By Francisco Avila- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p209925575 **
TINLEY PARK — Some victories mean more than the final score, especially when a team gets an opportunity to answer a difficult loss from the previous season. For the Orland Park Lightweight Pioneers Red, their 14-7 win over the Frankfort Falcons in Tinley Park carried that extra significance after Frankfort eliminated them in the second round of last year’s playoffs.
With postseason play approaching, the Pioneers showed resilience after falling behind early and gave themselves another reason to believe in what lies ahead.
Head coach Dan Kolodziej reflected on the motivation his team carried into the matchup and the opportunity to avenge last season’s playoff defeat.
“We talked about how they took us out last year in the second round of the playoffs to go to the Super Bowl. So we have that little chip on our shoulder, you know, we lost half of the guys, the other half is still here. So they had that little grit, a little bit more to get some payback. But overall, we prepared for them.”
Coach Kolodziej also discussed how his players responded after an early setback and gradually took control of the contest.
“We knew Frankfort was a tough team. Frankfort came out with the punt return for the touchdown; I know it kind of took the life out of the team for a little bit. We said there was plenty of time left; it’s not over until the last whistle or the last quarter, and they got that; their heads were always up. We were more mentally in this game, and that turned out to be the way to win the game.”
The Pioneers opened the game with Gavin Garrity leading the offense, looking to establish an early rhythm. Garrity worked with Sean Kikilas, but the offense could not gain enough yardage for a first down and was forced to punt.
Frankfort quickly capitalized on the change of possession, returning the punt for a touchdown before adding the extra point to take a 7-0 lead.
Kikilas described how the team responded to the early deficit.
“I think when we started, we got down in the dumps a little bit because first we got punted and they turned it. I know that’s gonna hurt us a little bit, but we kept our mindset really good. We picked it up a little bit, and definitely we improved a lot.”
The Pioneers worked to regain their footing offensively, with Garrity connecting with Taylan Morandi and Jordy Kolodziej as they searched for openings.
However, a pass from Garrity was intercepted, returning possession to the Falcons.
Arthur Slabenak and the Pioneers defense responded by disrupting Frankfort’s next possession and forcing a punt, keeping the score at 7-0 as the first quarter came to a close.
The Pioneers continued their search for an offensive breakthrough in the second quarter. Garrity worked with Kolodziej and Kikilas while also going on his own to extend plays and pick up first downs.
Garrity explained how he decided when to run rather than pass.
“Everyone was covered. Some of your options are like you either throw the ball or you run, and I made the decision to run because everyone was covered.”
The quarterback’s efforts eventually paid off late in the first half when he connected with Kikilas for a 6-yard touchdown, bringing the Pioneers within one point.
Garrity explained the importance of the scoring play.
“I was like, ‘you got to get these guys,’ we need to set the tone.”
Kikilas credited the blocking up front and Kolodziej’s work as a lead blocker for helping him reach the end zone.
“It was great. Our linemen in that play, it was beautiful blocking. When I got the ball, Jordy, who’s the lead blocker for me and he created a hole that was massive. There was only one guy, and Jordy got him, so I had a wide-open hole to go in.”
Rather than attempt an extra point to tie the game, the Pioneers Lightweight opted for a kick. William Sraga converted, giving the Pioneers an 8-7 lead.
Sraga discussed his preparation for the opportunity and credited his holder, Morandi, for helping him execute.
“I’ve been practicing my kicks for a couple of years now. I’ve played soccer for five years, and I’ve been able to work on it. I was really nervous because it usually got blocked, but I came up with a new strategy: I usually take three steps back, but this game I took two, and it worked. I also want to give a big shout-out to my holder, Taylan Morandi, because he held it for me pretty well.”
The defense made another important play when Slabenak recovered a fumble, giving his team possession once again.
Garrity continued to move the ball as the half was winding down, but the Falcons frustrated the offense and kept the score at 8-7 to end the half. Coach Kolodziej praised Sraga’s confidence and explained how the successful kick helped shift the pressure onto the Falcons.
