By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p690164749 **
MOKENA— All the indicators of what makes a competitive football team were plainly visible for the Jr Celtics 9U team.
Paxton Kirk stepped up and made a huge interception, setting in motion a changeover to the offense that privileged the throwing of quarterback Michael Comise and the running of John Skuzinski V and Caleb Partin.
Skuzinski turned a flair pass into the right flat into a mesmerizing 35-yard gain, and he followed it up quickly with a 16-yard run. Despite a couple of penalties, the Jr Celtics were determined to find the end zone.
Skuzinski finally broke through on a two-yard run. The larger message was sent throughout the team.
“That’s how we need to play every quarter,” Kirk said.
The sequence was the true highlight of the Jr Celtics team undone from big and consequential plays in the 30-6 loss in Pop Warner League play at Main Park here Saturday night on September 20.
The bulk of the first half was competitive and encouraging for the Jr Celtics. Comise had a big pass play to receiver Hendrix Benard to create the early excitement and promise.
On the defensive side, Jack Mackiney, Vincent Venegas, Joseph Paciorek, Ethan Hamideh, Rocco Macaluso, Ryder Dow and Partin matched the aggressive and physical playmakers of the Bears.
The moments were scattered though evident and there. Venegas had two tackles for loss, including dropping the quarterback.
“I just did what I did, and I like to have fun and make tackles out there,” he said. “I’ve been playing since I was a young age, and I love to wrap up.”
A 43-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter and a 79-yard interception return on the final play of the half created a 22-0 deficit that proved too challenging to overcome.
“There were three plays that stood out,” coach Tom Comise said. “The interception they took back for six was huge. The blown coverage, and we also lost containment on their fourth touchdown there.
“Three plays adds up to a lot of points. If we limit that stuff and play with the intensity we had in the first half, we could run with any other team.”
Staring at a three-touchdown deficit to start the second half is no day at the beach. To their credit, the Jr Celtics located an inner toughness and resolve to not simply play out the string. The team fought and showed backbone and pride in how they played and what they proved to each other. More often than not, the good and bad intermingled.
A strong run on the opening play of the third quarter was offset by a fumble. Despite the disadvantages, the Jr Celtics endured and played hard until the very end.
“We didn’t play how we wanted in that first and second quarter,” Skuzinski said. “At halftime the coach talked to us. We came in hot during the third quarter, making tackles and getting first downs.”
Most important, the Jr Celtics put up a fight. Venegas and Paciorek created pressure on the Bears’ quarterback and limited the second half damage.
Benard also stepped up with some excellent open field tackling.
Everything matters, the incremental steps that lead to bigger movements and more sustained levels of excellence. The players know the drill, and what they have to do.
“We have to hold our blocks, hit our holes and get to the blocks, and have a perfect timing snap,” Michael Comise said. “We have to complete passes and run the right routes and stay on our blocks. That is my favorite part about being the quarterback. I get to run and throw the ball, and I’m the captain of the team.”
The defense and offense showed the ability to gain confidence and momentum off the success of each other. The fourth quarter interception by Kirk illustrated the point.
“The pick was not just me,” he said. “My teammates helped me. The defensive line got in the quarterback and put on the pressure. He had to throw it, and I picked it and everybody on defense blocked for me. I think the touchdowns they scored were a combination of good plays by them and breakdowns by us. Our defense has been good. On offense we need to get off the blocks and run the ball hard.”
The connection between Michael Comise and Benard was the early highlight.
“We practice together a lot,” Benard said. “I like to play fast and quick and make strong moves with the ball. It’s not just one or two players. We have to get the whole team involved. Everyone needs to step up.”
The activity, involvement and never-give up nature of the quarterback play and his playmakers stood out.
“We were throwing the ball, and I saw John open,” Michael Comise said. “He got a bunch of yards. He got more yards, and then we ran a QB sneak. We gave John the ball, and he scored. That’s the kind of effort we need all of the time.”
There were mistakes, like a false start, but the Jr Celtics learned to overcome them. Some of the other strong plays were isolated, and the team was not able to sustain or string enough together. The biggest disappointment, perhaps, was not being able to build off the fourth quarter touchdown. A Bears running back broke free on the right edge and ended the game with a long touchdown run.
The team played hard and valiantly, until the final whistle. The players and coaches feel the improvement, even if it is not manifested in the outcomes.
Each week is about lessons learned, and moving forward with confidence and patience.
“These kids have made huge strides in the last couple of weeks, starting to adjust to the game speed and starting to believe in themselves,” Tom Comise said. “Take away the scoreboard, and we’re proud of the kids.”
Despite the loss against the Elmhurst Bears, the Jr Celtics 9U had many standout contributors. They were Finn Ward, James Short Jr, Tristyn Winke, Owen Miller, Corbin Caine, Ethan Hamideh, Jacob Guisinger, John Drabeck, Iacovos-Jack Christou, Nash Surber, Jack Sanders, Weston Surber, Aiden Samanich and Paul Herring III.
