By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Gavin Peterson
** Additional Photos are available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p265782862 **
AURORA— With a father as a soccer coach, Caesar Kanu began with that sport until he could no longer ignore the siren call of football.
“My dad enrolled me in soccer, and I was really into it but then all of my friends were excited about football,” he said.
“I decided to also try that.”
In one of the most thrilling moments of his young career, he delivered a 1-2 punch that nobody connected with the Illinois Jr. Celtics 11U Black is likely to forget.
Kanu bolted 18 yards for the tying touchdown and drilled the 2-point kick for the dramatic 14-12 comeback victory over the Jr. Blackhawks in Chicagoland Pop Warner league play at West Aurora High School on Sunday, September 27.
He showed how football and soccer combine in elemental and fantastic ways as he walked up to take the kick with just under a minute to play.
“The thing that was going through my mind is that I’ve practiced this skill so many times with my coach,” he said. “Even before the game started, we were practicing.
“I was just remembering everything that he taught me.”
His kick was clean and pure, just like his propulsive running style. On his tying touchdown run, Kanu started out right and then cut back against the grain.
His soccer training also came into form and practice.
“I like juking guys in both sports,” he said. Running the football is very similar to soccer, only you’re obviously using your feet a lot more with soccer.”
The 11-play, 59-yard final drive by the Jr. Celtics was both a marathon and trial by fire. The team survived despite committing four false start penalties on the possession.
The team also took back what it gave, benefitting from a 15-yard unsportsman-like conduct penalty against the Jr. Blackhawks that wiped out a fourth and long play.
Kanu was the headliner. The victory was not his alone.
Wide receiver Grayson Tadin made a brilliant 14-yard diving catch from quarterback Elijah Boyle on third-and-13 that set up his score.
He was virtually on his back when he caught the ball.
“I saw the ball was coming, and I knew it was going to be low, and I just went down for it,” Tadin said. “On those passing plays, a lot of it comes down to the quarterback, and whether it’s a good spiral or not.
“It was a good spiral, and I was in perfect position to make the catch.”
The Jr. Celtics appeared to dominate after a brilliant opening sequence. Austin Boyer ripped off a 27-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, setting up his 10-yard touchdown run.
The team learned an invaluable lesson. Watch out for anything that appears too easy.
“After the first touchdown, we went for the extra point and then the onside and we didn’t get it,” Boyer said. “They marched down the field. We got the ball back a couple of times.
“All the action happened again.”
Playing on their Homecoming, the Jr. Blackhawks responded with two dynamic and athletic scoring plays in the second and fourth quarters.
On the two long scoring runs, the Aurora program burned the Jr. Celtics with a quarterback taking a direct snap.
In the second quarter, the Jr. Blackhawks’ runner slipped around the left side and broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run. More alarmingly, the same thing happened with 7:57 remaining for the 12-6 lead.
The Jr. Celtics could not wrap up the agile quarterback and he broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown run. Fortunately the Jr. Celtics stopped each of the conversion runs.
Despite the early dominance, the Jr. Celtics committed too many mistakes and penalties to break free. A second quarter interception and too many penalties shook up the team.
With the game in the balance, the team regrouped and focused on the matter at hand.
“One of the coaches from the 13U team came up to us, and really told us it was time to lock in,” defensive lineman Zakai Obeng said. “We just needed to try our best, and that’s what we did, and we were able to make a comeback.”
Zachary Obeng and Leo Blythe were the defensive standouts throughout the game. Blythe had a first half fumble recovery. Zachary Obeng had a team-best six tackles.
Apart from the two long runs by the Jr. Blackhawks, the defense played well and under control.
“We really stuck together as a team the whole time,” Blythe said. “Sure we had a couple of breakdowns there. That was probably less than 15 seconds of game time, and then we picked each other back up.”
Offensively, Liam Kruse and Zachary Bal-Denton helped open the holes.
Defensively, Henry Bass joined Bal-Denton, Kanu, Blythe and the two Obengs to shore up the defensive interior. Quinn Collins made some great stops on the outside edge.
Bogle also made some big plays out wide for the Jr. Celtics.
The biggest difference was the composure and mentality.
“We were getting too many fouls in the game, and not everybody was together as a team,” Kanu said. “We were making too many mistakes and penalties.
“We got together in the second half, and just stood together and made it up.”
Kanu was stopped on the conversion attempt after the opening Boyer touchdown run. Not many teams at this age group have the luxury of an accurate kicker.
He was also riding high in emotion and certainty after just scoring on the touchdown run.
“After you score a touchdown, obviously you’re going to be happy and then you have the confidence to make an extra kick,” Kanu said. It’s a big added weapon because not that many teams kick at our age.
“At least we know we’re a team that wants to try new stuff.”
The Jr. Blackhawks had one final possession with 53 seconds remaining. Kanu and Blythe collaborated on two early stops. The defensive pressure forced a fumble the Jr. Blackhawks recovered.
Blythe sealed the deal with a fourth down stop.
“It was very stressful, but we came through,” Zachary Obeng said. “Leo had a crucial tackle. Caesar had a big tackle, and the full defensive line also made some big stops.
“The coaches motivated us, and we made some adjustments. The ends did a better job of containing them, and we started getting pressure. Everyone on defense did their best, and that’s how we got the win.”
The Jr. Celtics’ 11U Black team received many standout contributions in the 14-12 win. They were Finnian McDonnell, Steven Green Jr., Collin Freeman, Brock Walsh, Chase Cummens, Dominik Brown, Brayden Simon and Angelo Cameo.
