By Patrick Z. McGavin-Photos by Kathy Jones
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p442623070 **
Style points are an added bonus, even when the game is more often about sense and sensibility.
The Orland Park Pioneers Junior Varsity is fighting to reclaim something valuable and meaningful. The last thing they are going to do is lose sight of the larger objective.
“We wouldn’t be successful at what we did without linemen blocking,” quarterback Ashton Brennan said. “Our execution has gotten better each week, mostly because of them. They did a great job, and we just followed. The big part is how together we are. We have gotten much better at our chemistry.”
That solidarity expressed itself in multiple ways and different formats, in the closeness of the team, and the way the players had each other’s backs.
Nothing was left to chance. Brennan directed a selfless and self-sufficient attack that did just enough.
Brennan threw one touchdown pass and directed two other early scores as the Junior Varsity 18-6 Homecoming victory over the Steger Storm in a River Youth Football League game at Sandburg on Sunday, September 17.
“We used our speed to get to the outside, and the linemen were blocking really well,” said running back Ben Snider. His early special teams returns helped the Pioneers score on each of their first three possessions. About the only downside was missing three point-after kicks.
The offense stalled a bit, especially during the second half with a lot of backups playing. The signs of a developing and improving attack are clear—from all sides.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Snider said.
The skill players are coming into their own, each sharper, more adaptable to the size, athleticism and quality of play.
Brennan has developed a moxie and presence as a pocket passer. He also shows the ability to move, buying time, and making plays with his feet.
“I’m definitely getting more comfortable,” he said.
The 26-yard kickoff return by Snider at the start was exactly the jolt the offense needed. The Junior Varsity began its opening possession at the 43-yard line of the Storm.
Winning the special teams and field position battle proved decisive. Snider’s elusiveness and breakaway speed on the returns helped create the early momentum.
“On the kickoff return, I was just looking for a gap that I could get through,” Snider said. I tried to get outside, which I was able to do. It was a big weapon today.”
The Snider return put the ball at the 43-yard line of the Storm. It set the stage for his running mate, Enzo Angone.
After a holding call threatened the stability of the drive, Angone went to work, improvising on a designed run that became a thrilling and exhilarating kick start to the offense.
Intended to flank out to the right edge, Angone took the pitch and quickly traversed his field, shielding behind a wave of blockers in moving to the left sideline for the breathless 49-yard scamper.
“Originally the play was supposed to go to the right, but everybody just kind of flowed there,” Angone said. “There was an opening to the left and I went there.
“They had a really fast player who caught me, and I was a little surprised by that.”
One play later, Snider broke through for the three-yard touchdown run, providing the early 6-0 lead.
In the ultimate game of confidence and momentum, the Junior Varsity achieved the upper hand. That was not something to be taken lightly.
“It’s great to get the lead like that, and not have to chase the other team,” Angone said.
Every game has multiple sides and perspectives. If the special teams and offense proved opportunistic, the defense was the stabilizing force.
That one touchdown lead felt like five or six scores separating the two teams.
The Storm’s first possession began with two penalties, and negative yardage of -5 and -7 respectively.
Mason Overmyer, Terrin Lovitt, William Reilly and Drake Ulaszek announced immediately what a disruptive and annihilating crew they were capable of.
Lovitt and Reilly collaborated on the first down stop, Overmyer and Reilly on the second play that went backwards.
The play of the defense was especially impressive given the absence of Caden Votteler, one of the team’s best players who is recovering from an injury.
“We were able to really blast off the defensive line and rush their backfield,” Reilly said. “We had a lot of energy, and we were always ahead of the count, or knew what they were trying to do.”
The three and out, followed by another elegant and sharp return by Snider, this time on the punt, put the Junior Varsity back in business, with a first down at the 27-yard line of the Storm.
Angone blasted outside for another 10-yard gain, setting in motion the offensive play of the game.
Brennan beautifully faked the inside handoff and drifted back, finding Jude Doftert by himself in the back of the end zone for the 17-yard touchdown catch.
The Pioneers needed just five plays to score two touchdowns.
“I got out there, and I looked around and there was nobody there,” Doftert said.
The touchdown catch was the first of his career.
The second Storm possession was more of the same, with three plays yielded big play losses. The Storm running backs took deep angles trying to get to the edge.
The Pioneers proved too quick and relentless, turning those high-risk, high-reward running plays into significant losses.
The Storm’s second possession went -7, -12, and -11 in lost yardage.
Lovitt, Overmyer and Reilly were the catalysts, joined in back up support from Snider, Luke Rybak and Michael Sraga.
“We were getting into the backfield a lot,” Overmyer said. “My teammates did a great job of getting under their pressure, and I was just able to clean up.
“We just blew up their offensive line, and I think they got confused, and didn’t know what was really happening. We’re getting more confident in our roles, and what we’re doing out there.”
The stout defensive series again put the Pioneers in prime real estate, at the Storm’s 46-yard line.
A Brennan 13-yard scamper led to another huge Angone run, a 23-yard burst. Colin McElligott finished the six-play drive with a one-yard drive with 4:03 to play in the second quarter.
The three-touchdown lead allowed the Pioneers to experiment, and play the entire roster. David Kopec, Dylan Butler and Luke O’Reilly all saw turns carrying the ball in the second half.
Another key backup, Henry Byrne, got some touches in the backfield, as the Pioneers spread the wealth. Luke Makuch and Finnian Redmond also saw action.
Backup quarterback Kyle Krokos was able to sling the ball around a bit. The only Storm touchdown came on an interception return in the closing seconds.
“We just have to keep fighting, and keep our confidence up,” Brennan said.
The game also featured an intrasquad scrimmage in place of the traditional Fifth Quarter.
The Junior Varsity featured many significant contributors in the 18-6 Homecoming victory. Those other players included Ryan Beeler, Gavin Loman, Colin Kluever, Cade McNulty, Charlie Enstrom, Evan Lavelle, Wyatt Heinze, Luke Rybak, Logan Helman, John Werner, Keegan Fogarty, Layth Zughayer, Nicholas Davis, Dylan Gavin, Nicholas Baniewicz, Michael Sraga, Luke O’Reilly, Ryan Marek, Brock Lenzen, Aidan Rios, Qais Naser, Steven Mullins, Ryan Duckhorn, Nicholas Hertzog, Jack Bordelon, Justin McNamara, Erik Baran and Rhett Capps.
The cheerleaders also demonstrated great artistry and passion with their choreographed routines. They included Carys Atraje, Aubrey Baran, Keira Barrera, Brittney Blazys, Brooke Blazys, Annabelle Briseno, Hayden Campbell, Giulia Cangelosi, Avery Carroll, Ellyana Connors, Charlotte Day, Annabelle Deloya, Darcy Dorigan, Frankie Ficaro, Emma Golonka, Delaney Grenda, Arabella Hernandez, Ariana Hinton, Leah Janota, Bianca Kapusciarz, Ella Kluever, Brinley Laniosz, Malayna Marable, Emily Minard, Natalie Ocon, Emma Overman, Gia Parisi, Emily Pastiak, Makayla Roman, Emma Ruisz, Luciana Rupp, Alyse Sparacino, Kamilla Ulaszek and Nora Velez.
