By Ed Muniz- Photos by Lauren Gray
**Additional Photos are Availble for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p899407520 **
ORLAND PARK— There are two majority groups of football fans.
One loves to watch a high scoring, back and forth game. They love big plays. long touchdiwn runs, spectacular touchdown passes, big time touchdown receptions and the ever so popular kickoff or punt return. If they could watch that in every game, they’d display the Fan in FANatic! Score, Score, SCORE!
Then theres those fans that love a defensive battle. Its purest form of football from long ago where games were decided by one mistake and scoring was far and few between. Punts were numerous. Fans sat focused on every play waiting for something to happen. They would not leave their seats in fear of missing the only score of the game. A tussle of bodies trying to gain the upper hand by sheer will.
The latter was the case and on full display when Coach Dan Kolodziej’s Lightweight Red Pioneers hosted the New Lenox Jr. Knights on October 4.
After four quarters, not a point by either team changed the zeros on the scoreboard. It took additional time to find the victor. The Jr. Knights took just one play to end the game. A 10-yard touchdown run gave them a 6-0 victory over the Pioneers.
The Pioneers offense had first crack at trying to establish some offensive control. Their first efforts became a quick three and out. The Jr. Knights laid the ground work for what would become the theme of the game for both teams.
The Pioneers defense now was asked to follow suit with the Jr. Knights now running their offense. Small successes saw the visitors picking up three to eight yards on each attempt beginning from their own 46-yard line, moving to the Pioneers 28.
Along the way, the Pioneers did make several tackles but struggled to get off the field. MJ Groark, Gavin Garrity, CJ Hufford, Sean Kikilas and Luke McDoniel all picked up tackles.
It looked like the Jr. Knights would work their way downfield for an eventual scored, but that changed on the eighth play of their drive. A tackle attempt jarred the ball loose from the New Lenox runner and found it snagged on the turf by Arthur Slabenak, ending the threat with the fumble recovery.
After a short display of elation, the Pioneers offense began its second series of the game. The result was the same as the first. A relentless attack by the Jr. Knights defense again limited the Pioneers, losing 2-yards on three plays, forcing another Pioneers punt.
Blocking was ailing the Pioneers offense which affected their rushing abilities after one scoreless quarter.
Beginning the second stanza, the Pioneers defense would again be tested.
The Jr. Knights again proceeded to move the ball beginning on this side of the 50-yard line. The Pioneers defense was being asked to defend its own territory but were being pushed back for small gains.
Advancing towards the Pioneers endzone, the Jr. Knights did have to deal with aggressive play by the Pioneer defenders. Tackles by Garrity, Bennett Kersten, Taylan Morandi, Kikilas, Nicolas Lang and Jordy Kolodziej along with a key penalty, did eventually stop the Jr. Knights second drive just outside the red zone on downs.
With ittle time remaining in the opening half, the Pioneers did go to the air, but Garrity couldnt find the mark on a couple of incompletions, they did however pick up a first down on two runs by Garrity and Morandi with some help by a Jr. Knights penalty as well.
When the break came, neither team could dent the scoreboard with all efforts now concentrated on the second half.
A team tackle and a couple stops by Groark quickly forced the Jr. Knights to punt after a dismal offensive beginning to the third quarter. The Pioneers defense was on alert and played that way early in the second half, appearing focused and rejuvenated.
Offensively, the Pioneers continued to struggle, unable to gain much ground on three plays. They too were at the merci of the highly aggressive defensive line play of the Jr. Knights.
Again, the offensive line blocking was seaping defenders too quickly not allowing the Pioneers runningbacks time to find the gaps or even head outside.
The Pioneers offensive difficulties didn’t give their defense much rest, but still they continued to stave off any Jr. Knights attempt. Kersten, Garrity, Kikilas, and Hufford kept finding the stops, with Kersten leading the defensive effort with three solos on the drive that forced another Jr. Knights punt
The Pioneers finally mounted a promising drive a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Beginning at their own 27, they now began advancing the football. Two consecutive runs up the middle, one by Kikilas and another by Garrity picked up 18-yards. A pass from Garrity to Kolodziej moved them upfield 19 more yards. Later, another run by Garrity now had them sitting at the Jr. Knights 38.
The next play stopped the drive. A fourth down pass never found the right mark, falling into the hands of a New Lenox defender for the interception, ending the Pioneers best chance at the Jr. Knights 17-yard line.
Time was ticking away, the Jr. Knights were deep in their end and decided to play it safe with three straight runs. Tackles by Hufford, Morandi and a sack by Lang quickly forced a punt which the Jr. Knights knew would take them into overtime.
The scoreless game would now head to the extra-time where each team would get a crack at scoring from the 10-yard line.
