By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
The River Valley Youth Football League Lightweight Semi-Final between the Orland Park Pioneers and the Frankfort Falcons would be between a pair of teams facing each other for the first time this season.
In most cases, teams will have previously played against each other sometime during the year, but in this case, about the only thing each team knew of the other was via game films provided to each other.
Entering this game, the third seed Falcons had won seven games in a row while shutting out the last six opponents of the regular schedule.
The Pioneers had lost just one game and had won eight of nine games earning them the second seed of the Playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Falcons continued their winning ways with a 19-12 victory at Sandburg High School on November 6, earning them a berth in the Championship game where they will face the unbeaten Jr. Warriors of New Lenox on November 13 at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
“It came down to big plays, they had more big plays than we did,” said Pioneer head coach Andy Rybak. “We overhauled our defense for match-ups, we were trying to bring our guys in closer, by doing that, we gave up some of that outside contain and it hurt us.”
“After their first two games, they went six games without giving up a single point, so we faced a very good defense. We struggled to get any consistency with any of our rushing efforts, it felt like we were relying on almost trickery to move the sticks. We had a very good year with lots to be proud of. A really good group of talented boys.”
The Falcons received the kickoff and began at their own 49-yard-line to start the game after a squib kick Finn Redmond. The bounding football never took the extra hop that makes recovering it so difficult.
The Falcons used an offense that had their quarterback take a snap under center and either run along the line of scrimmage with his back lead blocking or would hand off with alternate lead blockers. Each way, the Falcons worked it well and made it difficult for the Pioneers to tackle.
But they weren’t perfect. After driving to the Pioneers 26-yard-line, Pioneers’ defensive lineman Nicholas Peisker came up with a fumble that ended the Falcons opening effort.
Nakahti Thompson led the Pioneers during the Falcon drive with three solo tackles. John Werner, Enzo Angone and Luke Rybak also contributed with tackles of their own.
The Pioneers went a quick three an out on their first offensive try. Rushes by Thompson and Angone netted just 8-yards.
The Falcons used a big play late in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. A 40-yard run up the middle caught the Pioneers at the right time with an opening just inside the right tackle. The gap was wide as linebackers committed to each side of it leaving a gaping hole right to the end-zone.
Entering the second quarter, the Pioneers struck back just three plays later. Enzo Angone scooted to the edge taking a Charlie Enstrom handoff, turned up field getting past all the Falcon defenders enroute to his 62-yard sprint for the touchdown. The failed extra-point try left the Pioneers trailing 7-6.
The Pioneers again tried another squib kick that was again recovered by the Falcons. In doing so, the Pioneers gave the Falcons half a field to take the lead. Another big run down the far sideline took the Falcons from midfield to the Pioneer 27-yard-line.
A play later, the Falcons were set to score after a 20-yard run that saw the Pioneers struggle to bring down the Falcon runner. All game the Pioneers continued to have difficulties finishing tackles on runs by the Falcons, even with multiple players hanging on.
To the Falcons credit, they gave their all and fought for every inch.
The Falcons snuck in from a yard out to regain the lead two plays later. The Pioneers did stop the extra-point try and trailed 13-6 with six minutes left before half.
Thompson provide a quick pick-me-up to the Pioneers on the following kickoff by the Falcons. Taking the bounding football, Thompson ran to his right and outran almost the entire Falcon team, finally being tackled after 46-yards.
The Pioneers used runs by Thompson and Angone to move the ball from the Falcons 23, eventually seeing Thompson scamper the final 6-yards for the Pioneers second touchdown. The second failed extra-point attempt again had the Pioneers trailing by one at 13-12.
With the half nearing its completion, the Pioneer defense looked like it would go in trailing by just a point. But things seem to happen just when you think they won’t.
After tackles by Thompson, Enstrom, Werner and Peisker, the Falcons were faced with a 4th down from the Pioneers 33-yard-line. A simple dive into the line didn’t stop until the end- zone and the Falcons third touchdown with 26-seconds remaining.
Several Pioneers had chances at making a stop but as before, finishing was the issue that cost them dearly.
The Pioneers tried to respond with Enstrom attempting a pass but with overwhelming pressure from the Falcon defensive line, his pass was intercepted ending the first half.
The second half was the Pioneers trying to score against an aggressive and over-powering Falcon defense and the Falcons trying to extend their lead against a bend but don’t break Pioneers defense.
Turnovers hit both teams. The Pioneers stopped one drive when Angone applied a hard tackle that jarred the Football loose which was recovered by Werner, while the Falcons came away with two interceptions, the last to seal the win.
The Pioneers had their chances. A reverse by Drake Ulaszek gained 24-yards, advancing into the Falcons territory in the third quarter and a late game pitch-pass by Thompson to Ulaszek caught the Falcons completely by surprise which looked like a sure touchdown, but Ulaszek was caught from behind at the Falcon 10-yard-line after 69-yards.
The Pioneers then went backwards, a procedure penalty, an Enstrom to Helman pass loss 7-yards and an Angone run loss 5 more. On Fourth down, the Pioneers were now at Falcon 25. Enstrom dropped back to pass but that too saw heavy rush from the falcons who bull-rushed the Pioneer O-line which caused another Interception, giving the Falcons the 19-12 victory and a shot at the league title next week.
“I was so happy and excited as I ran past everyone,” said Loman. “This was the first rushing touchdown for us all season, so that was something, I’m pretty happy with that.”
When he exited the field, he was congratulated by numerous teammates on his touchdown run and he welcomed all of it with total happiness beaming from his face. A great way to end your season for sure.
Also adding to the rushing tally or contributing offensively were Nicholas Mase, Maximus Streets-Pruitt, Steven Mullins, Justin McNamara, Anthony Baniewicz who had a spectacular juking demonstration on his last rush, Cade Judeh, Vinny Ficaro, Ryan Marek, Brian Curran, Aidan Rios who as stellar blocking again, and Zackary Salah.
The Pioneer defense also had several players showing their tackling abilities. Streets-Pruitt, Salah, Mullins, Curran, John Sutter, Rios, Marek, Evan Lavelle, Mase, Luke Tonra, Qais Naser, Nicholas Hertzog, Baniewicz, Kristian Willis, Luke Makuch, Carter Bellik, Karam Olyyan, Gavin Loman, Judeh, Muhammed Kassem, Carter Peluso, Brocj Lenzen and Finn Redmond.
Other Pioneers that helped the successful season included Dylan Butler, Ben Snider, Moody Abudan, Hudson Doftert, Ryan Duckhorn and Andrew Quinn.
Providing the vocal support for the players and fans were the Lightweight Pioneer Cheerleaders. Aubrey Baran, Keira Barrera, Brittney Blazys, Brooke Blazys, Annabelle Briseno, Hayden Campbell, Avery Carroll, Isabella Castillo-Meza, Frankie Ficaro, Emma Golonka, Delaney Grenda, Tessa Heinze, Arabella Hernandez, Bianca Kapusciarz, Brinley Laniosz, Malayna Marable, Gabriella Milosovic, Emily Minard, Eleanor Nothnagel, Emma Overman, Makayla Roman, Emma Ruisz and Kamilla Ulaszek were all quite talented and entertaining all season.
