JV Pioneers Thrash Bulldogs, 23-0 in WNFL Shutout Win

By Miles Toogo- Photos by Lauren Gray

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ORLAND PARK— The Wednesday Night Football League kicked off it season this past Wednesday with a bevy of games taking place at various location. The WNFL began in 2016 when Football Presidents from the Orland Park Pioneers, the New Lenox Jr Warriors and the Homer Stallions got together to form the league.

Its creation was meant as an instructional opportunity for new players to the sports and those with abilities not at the level of starters, a chance to play and gain experience and most importantly, learn the game and have fun playing it.

Its structure changed from scrimmages in weed fields with car lights from parents attending, to organized games with scores and referees and Championship playoffs. The atmosphere was the same as the regular scheduled games and in some cases, more cometitive.

Its’ inception in 2016 is widely recognized as a stellar idea that has developed players that might not have stayed in the game due to limited play. The league has become quite competitive. Players who start in the Sunday games are not allowed to paricipate in the WNFL but the games themselves are still filled with talented play and excitement.

The Orland Park Pioneers have had plenty of success participating, winning several championships or as runner-up. They hit the field hosting four games on August 26 with two games at Sandburg High School and a pair at Schussler Park.

The JV Pioneers closed out the action at Schussler Park in dominant fashion, silencing the visiting Tinley Park Bulldogs in the 19-0 shutout victory.

Speedy’ Jason Erwin set the tone from the get go. The crafty quarterback took a sweep right and didn’t stop until he reached the endzone. The 60-yard jaunt saw him streak by every Tinley Park defender. Kicker-specialist’ Talon Tyrakowski converted the kick to put the Pioneers up 8-0 early in the first half.

This season the WNFL went to two 25-minute halves in a game.

It took Erwin, Ameen Musa and Nick Pomonis just three plays to get the ball back to the Pioneers offense after each made a stop, forcing a Tinley Park punt.

After Adam Krokos grabbed 5-yards on a nifty run, the Pioneers drive stalled in their second possession after a fumble, which saw them punt.

Pomonis and Musa were back at for the Pioneers, providing hard tackles on the next Bulldogs series. Try all they could, the Bulldogs seemed over-matched by the Pioneers defense, certainly at the line of scrimmage. Add another Pomonis stop for a loss, the Bulldogs had little choice but to punt again from their own 30-yard-line. Three possessions, three punts- all the Bulldogs could muster in the game to this point..

It took Erwin one following snap to increase the lead for the Pioneers. Once again, Erwin dipped right and took off on another 60-yard trip, blazing pass every persuing Bulldog defenders. Erwin’s second touchdown was impressive in how easy he made it look, outrunning everyone to the edge, flying past all the visitors. Tyrakowski again split the uprights advancing the lead to 16-0.

Tyrakowski is an ex-soccer player and can be quite a weapon because of his ability to convert kicks.

“I played soccer for five years so I know how to kick the ball,” said Tyrakowski. “Its not different kicking a football. I work at kicking over and over. I’m working on kicking the ball farther. If I am having a good day I move back farther, my run up is longer. I feel I am contributing to the team when I make those extra points. I am happy with how I did and I’m having fun doing it.”

The Pioneers continued their defensive attack on the hapless Bulldogs. Making his presence even more prominant was lineman Musa. Ameen was pummeling whomever lined up across from him,. He became a wrecking-ball in the visitors backfield, demolishing runners on the next Tinley park series.

“It was easy getting through the line, They weren’t aggressive and they were slow,” said Ameen. “I was getting through pretty much the whole game. I was just using my force and power, that made it easy. I like playng that way. Nothing was difficult, it was pretty much easy throughout the game for me. I think hitting the sleds will help me get better too because I feel really strong on the field, they couldnt run through me. I play both ways but I like defense more; I love tackling.”

Adding to the defensive domination was Pioneers’ Bradley Patterson who found a gap for a 3-yard tackle for loss, again forcing the Bulldogs fourth punt of the first half.

From there, the Pioneers didnt take long to add to their tally as a couple minutes remained in the half.

Patterson’s legs next produced 7-yards then Erwin connected with Adam Krokos for 21 more yards followed quickly with same connection teaming up on the 34-yard touchdown pass. This time the Pioneer managed to sprint in the extra-point when Caden Kolodziej was called to advance the lead to 23-0 at the half.

Opening the second half, the Bulldogs continued what it had done in the first half, Punt!- thanks to the tackling of Joey Zotto and Connor Kvelland.

Kvelland replaced Erwin under center and guided his team on a 7-play drive. Completing a couple passes to Cooper Elslager and Michael Ordman. The drive also saw positive yards running the ball by Patterson and Ordman. Unfortunately the drive stalled, turning over the ball on downs after an incomplete pass.

“I think my tackling today was really good on defense and on offense, when I was quarterback, I thought I had many great passes,” said a confident Kvelland. “I really like playing quarterback. I also play receiver but I like playing under center more. I think I can get the snaps off better. As a team, we need to get better at making sure of our routes and what zones we cover on defense but I thought we did great today.”

The very next play saw the Bulldogs attempt going to the pass, it flopped as Thomas Sutter stepped in front of the pass for the interception. Again, simply too much defensive agility from the Pioneers, stifiling the Bulldogs offense.

“I was playing outside linebacker for my first time, I played the line before,” said Sutter. “I saw the guy going out for a route so I decided to guard him and he threw it straight to me, an easy catch. I really like playing this new position. It’s really fun and I think I can get a lot of tackles out of it because I see the ball a lot better playing there. I prefer standing up rather then down as a D-end. I think I’m gonna do pretty good this year,”

The Pioneers went to third quaterback of the game switching to Ryan Lukas who went on to guide the Pioneers, using up most of the remaining time. A pair of runs highlighted the final series for the Pioneers. Kolodziej ran for 12-yards and Emmett Kane dashed for nine prior to turning over the ball on downs.

One last play by the defense put the topper on the game. Talon Tyrakowski picked off another Bulldog pass, ending the game on that play and giving the Pioneers a 23-0 victory.

On season-opening week, the JV Pioneers played two games and finished with two wins!

Others adding and supporting the two victories include Colton Gutkowski, Luca Morandi, Gunner McCarthy, Keith Piekarz, Cooper Elslager,Will Poore, Luke Krokos, Jackson Biskup, Jase Enstrom, Patrick O’Boye, Carter Erwin, Noah Cordoba, Christopher Medina, Andrew Richardson, Anthony LaPapa, Christian Paulson, Michael O’Connor, Owen Garrity, Scott Gumienny, Laith Hammami, Cody Godlewski, Dominic Gabriele, Dominic Lach, George Petraitis, Collin Valan, Vincent Shervino, Jimmy Elsberg, Connor Michael Ordman, Michael Galivan, Zechariah Torgerson, Jude Morrar and Rayder Slabenak.