The Pioneers began on offense. Their first two plays saw Kikilas pickup 7-yards, powering his way for four yards then three more. The Pioneers had two downs to pick up three yards for the touchdown. A third down call saw Garrity try a QB sneak that picked up a yard as the Jr. Knights were heavy at the line and linebackers lunging on the snap.
Needing a pair of yards on fourth down, the play called for Morandi to follow the lead blocks of Kikilas and Garrity, it didn’t work. The surge of Jr. Knights defenders allowed a yard as they swarmed to the ball and made a stop a yard shy of the endzone.
The following snap by the Jr. Knights saw them run to the right edge and get into the endzoe for the 6-0 Overtime win.
“You can go carzy second guessing yourself on the plays you called there,” said Offensive coach Ray Morandi a few days later, still heavy in his thoughts. “We thought that would work, just didn’t”
The Pioneers played a stellar defensive game. The unity they showed on the field especially when the Jr. Knights moved the ball, showed outstanding efforts to a man. During regulation, they mustered the will to not allow a score and made it happen even though spending a majority of the game out on the field, pushing fatigue to the side.
Offensively, leading the way for the Pioneers and doing his best to execute the offense was Gavin Garrity. From his Quarterback position, Garrity second half play gave the Pioneers a chance to break the scoreless tie. Using his legs or connecting on passes, Garrity was the ignitor each time the Pioneers had success.
“I want to improve looking down field and looking for people and opening up earlier,” said the Pioneers quarterback. “It was hard running against their defense, a little more hard than usual. We ran up the middle better in the second half. We just have to play better, everyone needs to do better wherever they play; pick up their game.”
Two way player’ TJ Hufford was called on for diuble duty. As the center, it was his responsibility to get snaps off and protect his quarterback he also contributed from the defensive line assisting or grabbing several tackles. His all-around play may have been the Pioneers top performance.
“The hardest job playing center is getting the ball off,” said TJ. “Before you know it, someone is right on you right after the snap, so you have to get up quickly to block, it’s kind of hard. Today they had a pretty big guy I had to deal with over me, I just tried my best. I probably played at a B level if I graded myself. I feel I held up really well when we were passing, not letting them through. Sometimes I chip up and go get the linebacker too. I think I played solid today. I also had a few tackles on defense and kept them off the scoreboard the whole game before overtime.”
In Fifth Quarter action, several Pioneers came through with outstanding performances. Nicolas Lang connected on a touchdown pass, his brother Anthoy realed off a big runSean Johnsn added 10, yards on one burst but Royal Ward stood out. Ward scored the ony Pioneers touchdown after hauling in a pass that went 45-yards for the touchdown. He also ripped off a 24-yard spring around thr right edge
“My QB threw a perfect pass to me,” said Royal. “I like running in the open field and beating a one on one, I scored today. Usually I cut in, but I stayed out on that long pass and got pushed out of bounds. I got a little tired, but I should have scored.I want the ball a lot more, I feel I should get it more. Maybe if I practice harder and more, I will. I want to be in the starting backfield, I think I can get there. I can maybe not juke as much and get through the hole faster with a chance to score.”
Other Pioneers giving their all included Abu Alshaikh, Nicholas Vuolo, Ethan Brandofino, Nofal, Jude Atieh, Shane Sternberg, Henry Simons, Tyam Nofal, Austin D’Andrea, Henry Wade, Jonathan Mizera, Mohammed Abu Alshaikh, William Sraga, Nathan Schultz, William Jordan, Thomas McCann, Paul Rylan Davies, Yazen Nijem and Amir Haddad.
Also there supporting the Pioneers were the Lightweight cheerleaders. One who has nothing but joy as a member of the Pioneers squad is Maevry Harmatys. Everything about cheerleading and specifically the Pioneers is pure joy to her.
“I’m glad I can be a cherleader here, it’s so fun, and everyone is so nice, I’m glad I can do this,” said Mavery. “The best part is I cget to perform and be with everyone I like. They are all my firends. Cheerleading is the best and I love it all, even practicing. if I could do anything better it would be my tucks, my back tuck. It’s hard but I think I might be able to do it. The tumbling is probably one of my favorite things.”
Other cheerleaders who supported the Pioneers Lightweight included Kara O’Meara, Scarlett Sternberg, Kennedy Krokos, Stella Bristow, Emerson Schweikert, Eleanor Koehn, Elena Schmaling, Isla Zelensek, Lucy Bohanek, Zoey France, Savannah Molina, Aleena Badwan, Vera Joda, Normandy Golden, Hazel Nichols, Mia Mizera, , Mila Schweikert, Tessa Dunmore, Tessa Basek, Siena Lang, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Alaina Holoubek, Sadie Griffin, Lea Barbee, Ava Kolodziej, Eva Aubin, Sofie Annerino, Hailey Valan, Grace Poore, Eloise Sarhage, Anderson Foster, Meghan Shilney, Lillian Fudala, Rosie VanRaden and Giana Santos.
