By Kevin McGavin- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p413461696 **
MOKENA— Charlie Buche III offered a simple explanation for the latest dominant performance by the Illinois Junior Celtics’ 6U squad.
“We were blocking and putting people on their butts,” the Junior Celtics’ offensive tackle said.
Behind the brilliant running of feature back Legend Williams and their impregnable defense, the Junior Celtics manhandled Elmhurst 35-0 Saturday afternoon at Main Park.
It was the third consecutive shutout for the Junior Celtics, who extended their Pop Warner season-opening winning streak to five games with their latest whitewash.
“What really changed with our defense was (the play) of our ends, Rory (Adent) and Jamari (Mcdonald III) hitting their spots,” said Junior Celtics coach Steve Adent. “That’s what’s been giving us our shutouts. It makes it much easier for our linebackers to clean up.”
Williams had a mere four offensive touches on the unseasonably humid afternoon. But it proved to be four too many for the overmatched Elmhurst defense as Williams, who had 128 of the Celtics’ 201 rushing yards and a trio of scores, was unstoppable.
Taking a direct snap out of the Wildcat on the Junior Celtics’ opening play–following the defense not allowing Elmhurst to cross the original line of scrimmage in four attempts–Williams raced along the left side for a 35-yard touchdown jaunt.
“No. 15 (Kaleb Neylon) blocked for me and I got the touchdown,” Williams explained.
It did not take Williams’ backfield mate, Neylon, long to join in on the fun.
On yet another one-play scoring drive, from the same distance as Williams’ first of three touchdown runs, Neylon raced along the right side with his shotgun handoff, only to cut back against the grain on his 35-yard score.
“(The Elmhurst defenders) were all on the outside,” Neylon said. “That’s why I cut it inside and cut it straight. That’s how I got in (the end zone).”
The Junior Celtics’ second consecutive possession in enemy territory was the product of a defining first-half collaboration between Liam Mann and Mack Simon. The former recovered a fumble after a jarring hit by the former.
“Everybody was doing their assignments,” Mann said of the Junior Celtics’ latest defensive skunk. “We do hard (drills) in practice.”
“I ran straight for (the Elmhurst ball-carrier) and tackled him,” Simon said. “We have shutouts in three (straight) games.”
Of their six total offensive possessions, the only time the Junior Celtics’ 6U outfit (5-0) failed to deliver was the first half.
It was not for a lack of effort, however, as the Junior Celtics merely ran out of time Clifford Kouba was denied just shy of the goal line as time expired in the second quarter.
But the Junior Celtics entered the intermission in complete command as Williams raced 61 yards from his tailback position on the previous drive–a mere two plays, covering 65 yards following an Elmhurst punt–to up the Junior Celtics’ cushion to 21-0 with four minutes and six seconds to play before the break.
“Legend is a beast out there,” coach Adent said. “He’s a good, hard runner.”
The Kouba effort came one play after Williams had his only offensive carry of the contest not reach the ultimate destination.
Williams rumbled 27 yards to give the Junior Celtics’ first-and-goal at the Elmhurst three-yard-line.
The game dynamics for the youngest members of the Pop Warner league place a premium on every play. With a continuously running clock in the eight-minute quarters, the Junior Celtics had their longest possession of the afternoon to open the third-quarter festivities.
Erasing six-plus minutes off the clock, Neylon capped the Junior Celtics’ opening second-half possession with another double-digit touchdown run.
Prior to the Neylon 24-yard burst, the Junior Celtics received productive carries from Adent, Vincenzo Brunette, Anthony Stazzone III and Kouba.
It was merely the continuation of a season-long development, according to coach Adent.
“I don’t think (the Junior Celtics’ skill players) have taken their foot off the gas pedal,” coach Adent said. “They have been running hard and fast since Game 1.”
“We worked as hard as we can (in practice)–and we’re winning,” said Neylon, who also plays on the interior defensive side of the ball.
On the Junior Celtics’ final possession, Williams had the last of his scores, once again racing essentially untouched from 25 yards out.
“I just knew that every time I got the ball that I just tried to sprint as hard as I can,” Williams said.
Neylon, Mann and Simon combined for four tackles for losses on the final two Elmhurst offensive possessions to cement the Junior Celtics’ latest shutout.
“I got in the backfield and made plays,” Neylon said.
League rules mandate that all players must have a minimum of 12 plays in a game. Coach Adent had few issues ensuring Patrick Brennan, Cody Crites, Lucas Denton, Jack Hamstra, Oliver Liang, Mason Loboz, Benjamin Ramirez and Liam Regan met their requisite number of snaps.
The Junior Celtics’ 6U one-sided victory was the lone matchup of the day in which the home team had cheerleaders present.
The Sideline Jr. Celtic Cheerleaders entertained the faithful as Aniyah Brown, Aria Christou, Bethany Willis, Billie Wiemeyer, Emily King, Haper Sanders, Josie Paul, Kaylee Tucker, Keegan Mathis, Kiara Lawrence, Lanie Ripoli, Leilani Preciado, Lena Silvestri, Lola Petrocelli, Maisie Geiger, Margaret Skuzunski, Mia Bennet, Milliana Mundy, Morgan Brooks, Olivia Esposito, Paris Johnson, Remy Hansen, Rose Larsen and Savannah Poncsak ably supported their male counterparts on the field.
