By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p600425740 **
NEW LENOX— A hard part of the game is the willingness to be almost invisible.
Offensive linemen know the drill, that no matter how skilled or accomplished, their work goes largely unnoticed, or unobserved, obscured by the dramatic play of a quarterback or wonderful running back.
On the Illinois Jr. Celtics 11U Black squad, the offensive line shares a kindred spirit.
“We practice a lot together, and we’re so close,” offensive tackle Liam Kruse said. “Not many of us go to school together, but we’re together so much that we just build trust in each other and develop a friendship.”
The players made the necessary sacrifice of visibility and acknowledgement, secure in their knowledge of the role they played.
Zachary Bal-Denton is the coach’s son, and has the proper perspective of roles and identities.
“I love it when the running backs follow the holes that our offensive line makes,” Bal-Denton said. “I feel they don’t get the credit we deserve. Our running backs found the right holes, and they bounced outside perfectly.”
Four different players scored at least one touchdown to spark the Jr. Celtics’ 34-0 Homecoming victory over the Leyden Bears in Chicagoland Pop Warner League play at Lincoln-Way Central on Sunday, September 22.
Do-it-all star Austin Boyer did a bit of everything, scoring two touchdowns, recording six tackles and making an interception. He also attempted a couple of passes.
“This was definitely one of my best performances of the season,” he said.
The Black program played about as perfect a first half imaginable, producing four touchdowns in as many drives and generating two turnovers.
The Bears never had a chance.
It was 14-0 six minutes into the game, and the Bears had not run a play from scrimmage. The weather was uncooperative. The players simply looked past it.
The line created a wondrous synchronicity with the players who did the damage on offense. The Jr. Celtics carved up the Bears with an eclectic and overwhelming run game.
The team ran through and over the Bears. Caesar Kanu was the early catalyst. His 28-yard run set the dominant tone. Boyer finished the six-play drive with a two-yard scoring run.
“We were really excited with how we came out, and we had the first touchdown on the first drive, with the first big running play,” Kanu said. “We were all getting hyped up.
“We knew we could win, and we knew we could do everything in our power to win.”
The Black never lost its edge or its desire to dominate. Following the fast start, Chase Cummens pounced on a short kickoff that bounced off a Leyden player.
Boyer immediately went to work with a 40-yard run that set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Elijah Bogle.
The Jr. Celtics were both efficient and spectacular, combining the subtle actions into dramatic flourishes.
“It clicked so well because we were all doing everything in our power, and we were doing everything as a team to make all of those touchdowns,” Kanu said.
The Bears featured some quality players and strong athletes at the quarterback and running back positions. The Jr. Celtics found a way to nullify whatever advantages they held.
Henry Bass teamed upfront with Kruse, Bal-Denton and Boyer to annihilate the Bears at the point of attack. Their only occasional success came on outside runs.
Leo Blythe, Steven Green Jr., Quinn Collins and Kanu shut down the middle space with the ability to pursue and shut down running lanes.
A turnover on downs led to a short field for the Jr. Celtics, and another eight-yard scoring run by Boyer. Kanu even showed his versatility with the two-point kick.
The roaming and skilled Boyer showed off his range and athleticism by moving quickly to his left and making a diving interception.
“We just had to contain the outside so they couldn’t break loose or get around us,” Boyer said. “That opened up a lot of things for everything else.”
A 28-yard burst by Green set up the fourth touchdown, culminating with Kanu’s eight-yard run around the left side.
The Jr. Celtics held a 28-0 lead at halftime.
The playmakers on the Black squad each have their quirks and particular styles when running with the ball. Boyer’s game is built on power and bulk.
Kanu and Green like to flash their speed.
“I like to go in and push one person out, and then go and curve in,” Kanu said. “If I’m trying to get to the outside, then I look to push it out wide.
“We have great receivers, and they are my companions out there making great blocks on the outside.”
Zakai and Zachary Obeng made some big stops on defense, using their size and quickness to create disruption and havoc at the line of scrimmage.
The second half was more of the same after Kruse recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage.
Green closed out the scoring with a 29-yard burst down the left edge.
“We’re all very skilled,” Green said. “The way we started felt great, and it got everybody feeling good and hyped up. We had momentum the rest of the game.
“With my running style, I love to break it outside. On the touchdown, I just started running and then another guy came out towards me, and I was able to cut it out wider.”
Every player on the team saw action, and every player contributed their part.
“We just played our hardest, and kept piling everything on top,” Kruse said. “We never really stopped. We just got all of our confidence by how well we started the game.
“We knew we had to finish the job.”
The Green touchdown triggered a running clock. In a poetic and just movement, the linemen had the final say in the game. Each won was able to do something for the first time this season.
They took turns running the ball on the final possession.
“I love the holes they created for me to go forward,” Bal-Denton said.
The feeling was clearly mutual.
“We’re going to build off this very well, because we won this game, and now we’re excited and ready to go win the next one,” Kanu said.
The 11U Black team of the Jr. Celtics had plenty of standout contributions up and down the lineup. They were Finnian McDonnell, Grayson Tadin, Collin Freeman, Brock Walsh, Dominik Brown, Brayden Simon and Angelo Cameo.
The Illinois Junior Celtics Competition Cheer Team also brought passion and style to their routines. Their members are Madelyn Barbahen, Lily Burke, Natalie Calhoun, Jillian Clarke, Charlotte Engstrom, Scarlett Faddah, Aria Farmer, Sabrina Guanajuato, Sophia Guanajuato, Emma Price, Dani Samanich, Madisyn Singleton, Liliana Wood and Naya Young-Bay.
