By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
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MOKENA—A clean slate is just as it sounds, a chance to wipe away the cruel memories and an opportunity to remake the present. In a game where invariably the winners and losers are separated by narrow margins, the desire to begin afresh has never felt so palpable and real.
The Jr Celtics 10U team had a long time to think about the sudden and cruel manner its season ended last year.
“We had a good year last season, but it ended on a loss, so it was important and felt really good to come out here and dominate the way we did,” quarterback Rhett Johnson said. “Our offensive line was dominating and opening all the holes for the running game.”
The Jr Celtics 10U team kick started the new season with an impressive and convincing 30-0 victory over the Memorial Park Spartans in a Pop Warner League game at Main Park on Sunday, August 25.
William Guinea III had a rushing touchdown and added a gorgeous 63-yard kickoff return touchdown at the beginning of the second half.
“Our coaches make us run a lot, and I think that builds up our stamina, our endurance and our speed,” Guinea said. ”I think that’s the main reason we were able to put up these points.”
Johnson was the cool and highly efficient conductor of the attack who rushed for 79 yards on nine carries, and completed one pass.
“I just love that I have the threat of either running or throwing,” he said.
His early eight-play, 70-yard drive started the Jr Celtics on a perfect note, one that extended to all phases of the game.
Johnson burst around right for the five-yard touchdown gallop.
Brayden Ruth kicked the first of his three two-point kicks for the 8-0 lead.
Defensively the Jr Celtics played a ball-hawking and highly aggressive style that thoroughly flummoxed the Spartans’ attack.
Memorial Park had just two first downs the entire game, and never reached inside the Jr Celtics’ 41-yard line.
Dean Copack, Blake Schuyler, Brayden Luczynski, Declan Kirk and Rex Schultz set the aggressive and dominant tone.
Two-way standout Tyson Gagan was a force of nature who posted four tackles on defense and caught a crucial pass during a late second quarter touchdown drive.
“Our defense did really well today, and I think that helped a lot with the offense in giving them the ball over and over again,” Gagan said. “It gave us a lot of confidence knowing that our defense could stop them at any time.”
Johnson is the perfect dual threat quarterback. He has quick feet, and makes excellent decisions with the ball. With the Jr Celtics up 8-0 at the start of the second quarter, Johnson went back to work, deftly mixing his own runs and handing off to Guinea and Gagan. After breaking free for a 13-yard gain, Johnson spread the wealth around.
On first down, Guinea broke around the right edge for a 14-yard touchdown burst.
Ruth’s second two-point kick pushed the lead out to 16-0.
The Jr Celtics closed out the near perfect first half with a dazzling two-way sequence.
On the Spartans only venture into Jr Celtics territory (due to a personal foul penalty), Kirk stripped a runner of the ball, and Luczynski pounced on the loose ball.
Johnson only completed one pass, but it was a brilliant set piece.
On first down, he bought time and found Gagan for a superb 22-yard gain. Gagan made the leaping stab over the outstretched arms of the Spartans’ defensive back.
“On the catch, I just thought to myself that I don’t really do this route a lot,” Gagan said. “I was just imagining in my head of catching it, and taking it to the house. I just jumped up and caught it.”
Johnson got around the right edge again for a 20-yard gain.
From there Ruth took over. He operated out of the shotgun and in a traditional running back slot. He ripped off a 13-yard run through the middle of the Spartans’ line. His five-yard run set up his own one-yard scoring plunge with 19.5 seconds to play in the first half.
“I normally play running back and defense,” he said. “One of the other players was missing, and I took his spot. I think I did pretty well.”
His touchdown and three two-point accounted for 12 of the Jr Celtics’ points.
“This is actually my first year kicking,” Ruth said. “I did play soccer over the years, and it helped me a lot.”
Guinea put the exclamation point on the rout with his inventive and fantastic 63-yard kickoff return touchdown.
“I really try to run away from people because that’s how I do it,” Guinea said. ”I don’t like being tackled.”
The return set up the running clock, and allowed the Jr Celtics to play their entire roster.
Joseph Honkisz made some big stops on defense, and Jake Tompkins, Jadyn Brigham and Bryce Szczepaniak had a chance to carry the ball.
The 10U side has the largest roster of any of the Jr Celtic teams. On a perfect start to the new season, they each had their moment in the sun.
The Jr Celtics 10U team had many standout contributors in the 30-0 victory. The other players included Casey Gahan, Gabriel Glover, Romeo Brooks, Easton Burch, Ryan Ripoli, Vincent Bennett, Nixon Hazdra, Geno Vosholler, Cameron Richards, Luke Husenger, William Michael Lehnerer III, Brady Lindholm, Anthony Fitzpatrick, Grant Whitchurch, Liam Kruse, Michael Zanta, Rex Schultz, Brayden Ruth, Dominik Brown, and Camden Dvorak.
The Junior PeeWee cheerleaders also brought grace, beauty and enthusiasm with their routines and athletic performance. The members included Mariana Santoro, Harper Kloiber, Ella Pearson, Adrianna Magana, Briella Price, Emmy Holland, McKenna Smith, Lily Gotkowski, Valentina Santoro, Eliana Jones, Maya Varnado, Natalie Mellon, Brynn Kaplan, Reese Erickson, Sophia Eytcheson, Mackenzie Tunney, and Lilly Pearson.
