By Ed Muniz-Photos by Renee Kaspar
**Additional Photos are Available for Purcase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p920720866 **
The Lightweight Pioneers are a disciplined, well coached team.
Al Krokos and staff entered this their fourth season with this group of boys. The results of this group are well documented with numerous accolades over that period.
Heading into week four of the RVYFL season, the Pioneers entered unbeaten.
Playing host to the NWI Vipers, the Pioneers were looking to extend their winning streak with a well-oiled offensive machine and a tenacious defense that doesn’t relent.
After an array of offensive skills, scoring through the air or using their ground game, along with a defense that smells blood in the water quickly, the Pioneers are gelling into a team to reckon with as the season goes on after a dominating 28-0 display over the visiting Vipers.
With the victory, this group of Pioneers extended their season record to 4-0, have won 10 in a row dating back to last season and won 14 of 15 games too.
An equal level of play from both sides of the ball is the reason for their success. The offense scores, the Defense makes stops. It repeats itself again and again.
In their four games this year, the Pioneers have scored 91-points while giving up a total of just 6, with three shutouts.
The Pioneers’ defense was surprised on the Vipers first play. A 27-yard run had them chasing the speedy Viper runner. Nicholas Peisker got the angle and made the stop at the Pioneers’ 25.
After being punched in the mouth, the Pioneers recovered quickly and sacked the quarterback for a 10-yard loss by Zackary Salah.
Hudson Doftert and Peisker added two more tackles and forced a turnover on downs to end the Viper threat.
The ensuing play saw Doftert take the handoff from Luke Krokos and dart off his right tackle for 28-yards.
A sweep by Max Streets-Pruitt added 12 more yards and it kept going from there. A pair of runs by Doftert tallied 22 more yards and 8 more from Lucca Morandi had the Pioneers nestled at the Viper 6.
Krokos connected with Dylan Ahmer on the 6-yard touchdown completion, giving the Pioneer a 6-0 advantage as the first quarter concluded.
“The connections were good, that’s a good quarterback we have,” said Ahmer. “We work on running routes and practice that play I scored on. It’s a quick swing route, it’s not that hard but you have to practice it to make it work good. I want to make more tackles on defense.”
The Vipers did make the Pioneers’ defense work. Their following drive saw them run off seven straight plays but defensive tackles by Morandi, Doftert, Streets-Pruitt and Ahmer stopped then at the Pioneer 30 and gave possession back to Krokos and his offense.
When Krokos connected with Streets-Pruitt on the next play, the 39-yard pass-play had the offense again threatening, scoring on their next play from 31-yards out when Doftert had his niftiest run of the year.
He started left, cut back right to avoid one defender then spun as another Viper tried tackling him, broke off another attempt and busted down the field for the touchdown. “Super Toe” Andrew Richardson added the kick-after that gave the Pioneers a 14-0 advantage.
“I got bigger and stronger,” said Doftert of his play this year. “I get through the hole easier and cut to the outside. My coach says one move and go, so I remember that and do one juke move and then go straight and continue running; it works for me.”
The Viper went to the air as time closed in on the first half. They completed a pass that went 25-yards before Ahmer made the stop. A tackle for a loss by Peisker and a sack for 7yard loss by Morandi ended the half with the Pioneers up 14-0.
Just a few ticks of the clock into the second half, the Pioneers extended their lead again. Doftert took the Krokos handoff, made a cut right and was off to the endzone, scoring on the 55-yard run. Richardson added the two-point kick, extending the Pioneers lead to 22-0.
It’s clear the Pioneers defense takes pride in their play. They simply don’t want opposing teams gaining anything, let alone score points on them. They continue aggressively making stop after stop.
Cole Baldridge, Peisker and Richardson each continued to make stops on the Vipers next possession and quickly forced a turnover on downs.
The occasional play garnished some yards here and there for the Vipers but the Pioneers were quick to snuff any progress by the Vipers dead in its track.
Quarterback Luke Krokos went to the air on the next series and completed a pair of passes immediately.
The first went to Ahmer for 5-yards then on second down, he found Carter Erwin in stride from 13-yards out for the Pioneers fourth touchdown, upping the advantage to 28-0.
“I’m warming up before practice and games is why things are working well for me so far,” said the Pioneers quarterback. “It’s easier for me because we practice more passing routes and I know what to do during certain plays. I’m comfortable in the pocket but I like rolling out, it gives me more room to throw.”
With the added score, the game went into a running clock as the Pioneers defense took to the field with 3:25 left in the third stanza.
The Vipers were giving their all but, in this game, they were in over their heads. Tackles by Jase Enstrom, Michael Ordman III and Michael Galivan ended the Vipers last possession of the game.
Nicholas Mase and Jase Enstrom took over in the backfield with Bennett Brown as quarterback. Enstrom’s sweep around the left end provided 23 yards. Runs by Mase and Vince Spizzirri added seven more yards.
The Pioneers would run out the clock using additional runs by Anthony Baniewicz, Spizzirri, Enstrom and Brown to seal the 28-0 shutout victory.
Offensively, the Pioneers used the block talents of guards Mohammad Kassem and Karam Olyyan. Both were vital in holding off the Viper defense so running backs could get through holes or Krokos complete passes.
Unheralded in their efforts, they play without the limelight, giving their all every play for the success of the team.
“Every time I make mistakes, my coaches call me out to encourage me to do better so I practice that,” said Kassem. “I feel I’m improving nearly every game. It’s becoming easier but there are times where I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do especially when guys on defense line up weird, not sure of my assignment sometimes, I’m getting better.”
Karam Olyyan also gives his all like his counter teammate. He has improved each year without much notoriety.
“I been using my muscle and pushing opponents down field,” said Olyyan. “I put my weight forward and play aggressively this year, more than I have before. I’m also firing out faster and holding my blocks better. I feel that is helping the team a lot.”
Several other Pioneers showed their talents in the win. They include Kristian Willis, Blake Schuler, Vinny Ficaro, Luke Tonra, Carter Peluso, John Sutter, Noah Cordoba, Gavin Connors, Christian Paulson, Scott Gumienny, Cody Godlewski, Nicholas Dertz, Nick Pomonis, Yousef Yasin, Sam Horeluk, James Okrasinski, Dominic Lach, Colin Valan, Avery Vermiyea, Nathan Campos, Jude Morrar, Rayder Slabenak, Owen Garrity and Brian Curran.
Once again, the Mighty Lightweight Pioneers Cheerleaders were along the sidelines stand providing spectators with their talents. They include Gabriela Cabela, Isabella Cartolano, Madison Davis, Eleanor Dorigan, Kaylee Gaj, Paulina Goryl, Madison Hedger, Quinn Heinze, Margot Joda, Vera Joda, Adaline Johnson, Gemma Laniosz, Brielle Lenzen, Brooklyn Loman, Lily Maday, Santina Mannino, Molly McGeever, Emily Okrasinski, Kara O’Meara, Ayya Ramadani, Meryn Rucinski, Sydney Scharpf, Avery Seliga, Peyton Tomasik, Molly Utz and Alivia Zawada.
