By Ed Muniz- Photos by Renee Kaspar
** Additional Photos are Available fo rPurchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p1012716880 **
MOKENA— “Shutout”- It’s a rare feat due to the high-scoring nature of football that signifies total defensive domination.
When that last second ran off the clock, the Jr. Cetics 7U had delivered a domnant defensive performance that produced the difficult job of holding the Oswego Bears off the scoreboard.
It’s likely that the players of the 7U Jr. Celtics were happy just winning the game, but unlikely that they understood the difficulties they had just accomplished in their 21-0 shutout on September 12 at Main Park, but every Jr. Celtics coached relished and understood the blanking. Of course they did.
No matter the level of play, walking away with the victory and not giving up a single point is chest-pounding material. At 7U, maybe jumping up and down stuff. Either way, something to celebrate and enjoy.
Defense held in check the visiting Bears but the Jr. Celtics offense created the scoring advantage on their opening possession to the delight of offensve coordinator’
“They were working hard and the offense was cooking,” said Coach Kouba. “I’m a big believer that you just don’t rely on one, you need five or six guys that can run the ball and we utilized that today and shared the wealth. The number one thing we need to work at is staying on our blocks. At this age, the kids think if they just hit them once, they’re good to go, so that is something that we’re working on, to stay on those blocks. I ‘m happy with the win, we were sharp on everything.”
Pocessing several taleted runners, the Jr. Celtcs will offer opponents doses of rushing specialist. However, Kaleb Neylon does do most of the damage against defenses with his quick and powerful running style. The more upright runningback gives opponents size and power they have to contend with but Kaleb can also show quickness through the line and make elusive cuts.
“I just saw the gap and I went for it,” said Neylon. “I see the holes pretty quick and when we do a fake and people move the wrong way, and thats how I almost got a touchdown. I think we hide what we are doing pretty good, I think we do our offense very good and we have a really good team. The line guys block really good for us. Jack (Brogan) and Troy (Angus) did pretty good for us too.
Neylon mentioned he felt his lineman Troy Angus did a great job in the game. He was right. Angus was a wall of protection for his backfield. He also provide gaps for his teammates to rush through for big gains. A healthy young man with some stature to him, his role on the team is as perfect as it can get.
“Troy (Angus) did an awesome job”, said Coach Kouba. ” He is one of our bigger kids. This is his first year playing football and he’s getting better every game; for his fourth game, he is doing a great jib. He just doesn’t know how big and strong he is yet.”
“I like putting kids on their butts,” said Troy. “I think i do a very good job of blocking and making holes for our runningbacks. I practice doing that alot with my dad Kevin. He really helps me and he really knows what to do. He isn’t a coach on the team but he coaches me a lot and works with me, so I get practice on the field and also at home. I need to get back on track at staying with my blocks better, but I still do a pretty good job.”
Tackles by Liam Regan and Mack Simon opened the game for the Jr. Celtics defense, creating a punt quickly.
On their first offensive possession, the Jr. Celtics first runing play grabbed 12-yards by Henry McLaren, from there the Jr. Celtics proceeded to march down the field .
Five different Jr. Celtics rushed the ball which included McLaren, Brogan, Simon, Liam Mann and Neylon, eventually ending with Neylon crossing the goal line on the 1-yard plunge for the 7-0 lead after also adding the point-after.
The Jr. Celtics offense was clicking early, going 65-yards on 7-plays, scoring to open the second quarter.
The Bears tried to counter with a score of their own but a tight Jr. Celtics defense wasn’t goig to make that easy. Neylon managed a tackle that loss the Bears 6-yards. A Lateral pass was hauled in that started one way then cutback the opposite side which was snuffed by Jamari McDonald Jr. three yards shy of the Bears first down.
A Mann tackle for loss and an incomplete pass ended the Oswego possession.
The Jr. Celtics offense again went to work and ended up elevating their lead to 14-0 after Neylon blasted up the middle for his second score of the game from 7-yards out.
The Jr. Celtics Touchdown culminated the 6-play scoring drive which featured the rushing attack of Simon, Brogan, Enzo Brunette and of course, Neyland.
The first half ended with good defense the way it began, taking the host into the break with a comfortable two-score lead .
Beginning the second half, the Jr. Celtics looked to the offense to continue putting points on the board, increasing the lead.
With the lead, maintaining possession can make the game seem shorter. Offensively, it sure seemed that way with the Jr. Celtics holding on to the ball and meticulously moving the ball from their own 35-yardline up field yard after yard.
This offensive prosession began using up second after second until the third quarter expired, entirely by the Jr. Celtics second half drive.
Now taking a snap to begin the final stanza, the Jr. Celtics Liam Mann darted 7-yards for the Jr. Celtics third touchdown of the game, increasing the lead to 21-0.
During the 10-play scoring drive, the Jr. Celtics were eating up yards off the legs of Brogan, who added 20-yards on three carries. Neylon found some running room and added to the offensive tally with 18-yard on a pair of rushes. Also contributing with the running attack were McLaren with 9-yards and Anthony Stazzone III who added 18-yards.
With more Stellar defense, highlighted by Liam Regan’s tackling, the Jr. Celtics soon had the the ball and the game in their hands. Stopping the Bears one final time, the Jr. Celtics allow other players to rush the ball prior to the end of the game.
“I was staying home to the right side and containing, I think the coaches liked that I did that,” said Regan. “It’s something I work on in practce and at home. I like feeling the contact, getting hit and hitting people, I’m more a hammer and not a nail. I think our team plays pretty good defense and we stay home. We did that very good. We also go to the ball too.”
Getting golden opportunities to rush the ball were Augustyn Urso, Logan Teitz, Roch Kouba and Brunnette, each adding to the rushing tally, advancing the football.
With one last try that went 11-yards by Brunette, the Jr. Celtics celebrated their win infront of the home crowd to loud cheers, acomplishing the highly covetted Shutout.
Other Jr. Celtics giving their all in the victory were Oliver Liang, Cody Crites, Clifford Kouba, Jack Hamstra, Greyson Berger, Patrick Brennan, Jack Sawyer, Santos Candia and Charles Buche III.
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