By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p941109044 **
ORLAND PARK— The ideal game intersects every possibility with an offense that flourishes and a defense that never gives an inch.
The best programs optimize special teams play as the punctuation mark of success. The Junior Varsity of the Orland Park Pioneers transformed that aspect into a work of art.
“Our special teams did a great job,” Michael Galivan said. “We kept our heads in the game, and we did a great job in every phase of the game today.”
The special teams were a force accelerant that ignited a rout.
The Junior Varsity team brilliantly worked special teams into the fabric of its dominant action for the Pioneers’ 40-6 victory over the Joliet Titans in River Valley Youth Football League play at Sandburg High School on Sunday, August 30.
Galivan accounted for 10 points with a safety and a blocked punt and touchdown return as the Pioneers rolled to the dominant 26-0 halftime lead.
The virtually flawless first half was bookended by forced turnovers, a fumble on the Titans’ opening play from scrimmage and an interception on the last sequence of the half.
Everything in between was pretty magical.
The Erwin brothers, Carter and Jason, personified the joyous and infectious mood by taking on massive roles in the victory.
Carter scored the opening touchdown on a 10-yard run, and Jason had the late first half interception and huge kickoff return at the start of the second half.
Every other year, the birthday calendar aligns for the two brothers to play on the same team.
“A lot of these guys played on the Super Lightweights team that won a Super Bowl, and we’ve had some add ons,” Carter said. “This team is really molded well together.”
Two-way standout Owen Garrity also had a fantastic game, and was another catalyst in the victory. He created the fumble and recovered the loose ball on the first play of the game.
He also ended the first half scoring with a dazzling 13-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Luke Krokos.
Running back Michael O’Connor pounded the Titans’ interior with his tough running between the tackles. Carter Erwin went to work, catching a ball in the flat for seven yards to set up his opening touchdown jaunt.
Anthony Richardson was 4-for-4 on two-point kicks, the equivalent of scoring a touchdown by himself.
“It was great to start off 8-0, because we know that’s a two-score lead because they don’t have a kicker,” Carter Erwin said. “We knew we were going to beat them pretty good.
“We started off kind of slow, and then we pounded them. We went in with the attitude of dominating.”
The Pioneers’ defense smothered the Titans. The unit was always one step ahead, shooting the gaps, applying pressure and rarely allowing any breathing space for their offense.
Lucca Morandi and linebackers Christian Paulson and Richardson were seemingly everywhere, flying to the ball, and making life difficult if not impossible for the Titans’ offense.
Galivan took center stage from there.
Operating off the left edge, he rushed the Titans’ punter and tackled him in the end zone after he struggled with the snap. Galivan followed up with a spectacular sequence of blocking a punt and returning it nine yards for the touchdown.
“On the safety, I was left all alone, and I saw that he kind of fumbled the snap, and I just had to get in there,” he said. “The punter kept rolling out to my side every time, and it just made it that much easier to get the block.
“I was going in untouched. That was the first time I ever scored in a game like that.”
The rout was on, and the nature of the Pioneers’ dominance took many forms and shapes. O’Connor stepped up and recorded an interception that set up the Garrity touchdown.
Krokos made a sharp throw, and Garrity broke a tackle to reach the end zone.
“When I’m out there playing, I never overthink it or take anything too serious,” Garrity said. “I’m just trying to have fun, and play hard. I want to be loose, and do what you have to do to win.
“I think the kicking and the special teams plays really shaped the game, because it allowed us to score fast and then just get on defense and do it all over again.”
Jason Erwin kept the good times rolling with his interception to close out the half, and then his big return. The only downside was a penalty that wiped out his touchdown.
“I just had great energy coming after the interception at the end of the first half,” Jason Erwin said. “I didn’t want to lose it. The competition is a little tougher at this age, but I’m still fast and I can beat a lot of guys.
“I feel like we’re all coming together really well.”
Morandi scored on a short run moments later for the 34-0 lead.
“They had a lot of size up front with some really big linemen, and I knew that I had to just keep pushing really hard and make plays with the ball,” Morandi said.
The massive lead enabled coach Al Krokos to play his entire 44 player roster. Jason Erwin had a chance to run the second-team offense at quarterback, and he used his explosive speed to get to the edge for big runs.
The victory was about as complete and satisfying as possible.
“A lot of us have played together on the lower levels now, and we have great chemistry,” Galivan said. “We have a great bond.”
One the standouts of the Fifth Quarter, Keith Piekarz put the finishing touches on a glorious afternoon. He stepped into the passing lane and returned the interception 39 yards.
He was tackled at the one-yard line. Backup quarterback Connor Kvelland ended the day with a one-yard scoring plunge.
Michael Ordman was the favorite target of Kvelland during Fifth Quarter play with a series of throws. Joey Zotto made a massive hit on defense.
The biggest moment belonged to defensive lineman Zechariah Torgerson. He was given a special team award for his interception during the Fifth Quarter.
“This is really my first time ever really playing the game,” Torgerson said. “I didn’t have much experience playing before this. Since I’m a bigger kid, my dad really wanted me to play tackle.
“I saw the ball in the air coming to me, and I almost got scared because sometimes I drop the ball. Not today. I was able to make the catch.”
The Junior Varsity of the Orland Park Pioneers had many standout contributors in the 40-6 victory. They included Colton Gutkowski, Gunner McCarthy, Thomas Sutter, Cooper Elslager, Will Poore, Emmett Kane, Jackson Biskup, Ameen Musa, Ryan Lukas, Jase Enstrom, Patrick O’Boye, Talon Tyrakowski, Noah Cordoba, Christopher Medina, Andrew Richardson, Caden Kolodziej, Anthony LaPapa, Scott Gumienny, Laith Hammami, Cody Godlewski, Dominic Gabriele, Nick Pomonis, Dominic Lach, George Petraitis, Collin Valan, Bradley Patterson, Vincent Shervino, Jimmy Elsberg, Jude Morrar, Rayder Slabenak and Adam Krokos.
The cheerleaders were also an essential part of the victory with their beautiful routines and passionate encouragement. Their members are Sydney Scharpf, Lila Gavin, Brielle Lenzen, Marissa Gumuls, Mabel Lukasiewicz, Annie Milosovic, Adaline Johnson, Ainsley Moore, Ava Janota, Emily Okrasinski, Maeve Smith, Alexandra Burda, Kaitlyn Minick, Skylar Shlepakov, Brooklyn Loman, Morgan Collins, Molly McGeever, Ayya Ramadani, Madison Davis, Sophia Molina, Margot Joda, Olivia Hufford, Sana Kishta, Aaliyah Medina, Delaney Piencak, Kyla Kwiatek, Olivia Ally, Allison Guest, Ella Mrowca, Khaliaha Brown, Liliana Holmes and Liliana Darlak.
