By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p167699314 **
MOKENA— When is the game more like an emotional rollercoaster that rarely lets up or waits for a quiet moment? The Jr Celtics 11U team experienced the full gamut in their season-opening game.
At Main Park on Sunday, August 25, the result was a heartbreaking 19-13 overtime loss against the Joliet Steelers in a Pop Warner League game.
“I think we were all gassed, and we weren’t ready to go into the overtime,” running back Bryce Kaplan said. “We never went into overtime before, and this was a first time experience for us.”
The game was tied at 13-apiece after regulation.
Each team was given four downs from the 10-yard line to score.
The Jr Celtics had the opening possession, and could not move the ball effectively. Kaplan was stoned on first down, and all-purpose playmaker Neyland Robinson was stopped on fourth down.
The Steelers scored on the first play of their possession for the victory.
Robinson and Kaplan appeared to put the Jr Celtics in the driver’s seat with a brilliant 1-2 punch in the fourth quarter. On a fourth down play, Robinson came off the edge for a four-yard loss that gave the Jr Celtics the ball at the Steelers’ 20-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, Kaplan bulled his way into the middle of the line of scrimmage and broke outside right for the 20-yard touchdown run with 6:35 to play.
The Jr Celtics took their only lead at 13-7.
“I was able to score that touchdown, and give us the lead,” Kaplan said. “I think we have a lot to work on, but I think we also did very well in holding them down. Our defense was getting in there, and blowing up their offense.”
The lead proved temporary.
On the ensuing play from scrimmage, the Steelers running back broke free down the right side and ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run.
Each team had a final possession in regulation. The Jr Celtics were stopped on a fourth down run by Colin Bailey.
With their backs against the wall, two-way standout Adekunle Bobade made two sensational open field tackles that denied the fast Steelers’ playmakers from breaking free.
“I felt good on defense because I was guarding people and making tackles,” Bobade said. “They had that very tall receiver, No. 26, who was always on me. I battled with him, and I tried to stutter-step around him and get to the ball.”
The entire game played out as a variation of the classic line in sports, “turnabout is fair play.”
Interestingly, the Steelers’ quick response to the Kaplan touchdown was a mirror of what happened in the first half. The Steelers stunned the Jr Celtics with a 61-yard touchdown pass on their first play from scrimmage.
Robinson made quick work of the lead by taking the ensuing kickoff, weaving through the crush of bodies and going untouched down the right sideline for the 61-yard kickoff return score.
“I just ran up, and there were two people blocking and I just went through the hole,” Robinson said. “One person missed, and I just kept going and bounced it outside. I was proud of our effort and how we played as a team.”
The Jr Celtics showed excellent promise on the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterback Garrett Hansen displayed a sharp arm, and the ability to move with his feet.
Kaplan and Bailey also demonstrated strong instincts with the ball. On the third play from scrimmage, Bailey gashed the Steelers for a 23-yard gain, the team’s second longest play from scrimmage.
“I just want to make sure I’m always at my best, and trying really hard,” Bailey said. “I never want to let myself down, and I always put in the effort. I always try to bring myself up.”
Robinson, Bailey, Kaplan, Hansen, Colin Guisinge and Lucas Gravitt powered the defensive response.
With the exceptions of the Steelers’ scoring plays in regulation, the defense was up to the challenge.
The Jr Celtics appeared to take control in the opening moments of the second half.
Gravitt recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Taking over at midfield, Bobade took a beautifully designed sweep around the left end, dashed down the left edge and cut across the gain for an apparent touchdown.
“When I made my touchdown and then I heard there was a flag, I got mad,” Bobade said. “On defense, everybody was going back and forth. I didn’t worry about it. I just kept playing.”
An illegal block made it a 29-yard gain, the longest play from scrimmage. A negative yardage play and a false start short-circuited the drive, and the Jr Celtics turned the ball over on downs.
Guisinger made back to back stops for negative yardage. The game came down to a handful of plays. For the most part, the Jr Celtics achieved what any team sets out to do.
“I think it was just a great team effort,” Guisinger said. “I thought we played well, except for a couple of the contain plays that we needed. The first play where they scored didn’t really hurt us, and we just bounced back.”
The players were disappointed but not broken.
“We did a lot of good things out there,” Hansen said. “Now we just have to keep working and playing hard, and get ready for our Homecoming game next week.”
Despite the heartbreaking overtime, the Jr Celtics 11U team received standout play from its deep and talented roster. Those players included Carter Bellik, Charles Fletcher, Micah Barnett, Gavin Collins, Easton Breen, Elliott Bodine, Nikko Triolo, Adeykinka Bobade, Nathan Quiroz, Garrett Hansen, Austin Crites, Lorenzo DeCarlo, Grant Smith, Andrew Chudzinski, Asher Kokolus, Broderick Wallace, Matthew Curry, Kristian Willis, and Travis Deslisle.
The PeeWee cheerleaders also brought elegance, grace and power through their routines and enthusiasm. Their members were Angelica Enright, Gabrielle Migacz, Luciana Kolenko, Teagan Smith, Bevin Scanlan, Mia Rhodes, Charlotte Fowler, Madison Baker, Anya Stojak, Alexis Vollman, Eloise Morrison, Madison Varnado, Ashlyn Woods, Olivia Freyer, Gianna Ponzi, Abigeal Shaughnessy, Gianna Picciola, Jessica Short, Penny Oeser, Chloe DiBennardi, Brianna Adair.
