By Ed Muniz- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p79006740 **
MOKENA— Making a comeback is generally thought of as special. You go through a period of failure or difficulties or maybe an absence then everything turns around. Things begin to go your way. You now experience and achieve success, popularity or whatever deficits you had are overcome, you are now having an advantage you previously faced as a disadvantage.
Sports comebacks in themselves are also considered an accomplishment of success, especially when earlier you were trailng or on a course to lose or fail.
Withing minutes of their game against the visiting Leyden Bears, the 7U Jr. Celtics were on the wrong side of the scoreboard, facing an early game disadvantage after the Bears reeled off a long touchdown run that caught the Jr. Celtics by surprise. After a point-after, the Bears jumped ahead 6-0.
For some teams, starting a game like that would doom them as momentum sat squarely at the visiting opponents feet. A quick score can send a message and create doubt in ones ability. It can be intimidating.
Well, under the tutelage of Coach Dave Brunette and staff, what to some may have been a disasterous beginning, to his his players, it was just a speed bump that could and would be overcome in a matter of time. After collecting themselves and righting an awareness of what to expect, the Jr. Celtics would right their ship and go on to catch and overcome the early scoreboard deficit and go on to outplay and defeat Leyden, 21-6 with outstanding defense the rest of the game on September 19 at Main Park in Mokena.
“I have no negative things to say today, We came out and firing on all cylinders,” said Coach Brunette. “Our defense sets the tone and our offense takes the wheel and we take control. We had a couple miscues early but figured it out. You learn from that first play on offense or defense. Our backs can read, they can see where the ball is going and they fly to it. It’s a team effort. Everbody out there is playing whistle to whistle.”
“We play to our strengths, we figure out where they are doing good at and we work with it and if they want to play that position, we continue to work with them. Our kids are all pretty positive. They come to practice ready to work every day and work on conditioning, you can see our kids can play a lot without being gassed.”
Its obvious that Coach Brunette, his staff and players are all very confident.
After trailing early, there wasn’t an iota of concern on the home sideline. The Jr. Celtics just went to work at getting back in the game. After Kaleb Neylon ran for a dozen and received an additional 15-yard penalty after being facemasked, Coach Brunette’s team was off and running.
The next carry saw Henry McLaren cut off his right tackle, break a tackle and sprint 32-yards for the tying score. His touchdown was followed by Liam Mann converting the point-after on his run to propel his team ahead 7-6.
With momentum taken from the Bears, the Jr. Celtics defense made it a quick turn-around after Neylon, Jack Hamstra and Mack Simon stuffed the Bears three straight times for the turnover on downs.
Back at it offensively, the Jr. Celtics extended their second series into the second quarter. The 7-play drive saw runs by Neylon, Simon, Jack Brogan and McLaren steadily move the football downfield until Neylon took the handoff and powered in from 3-yards out for the Jr. Celtics second touchdown, increasing the lead to 13-6.
The same aggressive, get to the ball quick, defense by the Jr. Celtics continued to limit the Bears. Simon, Liam Regan, Jamari McDonald Jr. Roch Kouba, Liam Mann, Stazzone and Hamstra continued to make stops, again forced the Bears to release the football on downs.
The Jr. Celtics arent perfect, they were just near it. They did lose the ball on a fumble to end the opening half but luckly, it didn’t result in anything but the break.
The second half saw a lot of ball control by the Jr. Celtics offense. The running attack saw 5 different backs carry the rock. Brogan, Simon, McLaren, Neylon and Kouba each saw at advancing the ball but it was McLaren who brought closure to the 15-play drive with a 2-yard plunge into the Bears endzone, upping their advantage to 19-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Time was now a factor for the Bears, each offensive play was countered with a stout defensive Jr. Celtics presence. Try as they might, the Bears were maintain control trying to score rapidly but Simon, Neylon, McDonald Jr. and Stazzone wouldn’t relent and continued to play hard tough defense, eventually shutting down the Bears efforts, regaining the football on downs.
With the game in hand, the Jr. Celtics took to their victory formation and downed the football with a knee, accepting the 19-6 Homecoming comback victory.
Defense was as much a factor as the Jr. Celtics offense in this win. The scoring by the host was obvious and celebrated but so was the defensive prowess. Among those that excelled and caught the eye of many was Anthony Stazzone.
He was among the defenders that seem to be around the ball on every Leyden offensive play, assisting or making the stop. His play was among the hosts top performances. His aggressive play stood out.
“I was working hard for my brother because he can see or play, I play hard for him and myself,” said Anthony. “I’m so aggressive because my dad yells at me and gives me encourgament to play better. He makes me better and I want to be better for him and my brother. I like playing with this team because I like my teammates and I like having fun with them. We are all good friends and I go to school with a lot of them and we talk a lot about football. The best part of football is winning and hitting others and running the ball. Not sure what I need to do better, maybe break down and watch where the ball is going quicker.”
Also adding his talents to the win was Henry McLaren. McLaren showed he was as talented on both sides of the ball whether running for a score or making a solid tackle to stop the Bears offense.
“I was seeing the holes pretty quick and getting through them too,” said Henry. “When I see them, I just sprint through them fast and when guys hit me, I just keep driving my feet. Once they start trying to stop me. I never stop moving. I feel like I do really good at running the ball, I feel that helps the team. I like blocking too because I help my teammates run for a touchdown, that’s important too. The line and other teammates help me out when I run and make a touchdown too. I like running inside because I like the contact and I see the holes pretty quick too.”
Other Jr. Celtics also battled and provide the Bears with difficult situations, they included Augustyn Urso, Oliver Liang, Cody Crites, Logan Tietz, Clifford Kouba, Enzo Brunette, Troy Angus, Greysoon Berger, Patrick Brennan, Jack Sawyer, Santos Candia and Charles Buche III
