By Miles Toogo- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p802151105 **
ORLAND PARK— Football is a game where the most skilled players week in and week out are the key to a teams performance.
Routinely, each week they showcase their skills and provide most of the highlights of that weeks competition. You read or hear about their efforts on the gridiron.
Teams have a star quarterback or a runningback or maybe even a linebacker that gets much of the attention.
The Junior Varsity Pioneers have all that, speed and power in the backfield, an elusive leading quarterback and a plethora of defensive players that can stand out each and every game.
They also have much more and MJ Ordman along with Nick Mase and Owen Garrity proved that on October 1 in the Pioneers 15-0 Shutout of the visiting Frankfort Falcons in Orland Park.
The Trio Pioneers were a big part of the Pioneers Victory. A second quarter reception by Ordman went 17-yards for the Pioneers first touchdown and a defensive timing by Garrity catapulted him to a “Pick Six” to open the second half from 23-yards out.
“I was just focusing today,” said Ordman. “It was kinda easy to get open, they were holding me some but I got off of them, got wide and scored a touchdown. They weren’t really guarding me, they left me unchecked and I like that, it’s fun, you can do whatever you want. On the play I ran a corner route and Carter (Erwin) saw me and got me the ball.”
His defensives play secured the win for the Pioneers. Ordman added; “I just read the guy good, I jumped the route and got the pick. It was easy to catch and run.”
Another of the quality depth the Pioneers have was an unheralded Nick Mase. The runningback isn’t huge or overly gifted with speed but what he brings to the Pioneers is determination and grit. He gives all he has every opportunity he’s called on but not only on his runs but also providing a block or assistance to his teammates as needed.
His ground effort each time he ran the ball was easily noticeable. He never broke off a long one but was grabbing as many yards as possible, refusing to be an easy stop all game.
“It was a big matchup to get into the playoffs and get into that seed we want and make sure we play and give a run to the Super Bowl,” said Mase. “I’m looking really forward to that, I want more competition and see what we can do to bring us a win.”
When asked about the struggle for the offense to find the endzone, Mase had this to say.
“Sometimes our blocks are there and other times not or I make a mistake that prevemts that but thats ok, we come out the next play and avenge ourselves. I thought I played a clear “A” today, I gave my all, I’m happy with the results today and the way the team and I played.”
The first quarter saw the Pioneers oepn with an 11-play drive. Using the legs of Mase, Bradley Patterson and George Petraitis to work steadly down field. but the drive stalled at midfield.
A quick three and out saw the Pioneers back offensively but great field position was squandered just two plays later when the Pioneers fumbled to end the first quarter.
Again the Pioneers were stellar on defense as Erwin and Michael Galivan forced another Falcon punt.
The Pioneers continued to go to their ground game but also added some aerial plays that connected.
Erwin found Ordman for 20-yards as the big play of the drive but also benefitted from a facemask penalty by the Falcons. Two plays later, Erwin again connectd with Ordman on a 17=yard touchdown pass . Patterson added the point after and saw the Pioneers jump ahead 7-0 as the first half neared conclusion.
The Pioneers came out in the second half and extended their lead just three plays in. Ordman spied the quarterback, jumped the route and scored on the 23-yard “Pick Six”. This time the Pioneers went to Patterson to convert a kick. He did just that and increased the Pioneers lead to 15-0 after the two-point successful kick.
The Pioneers and Falcons played take away on their next series each.
Mase came down with an interception on a Falcon pass attempt but that was immediately returned afer the Pioneers fumbled again and lost possesion.
The Pioneers defense would again force another turnover just three plays later. Luke Tonra recovered a Falcon fumble but the Pioneers were unable to do much afterwards and punted to end the third quarter.
Ordman was again displaying his defensie prowess and secured his second interception of the game just three plays into the Falcons following series.
The Pioneers would come up with another interception on the Falcons last try. Christian Paulson grabbed the Pioneers fourth and final interception to end the game and give the Pioneers the 15-0 shutout win.
Several Pioneers added stops to the Pioneers ledger in this game to secure the shutout. Tonra, Galivan, Erwin, Noah Cordoba who also had a sack, Gavin Connors, Owen Garrity, Mase, Jude Morrar and Paulson all had stops or came away with a turnover.
Other Pioneers that gave their all or were there in support included Maximus Streets-Pruitt, Hudson Doftert, Zackary Salah, Anderson Matthews, Nicholas Peisker, Vinny Ficaro, Luke Krokos, Cole Baldridge, Panos Kyros, John Sutter, Dylan Enriquez, Jase Enstrom, Carter Peluso, Tyjuan Hagler, Lucca Morandi, Karam Olyyan, Andrew Richardson, 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, Michael Galivan, Jude Morrar and Rayder Slabenak.
