By Pat McGavin-Photos by Renee Kaspar
The mark of any great football team is how they respond under adverse moments that change on a dime.
The Frankfort Falcons Junior Varsity Black team was sailing along against its intrasquad rival during a beautiful and splendid Homecoming afternoon.
It was a one-score game, but everything pointed up in a favorable direction for the Black team.
The team used the standout all-around play of quarterback Nathaniel Walenga to seize an advantage that appeared comfortable.
Then suddenly, everything was different.
The Blue answered with a brilliant touchdown run by Colin Usher. The ensuing kickoff pinned the Black team deep in its own territory.
Time was running out.
Walenga and running back Henry Bohms came to the rescue. Bohms carried five times for 43 yards on the game-winning drive.
“My mentality was just focused on getting yards and taking care of the ball,” Bohms said.
Bohms scored on a 5-yard plunge for the Falcons’ Black 13-6 victory over the Blue in a River Valley Youth League football game at Valeck Field on Sunday, September 12.
Receiver Jimmy Hellrung added the conversion for the final margin.
Bohms’ touchdown completed a nine-play, 93-yard drive with 5:19 remaining. Defensive back Dean Burns secured the win with an interception.
The game unfolded against the spectacular colors and vibrant pageantry of the Homecoming celebration featuring specially customized tents, raffles and outdoor activities.
The Falcons are in also in an admirable position with their Junior Varsity program.
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The participation level is so high, the Black and Blue teams are divided in order for all players to have opportunities of development during games.
The admiration for the other side did not take away from the competitive fury of the game.
“You try to help them up and stuff, because you’re friends,” Walenga said. “But it’s also a real game, so you can’t mess around.”
Walenga was certainly all business during a remarkable first half performance. He did everything imaginable.
After the defense forced the Blue team into a three and out, Walenga went to his customary deep receiving spot for the punt return. He ran back to catch the booming kick and reversed field and disentangled himself from two tacklers for the jaw dropping 41-return.
“I went to the left because it was a bigger area, and I could get more yards,” he said. “I was able to get some spin moves, and I got those extra yards.”
His return set up the Black team brilliantly, placing the ball at the Blue 21-yard line.
One play later, Walenga rolled out to his left and found a wide open Hellrung by himself for the 21-yard touchdown reception.
“At first, I thought there’d be somebody either on or just behind me or right on the other side,” Hellrung said. “Scoring early like that on your first drive, everybody got all excited and we just jumped up high.”
The Blue tried to establish the running game of Chase Travis and the throwing of quarterback John Fife. The Black defense was quick in pursuit and shut down the running lanes.
Despite a muffed punt return that gave the ball to the Blblue, at near midfield, the Falcons’ Black unit dug their heels in and deprived the Blue team of any momentum swing.
Evan LeFevour was a particular standout, shutting down the run and also recovering a fumble at the start of the second quarter.
Of the first 11 plays the Blue side ran from scrimmage, only one play gained more than two yards, Fife’s 10-yard pass to Tanner Blakely. Anthony Harris was very active for the Black defense.
The Blue team revived at the start of the second half.
After not being involved in the offense during the first half, running back Colin Usher exploded midway through the third quarter. After the Blue took over at their own 49-yard line, Usher carried the ball three times. His start was not auspicious. He was stopped for no gain.
His second carry went for eight yards. That was the set up. On third down, Usher broke around the left edge for the 43-yard touchdown.
“I didn’t do that much in the first half,” he said. “I like to get to the outside and just outrun everybody on the field.”
After watching the Black team dominate the first half, the Blue team had their own profound inspiration to even things out.
“In the second half, I really put out all of my energy,” Usher said. “The way they started the game by scoring just gave us motivation to get us back into the game.”
Fife noticed a different attitude from his team during the second half.
“We stepped it up,” he said. “We blocked harder, we probably tried harder and we wanted to play harder during that second half than we did in the first.”
The momentum shift appeared wholly under the control of the Blue team after the kick off jutted between two receivers and stopped at the 7-yard line.
Walenga provided some breathing space with a seven-yard run. Bohms took over from there, darting through the line for runs of 12, 14 and 11 yards. Walenga broke up his dominant pattern with his own 21-yard burst. The quarterback is hard to bring down.
“When I get hit, I just keep stomping my feet and go hard,” he said. “That has always been my style.”
The interception sealed the victory. Michael Simonetti also had a crucial tackle for loss that ended the last threat by the Blue team.
Most importantly, the Black team responded to the pressure. In an unpredictable and wild game, marked by the closeness of the players from both teams, the Black squad emerged with flying colors.
“They put us deep in our end, but a couple of guys had some very good runs,” Walenga said. “It was a great team win.”
The game was preceded by the Fifth Quarter, a 25-minute controlled scrimmage that provided an important for younger and emerging players a chance to show off their abilities.
The Falcons Black team had many standouts and supportive players in the Homecoming victory. The team also received standout play from Zach Slaughter, Evan LeFevour, Tyler Roderique, JP Slevin, Sean Borden, Travis Kolesar, Gabriel Guajardo, Ransom Goodwin, Joe Biondo, Nick Biondo, Connor French, Everett Sievers, Jonas Haberkorn, Justus Haberkorn, Michael Zager, JB Rottman, Aiden Lattz, Stephen Terrell, Jake Marks and Robert Stanek.
Despite the Homecoming loss, the Falcons Blue team had many players worth celebrating for their superb play. The Blue team received strong contributions from Lucas Ankarlo, Jack Murphy, Alexander Tverdek, Colton Muzenjak, Benjamin Cluckey, Jacob Onik, Tucker Fatland, Evan McNeil, Grady Bickett, Caden Rose, Kevin Swan, Mic Franta, Nicholas Doornkaat, Landen Slattery, Michael Sambo, Dominic Turco, Ryan Hantson, Mason Waddick, Jake Luedtke, Jacob Abbot, Tanner Blakey, Dermot McAuley, Joseph Harrington, Brewer Metschke and Adam Porter.
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