Jr. Celtics 10U Coast to 20-6 Victory over Leyden in Season Finale

By Ed Muniz- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill

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MOKENA— With a one week left in the regular Chicagoland Pop Warner season left, some teams were playing out the schedule and looking forward to improving their efforts this season and regrouping to make a better run at it in 2026.

For others, it was an opportunity. One last chance at extending their season. a win and and In. Still, for others, winning didnt guarentee a playoff spot unless they were helped by other teams losing. And yet still, for some it was a way to tune up for a run at a state, a regional and even a chance at a national title.

Those teams in the latter had already had great success, warranting a berth in the 2025 playoff season. Finishing the season strong and getting ready for next week was their focus.

Unfortunately for the Jr. Celtics 10U, they knew heading into this weeks game it would be their last of the season after not finishing among the top eight teams to earn a playoff spot.

Hosting the Leyden Bears on October 12, the Jr. Celics scored three touchdowns while allowing just one to close out the year with a 20-6 victory, walking off the field as winners.

We grew over the season,” said head coach Mike Denton. “We started off a little slower this season, the boys gettig familiar with new positions they’re playing. I think that was big confidence boost for us was to get kids in new positions, I think thats what led to the slow start to the season, but as the boys started to get more comfortable, they really started to shine. We all knew how the season went last year, so we wanted to improve on that and I think we did a good job with that this year.”

When asked when the season turned round, Coach Denton added;

“I really think it was the just confidence. Talking with the boys on an individual level and talking with them and talking of the strides they needed to make and correct what we were doing wrong early on and putting them in different positions we felt they would be confident in, It took all of us to come together coaching wise to do that. I think if we start the season over and play the way we ended the season, We are a playoff team.”

Austin Boyer didnt take long to put the Jr. Celtics up. After a coupl of runs that gained 26-yards for him, the Bears were reeling knowing they’d have to contend with him all game.

After Keaton Kastys added 11 more yards on his run, Boyer took the reins again and found the endzone on a 2-yard plunge for the touchdown. Boyer also connected with Elijah Bogel on the extra-point try to give the home team a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

The r. Celtics also play a tough defense and showed it on the Bears next series. A pair of tackles by Leo Bythe ended two consecuive runs by the Bears floowed by a fumble recovery by Calogero DiNaso that gave the ball back to the his offense.

Blythe would turn out to have a very good game defensively assisting or making several tackles.

“I always look at the ball and talk with my boys. If I see it’s heavy on one side or or bigger to one side or the other ,I’ll call it out,” said Leo. “I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can be and communicate with my guys to help us. I did jump offsides once today so I have to get better at that. I just need to watch the ball better, but I’m happy how I played with the tackles I came up with and I feel we all played pretty good today; it was a good game by us.”

With a short field, the Jr. Celtics didn’t waste time extending their lead. Kastys ran for 11-yards and was floowed by Boyer’s 15-yard dash into the endzone for his second touchdown and a Jr. Celtics 13-0 lead still in the first quarter.

The opportunistic Jr. Celtic offense and aggressive defense were a well-oiled machine against a stunned Leyden opponent.

The visitors rallied and put together a drive that took them into the second quarter. They started moving the ball via the runninggame and found openings along theeir left side. Beginning at their own 42-yard-line, the Bears moved up field slowly, yard by yard.

Thier efforts went unrewarded after a fourth and four was stuffed at the line by Blythe. Zachary Obeng, Caesar Kanu, Gryson Tadin, James Preston and Lorenzo Aldworth also came up with stops during the visitors drive.

Behund the alternatuing running attack of Kastys and Boyer, the Jr. Celtics moved the ball quickly from their own 27 to the Leyden 40-yard-line. from there, Kanu busted for 26-yards that gae the his team a first down at the Leyden 14-yard-line.

Lookig about to extend their lead, the Jr. Celtics again went to their ground game but coughed up the football and loss possession after the Loose football was recovered by the Bears.

Strange how a mistake can change everything so quickly. With one snap and a handoff, Leyden closed the gap to one score when they found an opening and made the most of it going 85-yards on one run, cutting into the host lead after their long touchdown run.

With 32-second left before halftime, the ensuing onside-kickoff try was recovered by the Bears, giving them another opportunity to tie or take the lead after a dismal first half of play other than the long score.

Boyer and Zachary Bal-Denton closed the Bears two-play efforts with tackles, concluding the first half with a 13-6 lead.

Each team possesed the fooball just once in the third quarter. The Bears open the second half offensively bt found it rough-going with the Jr. Celtics defense. The Bears did make a first down but that was it. Tackles by Kanu, Boyer, Bal-Denton and a sack by Henry Richardson ended the Bears drive.

The Jr. Celtics possession would use up the rest of the thrid quarter and one play into the fourth.

Five carries by Boyer produced 53-yards along with two rushes for 15-yards by Kastys. It all produced the Jr. Celtics third touchdown of the game for the team and for Boyer when he plowed in from 4-yards out. Kastys added the point-after which game the Jr. Celtics a 20-6 lead and a little bit more breathing room.

“When I run the ball, I just run as hard as I can,” said Boyer. ” I run behind my linemen because they’re all big boys and really good at blcoking. I also work on cuts a lot whn I get through. I just want to sore a touchdown or get first downs or have a big play each time I run the ball. It feels good wining three games in a row. I feel if we played all the teams again, we would beat them all. It took a little while for us to start playing really good. I think if we watched the ball better we wouldn’t have all the penalties.”

Leyden tried to get back into the game but Blythe was gobbling up tackles, pestering the Bears offensive line. His three tackles on the Bears series led his team including one that lost 6-yards. Jadyn Brigham, Kastys, Preston and Obeng also added tackles to the defensive tally.

Besides Blythe being the defensive standout for the Jr. Celtics, one other had himself a pretty good game on both sides of the ball. Caesar Kanu didt say much , letting his skills do all the talking. Blessed with speed, size and power, this Jr. Celtic player was doing all he could to help his team win.

“The times when I made good stops, that’s when everyone was happy but the times I didn’t, the coaches weren’t; lets just say my hands weren’t on properly,” said a modest Kanu. “At first I was tryinbg to rush it, but then I took some steps back after watching the one player come to block me, so I took a step back and waited and found my place and made the tackles. It worked all day. I think I can see the ball well but I think its my speed that helps me the most at making the tackle. I thought I played well today on defense and on offense and so did the team.”

After forcing a turnover on downs, The remainder of the fourth quarter was used up by the Jr. Celtics offense, closing out the game and the season with a 20-6 victory.

Several other Jr. Celtics went finished 2025 as winners they included Willian Dybas, Ahmad Awad, Aiden Cesek, Max Sharpe, Zakai Obeng, Angelo Cameo, Jackson Aldworth, Jesus Delgado, Finnian McDonnell, Alexander Wallace, Chase Eddington, Porter Ronk, Owen Brennan and Henry Bass.

The Mitey Mite Jr. Celtics Cheerleaers were also doing their best. Like every other home game, these Mitey Mites were showcasing their talents and keeping the sideline entertain. They included Peyton Leo-Johnson, Dani Samanich, Vivienne Brunette, Madisyn Singleton, Brooklyn Firlit, Cora Smiley. Caroline Murphy, Kelsey Niemeyer, Mila Cox, Brooke Copack, uliana Jachymiak and Lucille Nelson.