By Pat Z McGavin- Photos by Lauren Gray
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FLOSSMOOR— The Orland Park Pioneers Junior Varsity knew what they were facing when they turned up here for a crucial Wednesday Night Football League game.
The Pioneers survived by the skin of their teeth against Homewood-Flossmoor United by forcing a missed kick in the 8-6 home victory on September 7.
“The Wednesday games are different, and we get a chance to show what we can do,” quarterback Carter Erwin said. “With this Wednesday night team, we have a chance to get into the playoffs.
“We know we’re a good team and stuff.”
An early turnover and one bad defensive moment proved too difficult to overcome with Junior Varsity’s 12-6 loss at Homewood-Flossmoor High School on September 24.
The turnover gave H-F United a short field to score the early touchdown that held up until the final play of the third quarter. H-F appeared to break the game open on a 66-yard touchdown run to close out that quarter.
“We had one missed tackle, and that’s how close the game ended up being,” Erwin said.
The athletic and physical H-F United defense made life hard for the Pioneers, who had intermittent success moving the ball. That made their final drive all the more exhilarating and improbable.
The Pioneers put up a spirited fight and showed toughness and resilience in putting together an inventive and spirited final drive.
The Pioneers ran out of time more than anything else.
“I didn’t think we’d be able to score,” Erwin said.
George Petraitis was the spark. With just over three minutes to go into the game, he injected a burst of excitement and off-kilter rhythms the attack with some heady and unorthodox plays.
Amazingly the most dramatic was one he’d never even practiced before.
Erwin dropped back and found receiver Vinny Ficaro in the right flat. Petraitis trailed the action and took the pitch for the classic “hook and ladder.”
He ran 33 yards down the right sideline.
“I really hadn’t been in the whole game, and I saw us losing,” Petraitis said. “Coach called me in, and he said we’re going to do the hook and ladder.
“I didn’t really understand the play because we hadn’t really practiced it. When Vinny was falling down, it was perfect and he threw it back to me and I was able to get down to about the 20-yard line.”
With his confidence and energy sky high, Petraitis completed the dazzling sequence with a wheel route that completely faked out the H-F cornerback.
He raced under a perfect pass down the left sideline from Erwin for the 28-yard touchdown.
“I’ve also never really practiced that wheel route,” he said. “Carter threw a perfect ball right into my hands. I’ve had one other touchdown in the Wednesday league, but nothing as exciting as this.
“We had to rush to try and get the conversion.”
Ficaro was stopped on the point after attempt. The Pioneers never got the ball back.
The loss overshadowed an otherwise excellent performance by the defense. Other than the one lapsed moment that allowed the long touchdown run, the players were sharp and flowing to the ball.
Michael Galivan, Jude Morrar, Rayder Slabenak, Owen Garrity, Michael Ordman, Noah Cordoba, Luke Tonra, Christian Paulson and Bradley Patterson were the standout performers.
“I thought we played really well,” Galivan said. “We had good pressure, and we were always in the backfield on almost every play. We missed a few tackles from time to time, but that happens.
“I felt like every time they tried they’d get past everybody, I was there to save a few plays. Every time they ran it outside my way I’d make a powerful tackle. I think we had a good game overall.”
Patterson was another bright spot playing off the left edge.
“I think I did well on defense, not biting for those fakes and forcing the runner back in so the linebackers or linemen could make the tackle,” he said.
Patterson was also the most consistent offensive playmaker through the first three quarters. He showed exceptional courage and skill in running between the tackles.
He had several runs of eight, nine and 13 yards.
“It was a tough game,” he said. “On offense I had a couple of good runs. The line was blocking great, and we were able to move the ball. I think I did pretty good. I wish I’d gotten a little more yards.
“We have a good line and a good blocker in front of me, and I can get through and get a couple more yards. I won’t get hit really hard. We fought back really hard. The line did a great job of blocking, and letting Carter get that pass off to Vinny to toss it back to George.”
Nick Mase also had a couple of strong runs. One second quarter drive was interrupted when Erwin had to come out for a few plays after taking a hard hit.
The group has an excellent bond and chemistry. The Pioneers had two turnovers. They were aggressive plays the team was using in order to get back into the game.
“Our defense was really good and the offense played hard,” Morrar said. “We missed some tackles out there, but that’s normal. They had some good runners.
“Everybody plays hard. I always try my best and play my hardest. That’s all we can ask for.”
Even amid the hardships and setbacks, the Junior Varsity had moxie and grit.
“We have a good group, and I think we have a good chance of making it to the championship if we all play as hard as we can,” Galivan said.
Despite the 12-6 loss, the Orland Park Pioneers had many strong contributors and encouragement from the first team players who provided support. They were Maximus Streets-Pruitt, Hudson Doftert, Zackary Salah, Anderson Matthews, Nicholas Peisker, Luke Krokos, Cole Baldridge, Panos Kyros, John Sutter, Dylan Enriquez, Jase Enstrom, Carter Peluso, Tyjuan Hagler, Lucca Morandi, Karam Olyyan, Andrew Richardson, Gavin Connors, Caden Kolodziej, Moody Abudan, Scott Gumienny, Noah Maslowiec, Cody Godlewski, Nicholas Dertz, Nick Pomonis, Samuel Horeluk, James Okrasinski, Ameen Musa, Dominic Lach, Collin Valan, Dylan Ahmer, Avery Vermilyea and Rayder Slabenak.
