By Ed Muniz- Photos by Laura Stubbs
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 Weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p456856766 **
YORKVILLE- In football, when one is referred to as “A Scoring Machine” he is a player that is particularly effective at scoring points as in touchdowns.
His ability to score from any part of the field at any point in the game, in particular when he touches the football directly.
Every rush is magnified and the expectation of something big about to happen has all eyes on him, every touch!
The Mokena Jr. Celtics 7U team has such a player and more so as the season has gone on. If you were a team that faced the Jr. Celtics early, consider yourself lucky because Westin White is in full scoring mode now!
The diminutive, soft spoken speedster put on a show on October 6 in Yorkville. His display of prolific scoring may have single-handedly carried his Jr. Celtics team to a 27-13 win over the host Foxes, providing four touchdowns of different yardage.
White rushed 14 times for 241 yards, averaging just over 17-yards a carry while scoring 4 touchdowns. That’s a great day’s work for any running-back at any level.
Every time he took a handoff, there was a better than average chance he’d provide a thrilling run for Mokena fans while running to his left was his specialty in this game.
Nearly every time he ran to the left edge, he produced a big play, scoring three of his four touchdowns that way. Scores of 55-, 45-, and 47-yards came that way. He also had several runs that picked up double digit yards.
“I like running that way a little bit,” said White. “I did touchdowns and tackles pretty good today. I like looking for a gap and run through it. I did good today.”
White also said he thinks he could get better at wrapping up on the tackles although he did that very well in this game too.
“This was our most complete game of the season,” said Head Coach Jim Mellon. “Everyone did their job, no one gave up, they were willing to do what they needed to do, it takes a team effort, it takes everybody to do their job and not just one scoring the ball. I also thought we weren’t tired we weren’t gassed at the end of the game. The boys had stamina and finished the game strong.”
“Finishing our tackles is what we need to improve on. A lot of our kids are great tacklers when they take the time to tackle the right way. Some of them are leaving their feet and if the runner makes one movement, they get a way from them, so we have to get better there.”
It didn’t take long fo the Jr. Celtics to score, three plays in, White burst to his left and outran the defense on his 55-yard touchdown run for the 6-0 lead.
The Foxes tried to counter on their first possession and did pull off a long run but the Jr. Celtics defense stiffened after that with tackles by James Mellon, Bear Petrocelli, Braxton Bellik and .Maximus Lepore to force a turnover on downs.
Taking their next possession into the second quarter, the Jr. Celtics added to their lead. First, Quarterback Will Fitzgerald connected with White on a 21-yard pass-play then White took a hand off and hit the left edge again and didn’t stop until he reached the endzone 45-yards later for his second touchdown. Fitzgerald muscled in for the extra-point, upping the lead to 13-0. The last six minutes of the first half saw the Jr. Celtics defense bend but not break.
They did allow the Foxes to chip away down the field but eventually stopped the host on downs. Multiple tackles by Lepore, Fitzgerald, Petrocelli and White were the reason.
Opening the second half, the Foxes busted through the Mokena defense with a 60-yard run that set up their initial score. A 2-yard run cut the Jr. Celtic lead in half at 13-7 after converting on their point after.
A heavy dose of White on the ensuing Jr. Celtics drive saw the speedster get the ball on five consecutive plays eventually busting up the middle, cut to his left and racing 47-yards for his and the Jr. Celtics third touchdown of the game, regaining the advantage up to 20-7 when Landon Brown tossed to White for the conversion.
The Foxes were doing all they could to stay in the game. their rushing was picking up chunks of yards and although the Jr. Celtics were making tackles by Mellon, Brown, Lepore, White and Thomas Fletcher, the Foxes cut into the lead when they scored from 10-yards out, cutting the lead down to 20-13 midway through the fourth quarter.
Fletcher was a stalworth on the Jr. Celtics defense and offense. His play was a display of steadiness. Although he may not have had many solo tackles, he was very active and assisted on several stops. He also was formidable on the offensive line from his left tackle position providing key blocks and holding the edge for his running backs.
“I’m pushing him back and moving my feet forcing him back when I’m blocking,” said Fletcher. I use the technique we practice a lot. What I like about defense is you get to tackle a lot. I thought I did pretty good today both ways. I need to lower my level when I’m tackling, I put my helmet on his helmet on one tackle, that didn’t feel good.”
As hard as the Foxes worked for their score, it turned out all for not as three runs by White and Fitzgerald 32 yards then culminated with a 33-yard touchdown run up the right side by White to put the game out of reach after Fitzgerald again converted the extra-point for the 27-13 lead with about a minute to play.
After a couple stops by White and a fumble, the game was over, improving the Jr. Celtics to 5-2 on the season and in good position for the 8-team Playoffs at 7U.
Other Jr. Celtics adding to the win with their talents in this game were Gannon Christos, Francis Zalud, Camdyn Brigham, Mason Comise, Nolan Smith, Jacob Palacios, Jaxton Yaeger, Oliver Bogle, Rocco Iuliano, James Dillon, Jackson Paul, Ronan Gleason and Mario Williams.
