By Patrick Z McGavin
*** Our Apologies as this game has no Photos available due to a Camera issue. Our Sincere Apologies. We strive to produce the best game coverage possible for you, unfortunately a technical issue could not be repaired at the game. Our Apologies. ***
NEW LENOX— Like a good movie, the sound often precedes the action, and foretells what to look out for or expect.
The big plays tend to be heard before they are seen, casting off a sense of power and exhilaration. Conversely, the other side senses something bad is about to happen.
The Lightweights of the Orland Park Pioneers play with an immediacy and toughness. That is their calling card. The opposition just hopes to walk away clean.
“It was really important for us to make a statement, and set the tone for the rest of the playoffs,” Michael O’Connor said.
The defense showed brute force and Jason Erwin had two rushing touchdowns in the 13-0 victory over the Tinley Bulldogs in a first-round playoff game of River Valley Youth League action at Lincoln-Way West high school on Sunday, October 19.
The return of two-way standout O’Connor from a broken arm sparked the Pioneers. By consensus, he is the best all-around player. He elevated the physicality and force of the team, on both ends of the ball.
“I just really missed being with the other guys and making plays out there,” O’Connor said.
The Pioneers managed to cope with his absence. Having him back changed everything.
“It was just great to have him back there,” coach Mike Kolodziej said. “It was just a different dynamic. You felt it in the whole stadium. The boys were happy to have him back.
“The kids really brought the intensity. That was a good team, with some good athletes. We showed up tough today, and they couldn’t get anything past us.”
The only downside to the performance was four lost fumbles by the Pioneers. The first turnover scuttled a promising open drive. Erwin blasted off down the right sideline for a 23-yard run.
O’Connor showed no rust from his layoff, breaking tackles and showing the ability to move deftly between the tackles.
Despite the early turnover, the defense provided a strong early clue of what the Bulldogs were up against. With Sean Kikilas creating terror off the right edge, Orland Park blew up every Tinley Park offensive action.
Gunner McCarthy, Ellis Hubbard and Will Poore also showed out, creating pressure at the point of attack and closing down running lanes.
With the defensive interior nullifying the Bulldogs’ offensive line, O’Connor and Erwin were free to run unimpeded at the ball carriers.
“We have a great attitude, and we have some great players who make really big hits when they’re out there,” Poore said. “The other team didn’t know what to do.
“Guys like Michael O’Connor and Jason Erwin, they all fly to the ball, and the rest of us all grind and get after it. We practice really hard.
Our coaches told us a lot about their formations, and what to look for, and don’t get caught.”
The defense forced an early three-and-out, setting up the offense brilliantly.
Taking over at the Bulldogs’ 24-yard line, Erwin did the rest by breaking through a hole and shedding two tacklers for the opening touchdown jaunt.
Shifting to quarterback, he also scored on the conversion run for the 7-0 lead.
“Our blocking and our offense were really good today,” Erwin said. “We were able to drive the ball and make plays out there.
“Even with the fumble, coming right back and scoring like that gave us a lot of momentum.”
The Bulldogs ran a series of bunch formations, and tried to catch the Pioneers with inside handoffs, counters and reverses.
Orland Park was alert to every action, and snuffed it out before it really began. The first-team defense has permitted just four touchdowns the entire season.
Kikilis is a defensive menace off the edge, with strong support from the rest of the defensive line. Another defensive lineman, Jimmy Elsberg, was superb at bottling up the Bulldogs.
“Their offense would run one play, and we’d figure it out,” Elsberg said. “When they ran a certain formation, we knew where they were going. We were able to break it down.”
O’Connor makes an already skilled, dangerous and overpowering defense all the more devastating. With the Bulldogs looking to get their offense untracked, he showed what an uphill climb that was.
The speed and force of his hits, and ability to tackle in the open field unlocked their defensive potential.
“It felt great being back,” he said. “I just love going to the ball. I saw a couple of people coming out and trying to block me. I just hit them, no matter who had the ball, and got the runners down.”
Up the one score, the offense delivered a painstaking and methodical drive that showed off the versatility of the attack. O’Connor had runs of eight and 10-yards.
Erwin got around the edge a few times, and Al Krokos showed off his own mastery with some sharp and powerful inside running. Quarterback Connor Kvelland did his part with a hard count on a fourth down play that coaxed an offsides call against the Bulldogs.
The offense was not perfect, given the four lost fumbles, two in the red zone. The defense had enough to work with. That was more than enough.
“We really fired hard off the ball,” McCarthy said. “They couldn’t really block us, and we were able to get in there and do what we wanted. I got outside anytime I wanted.
“We just had a great effort.”
The team made a great opening statement. Now they are ready for more.
“We’re looking forward to staying undefeated, and winning this whole thing,” Elsberg said.
Running back Keith Piekarz was the standout during the Fifth Quarter with a 45-yard touchdown run.
“The guys hit a little bit harder once you get to the playoffs,” Jordy Kolodziej said. “Our line was really good with the blocking. They were staying on their blocks. Even if the backs got hit, they kept their feet running or didn’t go down.”
The Orland Park Pioneers Lightweights featured many standout contributors in the 13-0 playoff victory. Their members were Jawedd Abuzir, Nate Abbs, Thomas Sutter, Taylan Morandi, Joey Zotto, Luke Bosack, Jackson Biskup, Ryan Lukas, Zachariah Ballouta, Martin Groark, Brady Higgins, Alex Kopec, CJ Hufford, Christopher Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Luke Holoubek, Bennett Kersten, Brooks Foster, Michael Patterson, Gavin Garrity, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Paxson Leithleiter, Laith Hammami, Ian Frost, Jonathan Mizera, Dominic Gabriele, Ammar Abdelmuti, William Jordan, Luke McDoniel, Paul Rylan Davies, Amari Adigun and Dominic Maurella.
The cheerleaders also brought great energy, passion and enthusiasm with their performances. They are Lucy Bohanek, Kaitlyn Minick, Alexandra Burda, Mabel Lukasiewicz, Elena Schmaling, Adaline Johnson, Zoey France, Emerson Schweikert, Eleanor Koehn, Stella Bristow, Brooklyn Loman, Eila Richter, Aaliyah Medina, Ava Janota, Molly McGeever, Skylar Shlepakov, Makayla Sotelo, Vera Joda, Kara O’Meara, Sophia Molina, Emily Okrasinski, Ainsley Moore, Maevry Harmatys, Marissa Gumuls, Madison Hedger, Morgan Collins, Aleena Badwan, Scarlett Sternberg, Sadie Griffin, Grace Poore, Kennedy Krokos, Olivia Ally, Liliana Holmes, Morgan Burger, Evelyn Byrne, Lillian Fudala, Alaina Holoubek, Anderson Foster, Selena Rios, Gwendolyn Moffatt, Margaret Moffatt, Evelyn Moffatt, Quinn Heinze, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Eloise Sarhage, Jenna Michalczewski and Charlotte Dorigan.
