By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Gary Larsen
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p85943912 **
CHICAGO—The scene was almost unsettling for a Jr Celtics 13U thrust into the most unfamiliar of possibilities.
A team that has performed on the most privileged national stages, and taken on all comers, revealing a dazzling collection of individual performance, was on dangerous ground.
The Portage (Ind.) Indians stood formidable, going toe to toe with the vaunted Jr Celtics for the entirety of the first half. The team achieved what few have done, not wilted under the athletic pressure or big play capability of the Jr Celtics attack.
“It felt great to have a game like this,” Kameron McGee said. “All year, we haven’t really been in a dogfight.
“We’ve been blowing teams out.”
The Jr Celtics had to work, and show they could execute and deliver under trying circumstances that pushed them to the brink.
Quarterback Dominic Vita threw four touchdown passes as the top-end talent finally broke through with the 30-6 victory of Pop Warner League at Marist High School on Sunday, October 15.
The final margin somewhat misleads about the closeness of the game. The Indians were within just 8-6 in the final minute of the second quarter.
“This was the best competition we’ve seen all year,” Dominic Vita said. “We stepped up on the passing game, and we passed a lot during the game.”
The 12-yard fade route into the right end zone corner from Vita to McGree provided the necessary breathing space with 1:03 to play in the first half.
McGee also atoned for a rare mistake when a ball that he appeared to bobble was ruled a fumble on the Jr Celtics’ second possession of the game.
The recovery at midfield set up the Indians’ scoring drive.
“I dropped it, and then they called it a fumble, and I said I had to get it back,” McGee said. “This game showed today that when we are in a dogfight, we have the toughness and fight to get out of it.
“It also showed we have great conditioning.”
The big and physical Indians also did something few teams have been able to accomplish against the Jr Celtis. They largely neutralized the running game of Donte Brooks and Shea Wells.
The Jr Celtics have been able to spread the field with the vertical passing attack of Vita, Thornton and McGee, creating invaluable open spaces for the running backs to operate.
Portage set out to close down the running back, forcing the Jr Celtics to throw the ball almost exclusively.
It proved a necessary tradeoff.
“We showed today we can win today even if our running game is not on point,” Dominic Vita said. “We always have to pass, and we can air it out when we want.”
Vita connected with four different receivers on the opening drive that culminated with a four-yard strike to Thornton.
Kicker Colin Slaney converted three out of four two-point kicks for the Jr Celtics.
Portage featured an elite back, and its strategy was clear. Pound the rock, and try to keep the dangerous Jr Celtics’ offense off the field with a clock-grinding, methodical attack.
McGee, Thornton, Wells, Slaney, Anthony Carter, DeAngelo Coates, Adam Studenroth, Ryan Studenroth and Jonathan Osborne keyed the defensive response.
Christopher Santori, the team’s biggest interior lineman, was also thrown into specialization situations, in an attempt to nullify the Indians’ power rushing game.
“This game was a tribute to our defense, because this was a more talented and physical team that we’d played before today,” Carter said.
“We played good defense against them, and they had a lot of weapons on their team. We were just doing our job to stop them, and get the offense back out on the field, score and repeat.”
Up 8-6 late in the second quarter, Vita went to work. He scrambled for 10 yards for a crucial first down. He connected on 6 of 8 attempts on the 10-play, 68-yard drive.
McGee made a spectacular leaping catch and showed unusual grace to get a foot down in the deep right corner end zone for the late second quarter score.
The scoring drive put the Jr Celtics up 16-6 at the break.
Ryan Studenroth, Beaver and Coates stepped up huge at the start of the second half, creating pressure and containing the Indians’ running back.
The three consecutive incomplete passes yielded a turnover on downs.
The Jr Celtics finally broke free midway through the third quarter.
The acrobatic Thornton, who has velvety soft hands and a lightning first step, took advantage of a blown coverage in getting behind the secondary for a 58-yard touchdown pass.
“The defensive back ran straight up, and I was wide open,” Thornton said. “We have to work hard, keep playing, not point fingers, and do what we have to do in order to execute.
“I’m honored to help my team out when they need me, getting open and finding open spaces out there.”
Despite Slaney’s blocked kick, the Jr Celtics led 22-6.
The math eventually turned in the favor of the Jr Celtics. The Indians had to abandon their game plan, and throw the ball to try and get back into the game.
The superior depth and athleticism of the Jr Celtics took its toll on Portage.
Still, the Indians did what the Jr Celtics needed, with the start of the playoffs looming. The Jr Celtics had to work and find a way to push through some adverse moments.
“This team was very big, and I knew I had to step up my game physically,” Ryan Studenworth said. “I need to play my best for this game.
“I stepped it up, and I could see they were getting very tired in the second half and that it was my time to push it and be dominant.”
After the defense forced another turnover on downs, the Jr Celtics put the game away with a signature possession. Wells finally broke free for the largest run from scrimmage, a 29-yard gallop.
That set up the final connection from Vita to Thornton, a seven-yard dart, with just over six minutes remaining.
A Coates’ interception stymied the final Indians’ drive.
“I knew our defense was going to come out and make stops there,” Thornton said. “We did that, and that helped us get back on the field and score again.”
Every game is naturally a test, a referendum on what a team is capable of. The Portage side showed new facets to the Jr Celtics team.
It was likely a preview of the next stage.
“Starting with our next game, it’s now win or go home,” McGee said. “We have to go 120 percent now in every practice.”
The game is a state of mind. The Jr Celtics are ready.
“This was a great preparation,” Vita said. “We know when we play a really good team, we are ready to play, and know what we have to do.”
The Jr Celtics 13U team featured excellent contributions from a number of players in the 30-6 victory. The other featured players were Jayden Richter, Nicolas Flores, Kareem Crosby, Kellan Breen and Paul DeRosa.