By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen
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CHICAGO—One of the most liberating actions of the game is the wide receiver who moves freely in space and waits patiently for his opportunity.
As the leading outside threat of the Jr Celtics 9U team, Ryan Ripoli had just one thought as he motored off the line of scrimmage and burst down the right flank.
“I was just thinking to myself as I saw how open I was not to drop the ball,” he said. “I wasn’t sure which side the sun was on, and I looked it up.
“The ball came to me, and it was a great feeling.”
The Ripoli 22-yard scoring pass from quarterback Rhett Johnson symbolized the dominance of the Jr Celtics’ 31-0 victory over the Addison Cowboys in a Pop Warner League game at Marist High School on Sunday, October 15.
This iteration of the Jr Celtics is the ultimate example of cause and effect.
Ripoli was so wide open because the Cowboys had to stack the line of scrimmage to try and slow down the team’s brilliant running attack.
He was the classic beneficiary.
“Once we get our power and outside running game down, that just opens up the passing game, as you saw out there,” he said.
The Jr Celtics scored on their first three drives in orchestrating the dominant 24-0 edge at halftime. Ryder Runia contributed to the blowout by drilling all three of his two-point kicks.
In the regular-season finale, the Jr Celtics are moving only in one direction, up and beyond. The Addison team is the latest program left in their wake.
“The kids come ready every time we play,” coach Dave Brown said.
“They’re really a special group of kids, and their effort shows out on the field every time they play. I’m really happy with them.”
The Johnson to Ripley touchdown pass marked the second possession, and the second scoring drive of the Jr Celtics.
Johnson began the game with a methodical, statement-opening drive that showcased the versatility, skill and power of the team. William Guinea used his quickness to erupt off the edge. Tyson Gagan is the elusive speedster who operates in space.
Jake Tompkins is the inside bruiser, the change of pace back who blasts up the middle. This is a team with options. The opening drive was a superb mixture of speed, force and agility.
Johnson finished the eight-play, 65-yard drive with a four-yard run up the middle for the opening touchdown.
“I was really calm, and I just felt great out there today,” Johnson said. “Today is what we have been able to do the whole year. We like to get the ball first, score, and then let our defense shut them down.”
The Jr Celtics were dialed in.
“It’s always a statement when you go out there, and you punch in the opening drive and give the defense some momentum as they go out there to do their jobs,” Brown said.
“The defense really feeds off of that. I don’t think there has been a game this year where we haven’t gotten the ball to start the game, and just scored. With this group, it is just bound to happen.”
That jacked up and hyperactivity was obvious on the Cowboys’ first two plays from scrimmage, resulting in back to back six-yard losses on tackles by Runia and Gagan.
The Cowboys only managed two first downs through the first half, one of them off a penalty.
With Runia and Camden Dvorak walling off the inside, the athletic linebackers and speed players like Gagan, Guinea, Vincent Bennett and Geno Vosholler roamed free and clear, and made plays at the point of impact.
“On both sides of the ball today, everybody was really fast, and we executed really well,” Guinea said. “We have to credit our offensive line, because without them, we would not have been able to do what we did.
“Our offensive line was really good, and our defensive line just did a great job of getting through and putting pressure on their quarterback.”
Those two big opening defensive plays created a turnover on downs, putting the ball at the Cowboys’ 22-yard line.
The Johnson to Ripoli touchdown pass was a one-play scoring drive.
“We really capitalized on how good the defense was today, and the offense took it from there,” Johnson said. “On the touchdown pass, they were bunched up and trying to stop the run, and I just saw that Rip beat his defenders.
“I just stood up and threw it.”
The one-sided narrative never really changed from there. Tried as they might, the Cowboys never had the time or space to breathe, and develop any offensive rhythm.
Guinea, Dvorak and Thomas Kroll converged to bottle up the Cowboys’ second possession. Ripoli, Guinea and Runia engineered another turnover on downs.
On the biggest play from scrimmage, Guinea broke down the left sideline for a gorgeous 31-yard touchdown scamper.
“All the running backs did really well today, which was great to see,” Gagan said. “The blocking was there when we were on offense. Then on defense, the defensive line was getting through and putting pressure on them.
“The way we started just got everybody all fired up. We were ready for the moment.”
The Jr Celtics closed out the excellent performance with a 10-play, 59-yard scoring drive.
Not even a couple of uncharacteristic penalties could slow the team down. Guinea and Hopkins worked the middle of the line, and Gagan broke off a big 10-yad gain.
Hopkins finished off the scoring with a superb 10-yard run up the middle. Kroll ran in the conversion for the final margin.
The playoffs are the next stage.
“We just have to keep up the energy, and keep our momentum going forward,” Ripoli said.
The Jr Celtics 9U team featured excellent contributions from a number of players in the 31-0 victory. They included Casey Gahan, Dean Copack, Gabriel Glover, Andrew Darnell, Knixon Hazdra, Evan Doman, Brayden Luczynski, Christian Carlson, William Janik, Michael Lehnerer, Brady Lindholm, Cameron Richards, Liam Kruse and Dominik Brown.