantly supporting their players throughout the victory.