“Yeah, I mean, we had a lot of confidence in Sraga; kids got a leg of gold, and we always say when we get in that moment to kick, that we’ve been practicing more and more to finish it. We tried a couple of times in games, and it didn’t work out, so we made some adjustments. Then when we scored, we took that lead because then the pressure was really on the other teams that had to compete with us, and after scoring we knew we could win.”
The Pioneers defense then continued the immediate momentum when Slabenak recovered a fumble, returning possession to Pioneers.
The Pioneers looked to build on their lead before the break, but Falcons
held firm heading into halftime up 8-7.
The Pioneers returned to action in the second half on defense, with Kikilas continuing to make an impact through physical tackles that frustrated the Falcons’ offense, which forced another punt, giving the offense a chance to extend the lead.
Garrity continued connecting with Morandi, Kikilas, MJ Groark and Bennett Kersten as the Pioneers searched for another scoring opportunity. However, Frankfort’s defense held firm through the remainder of the third quarter, keeping the Pioneers in front, 8-7.
Pioneers carried its offensive possession into the fourth quarter, continuing to look for an opening against the Falcons’ defense.
Garrity again looked toward Morandi before finding Kikilas for a one-yard touchdown, extending the Pioneers’ lead to 14-7.
Kikilas described the play as an intense moment when he felt he needed to reach the end zone for his teammates.
“It was very intense. I felt like it was fourth down. I had to get in. I just tried to dive in, try and get in for the team,” Kikilas said.
The Pioneers could not convert the extra point, leaving Frankfort within one score, the defense, however, continued to make key stops, with Garrity, Groark, Mahmoud Abu Alshaikh and Slabenak with important tackles.
As the game was winding down, the Falcons threatened to find the end zone, but Groark made a key pass breakup to prevent the potential touchdown. Groark said he followed his coaches’ instructions to cover the Falcon reciever and reacted when the receiver went up for the pass.
“My coaches were like, ‘MJ, guard number nine,’ and I saw him go up for a pass. I went to guard him, and I was like, ‘I didn’t want to get head tops,’ so I just tried to swat it down and I did,” Groark said.
The Pioneers’ defense held firm in the closing moments, protecting the 14-7 lead and securing the victory as the team moved closer to the postseason.
With the victory, the Pioneers Lightweight gained valuable momentum as they continued building toward the postseason.
Coach Kolodziej credited the defense’s execution and emphasized the importance of carrying that performance into the team’s final regular-season game.
“Our defense showed everyone. We had 11 guys show up today. They played 11 positions perfectly, the defensive line was blowing up the backfield, put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, got rid of the ball, and we kind of knew what they were running with, so that played in our favor, and it worked out. So now we’re gonna prepare like we always do. I’m not gonna say it to the boys, but the playoffs should be locked up, but we still have one more game now. It’s for seeding. Now comes continuous building off momentum.”
Before the game, the Pioneers was also active in fifth quarter action, with multiple players showing their quality and gaining valuable experience.
One of those players was Nicholas Lang, who provided strong tackles and an active performance.
Lang spoke postgame on his performance during the fifth quarter and his feelings about coming back after his injury.
“I’ve been injured, so to get a tackle, get in the game, and help my team out feels really good. It’s also a good opportunity to help the team, help us win, and get better.”
The Pioneers also received contributions from Mahmoud Abu Alshaikh, Royal Ward, Nicolas Lang, Nicholas Vuolo, Anthony Lang, Ethan Brandofino, MJ Groark, Zacharia Nofal, Jude Atieh, CJ Hufford, Shane Sternberg, Sean Johnson, Bennett Kersten, Henry Simons, Taym Nofal, Austin D’Andrea, Arthur Slabenak, Henry Wade, Jonathan Mizera, Mohammed Abu Alshaikh, Nathan Schultz, William Jordan, Thomas McCann, Jordy Kolodziej, Luke McDoniel, Paul Rylan Davies, Yazen Nijem and Amir Haddad.
