By Patrick Z. McGavin– Photos by Kathy Jones
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p741445051 **
CHICAGO— The game is its own chemical reaction or fusion where the parts all flow together with elite players who instinctively know how to create their own rhythm and style.
A dynamic young talent like Westin White impacts the game at one level. When he is at his best, White’s influence filters out in multiple strands and directions. Naturally the rest of the Jr Celtics 7U program followed in his path, energized by his play and dazzling open-field running.
“He’s one of our best players, and he has been on the team the last two years,” James Mellon said.
White put on a one-player utilizing his staggering blend of athleticism, quickness, speed and playmaking. He did it all over the field and both sides of the ball. Everything was synchronized, and interconnected. A good play on defense fueled his offensive burst, or vice versa.
“I just love making sacks and tackles, and that gets me going when I run the ball,” White said.
White scored three touchdown runs and added a 51-yard scoring reception as the Jr Celtics knocked out the Plainfield Saints 27-6 in a Pop Warner League play at Marist High School on Sunday, October 13.
White rushed for a stunning 241 yards on just nine carries, scoring on touchdown runs of 55, 71 and 62 yards. He was a blur in open space, repeatedly using his quickness to get the edge and blast on the jets to get outside the Saints’ containment.
The success was not his alone.
“Some of the guys on the offensive line cleared the outside, and that allowed our running back Westin to break through and score those touchdowns,” Maximus Lepore said.
Most significantly, White created his magic right off the start, providing a cushion the Jr Celtics used to ward off a Saints’ rally late in the second quarter and the start of the second half.
As impactful as White was at the offensive part of the field, he made three game-changing plays as a defensive standout. He registered seven tackles, including two dramatic chase down, touchdown-saving tackles. The second of those thrilling stops thwarted a Saints’ drive on the opening possession of the second half that threatened to cut deeply into the Jr Celtics’ lead.
“Westin’s one of our key players on both sides of the ball,” Jr Celtics 7U coach Jim Mellon said. “He gives it his all on every single play. He’s always willing to put himself out there, and he does it every single play or sequence.”
On the third play of the game, White took the outside pitch to his left and tore through the perimeter for a 55-yard touchdown run down.
Lepore completed the 7-0 early advantage with the conversion run.
White was just getting started.
Playing a right outside linebacker, White teamed up with Nicholas Petrocelli and Landon Brown to annihilate the Saints’ attack. White and Petrocelli collaborated on a sack on their opening play from scrimmage, Brown quickly followed suit with his own sack for a 3-yard loss.
On third down, White broke through for another sack for a 5-yard loss.
The dominant first quarter performance was virtually computer programmed, fitting given White displayed numbers that seemed more designed for video games than an actual live performance.
Quarterback William Fitzgerald attempted just one pass in the game—and it was perfect. On the opening play of the second quarter, he made a quick throw to White in the right flat. The speedstar got behind the Saints’ secondary, caught the ball in stride and raced untouched for the 51-yard scoring pass.
For added measure, White ran in the conversion for the 14-0 lead.
”It’s really fun being the quarterback of this team, and I really love either throwing or running the ball,” Fitzgerald said. “Our offensive line did a great job of blocking, and staying on their blocks and giving me time to throw or hand off.”
An offensive line keyed by the play of Mario Williams, Jackson Paul, Jaxton Yaeger, Thomas Fletcher and Nolan Smith overpowered the Saints, on both sides of the ball.
“They had some pretty small guys on the line, and we have big guys on our line, so that means the big guys can fly through and get the quarterback,” Lepore said. “Nicholas was running in the backfield, getting through and nobody could really catch him.”
Despite the fast start by the Jr Celtics, the Saints made the game interesting with two standout breakaway plays of their own.
After White saved a long touchdown run, the Saints powered home their only score late in the second quarter to pull within 14-6.
The game turned at the start of the third quarter. The Saints gashed the Jr Celtics on the edge and appeared headed for a touchdown before White used the angle for the saving tackle at the 22-yard line.
Another sack by Petrocelli on third down set up a fourth and long. Lepore, White, Paul and James Dillon staged a fantastic gang tackle of the Saints’ runner on fourth down.
Petrocelli finished with four tackles and two sacks.
“I love rushing the quarterback,” he said. “Nobody was really blocking in front of me. Our No. 10 (Lepore) was taking up all of their blockers in front of me. So all the players were really on one side, and there was just one guy on my side.”
White essentially put the game away on the next play from scrimmage. He blasted around the right edge for his 71-yard touchdown scamper.
After Gannon Christos forced a turnover on downs with consecutive tackles, White punctuated his remarkable performance with a 62-yard touchdown around the left end.
The day was done.
“Westin stopping the play was huge,” Jim Mellon said. “It sets us up better for success, and we scored right after that. Westin goes so hard sometimes, almost too hard, and he hurts himself when he makes a tackle. Our offense has been pretty solid the whole year. They do their job.”
The Jr Celtics 7U team featured many standout players in their 27-6 victory. Their members were Francis Zalud, Camdyn Bringham, Mason Comise, Thomas Fletcher, Jacob Palacios, Oliver Bogle, Rocco Iuliano, James Dillon, Ronan Gleason and Braxton Bellik.
