By Ed Muniz-Photos by Renee Kaspar
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
The Lightweight Pioneers would host their toughest foes on Homecoming. On the year both the Pioneers and the Jr. Knights entered this game undefeated.
When all was said and done, only one would leave the victor and remain unscathed on the season.
Coach Andy Rybak’s Pioneers have used experience to start the season unblemished. All without co-star running-back Ben Snider who has been sidelined with a broken collar bone the first five weeks of the season.
His return is forthcoming!
Fortunately for the Pioneers, depth is a grand thing to have in team sports. It also helps having Nakahti Thompson and Enzo Angone, both are quite good, along with others.
The Pioneers traded punches with the visiting Jr. Knights, refusing to hit the canvass for the 18-14 victory and continue undefeated at 4-0, and the lone unbeaten in the RVYFL Lightweight division.
Both teams started off slow in their opening series. Each forcing a turnover on downs the first-time defenses faced each other’s offense. A sack by Ryan Duckhorn highlighted the Pioneers defensive effort early. Thompson, Angone and Charlie Enstrom also contributed in stopping their visitors first efforts.
The Pioneers jump-started their offense when Thompson took off around right end, piling up 17-yards. On the next play, Angone used some nifty moves.
He started left then cut back and weaved his way to the end-zone 22-yards later to give his Pioneer team a 6-0 lead.
The ensuing kickoff careened off a Falcon defender back to Thompson for the recovered fumble as the opening quarter was about to expire.
That good fortune was short lived as Thompson lost control of the football which was recovered by the Jr Knights as they flipped sides.
Opening the second quarter, the Jr. Knights would go on a 12-play drive, capping it off with a 1-yard sneak for their first score. They pounded in the point-after and took a 7-6 lead with four minutes left in the opening half.
Thompson took the ensuing Jr. Knights kickoff and raced down the near sideline, catching the Jr. Knights by surprise with his quickness. The chase was on as Thompson looked to score. He was tackled after 31-yards, setting up great field position for the Pioneers.
Two plays later, Angone laid out to complete the 21-yard Enstrom pass at the 2-Yard-line. From there, Thompson returned the lead back to the Pioneers with his two-yard scamper inside the left pylon for the touchdown and the 12-7 lead.
With 1:03 left before half, the lead looked secure but the unimaginable happened as no time was left on the clock. The Knights regained the lead after completing a 44-yard touchdown pass even with Pioneer defenders back.
Once again, the Jr. Knights pounded in the point-after and took a 14-12 lead into half.
Angone struck again after the Pioneers forced a punt. opening the second half. On the Jr. Knights punt, he took it, started up the middle then cut left to the far sideline and was gone. His 70-yard punt return recaptured the lead and gave the Pioneers an 18-14 lead.
“It was a competition between which team would take over first, so I tried my hardest,” said Angone. “It meant more to us than them because its Homecoming. I think we could be a really good team, maybe in the Super Bowl, either way, as long as we had a good year and a good team, I’ll be happy. I think we can tackle better though.”
The Pioneer defense stiffened from there on. Nicholas Peisker was dogging the Jr. Knights offensive line, shooting gaps and getting to the backfield for tackles. John Werner and Hudson Doftert also pestered the Jr. Knights, coming away with stops each.
Momentum was now on the Pioneers side and both sides of the ball were welcoming it.
The Offense was sustaining drives using up the clock and the defense was tightening around the Jr. Knights offense.
Now midway through the final quarter, the Pioneers defense were looking to make big play, Werner was happy to oblige.
The Jr. Knights saw a miss-match with Werner who previously misplayed a pass that led to a touchdown, but this time he positioned himself perfect as again the Jr. Knights pass headed his way.
His timing was perfect as the ball descended his way, out maneuvered his opponent, and snagged the pass for the Interception at the five-minute mark of the game.
“I was reading the wide receiver and saw the pass coming , so I jumped up kinda in front of the receiver and caught the pass,” said Werner. “I was expecting them to pass so I also was reading the quarterback to see where he was going to throw it. When it was in the air, I was hoping I’d get that and I actually did.”
Thompson’s big 12-yard run sealed the Jr. Knights fate and afford the Pioneers’ Quarterback’ Enstrom the chance to take a knee for the win.
“I don’t feel like I played as good as I could and have,” said Thompson. “Next game, I’m coming out here and play my hardest and do what I can do. We were focused on winning the game and stuff like that.”
Fifth Quarter action saw the Jr. Knights outscore the Pioneers. The tandem quarterbacks of Cade Judeh and Maximus Streets-Pruitt guided the Pioneer offense.
Judeh showed his leadership skills directing the offense, his running ability stood out, but he wasn’t alone, Streets-Pruitt also has the elusiveness that could make him a threat on every play. It could be in his future once he gets more size.
Both Quarterback are talented and could provide lots of big plays down the road.
“I feel like I’ve come a long way, it is my first year and I’m happy to be the quarterback. As I go on, I’ll get better,” said Judeh. “I have practiced a lot to get better at playing quarterback, its not that easy. If somebody wants to do that, they have to practice a lot.”
Trying to move the ball via the ground game was Zackary Salah, Anthony Baniewicz and Carter Bellik (11-yards).
Defensively, several Pioneers had good games coming away with tackles and assists. Baniewicz, Aidan Rios, Finnian Redmond, Kristian Willis, Muhammed Kaseem, Vinny Ficaro, Luke Makuch and Bellik, all provided stops.
Other Pioneers contributing to the Homecoming action on the field include Gavin Lowman, Dylan Butler, Evan Lavelle, Luke Tonra Luke Rybak, Carter Peluso, Logan Helman, Karam Olyyan, Drake Ulaszek, Nicholas Mase, Nicholas Hertzog, Moody Abudan, Ryan Marek, Brock Lenzen, Aidan Rios, Qais Naser, Justin McNamara, Steven Mullins, Andrew Quinn, Erik Baran, Brian Curran, and John Sutter.
Lightweight Pioneer Cheerleaders’ Aubrey Baran, Keira Berrera, Brittney Blazys, Brooke Blazys, Annabelle Briseno, Hayden Cmapbell, Avery Carroll, Isabelle Castillo-Mez, 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 provide the halftime and sideline entertainment in their theme apparel while cheering on the Pioneers players.
