By Francisco Avila- Photos by Eileen Copenhaver
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TINLEY PARK— Some days on the gridiron are frustrating when things don’t go your way. But how a team responds when things do not go their way can say just as much about the character of a team. In the River Valley matchup between the Pioneers Lightweight Blue and the Tinley Park Bulldogs, the Pioneers Lightweight faced plenty of frustration and ultimately fell 20-0 on October 4 at Fulton School. Still, they continued to compete and battled through the final whistle against a tough Bulldogs squad.
Orland Park Pioneers Lightweight Blue head coach Adam Maurella pointed to his team’s effort despite the result.
“At first, the game went really well; we were ready to take them on. We studied their offense, their defense. Coaches worked really hard doing that to get these guys prepared for the game. Then, in the first half, I felt really good about it, and then just one bad penalty kinda set everybody’s sails. But very proud of these guys, though, for battling with these guys. This team hasn’t really lost a game all year, and they’re a solid program to play against. They have always been in the River Valley. I think we played pretty well. We could have got the ball moving a little bit more. We ran a 6-2 defense, and they got it outside on us; our corners couldn’t contain outside. Then ultimately that’s how touchdowns happen.”
The Pioneers Lightweight opened the day with a productive fifth quarter, allowing several players to make plays and gain valuable experience.
Joey Guest, Wren Rucinski, Paxson Leithleiter, Rasheed Williams Jr. and Jaweed Abuzir all made their presence felt defensively with tackles.
The Pioneers Lightweight also found the end zone when Lawson Capps broke free for a 5-yard touchdown.
Capps described the scoring play after the game.
“So basically what happened, I just went outside, went around some players, then inside a couple of times and scored.”
Once the fifth quarter ended, the Pioneers Lightweight turned their attention to the game, beginning with an offensive possession led by Thomas Richardson and Zachariah Ballouta. After several attempts, however, the drive ended in a turnover on downs.
The defense responded with Guest, Rucinski, Luke Bosack, Ammar Abdelmuti, Luke Lawler, and Landon Lawler making tackles to limit the Bulldogs’ progress.
Tinley Park eventually broke through midway through the opening quarter with a 7-yard touchdown to take a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs then attempted to add the extra point, but Bosack came up with a key tackle to keep the score at 6-0.
Bosack explained the defensive effort on the play.
“We didn’t want to give up another point, so we were like, ‘boys, let’s stop this play so we don’t give up another point.’ All the line, they got through, caused havoc, and then all the linebackers and the corners executed. We all did pretty good on that, and then we stopped the point.”
As the opening quarter wound down, Richardson worked with Bosack on offense, but the Pioneers Lightweight were unable to generate enough yardage before the quarter ended with Tinley Park ahead 6-0.
The Bulldogs opened the second quarter with possession, but Bosack and Abdelmuti helped force a punt and give the Pioneers Lightweight another opportunity.
Richardson then worked with Bosack and Dominic Maurella, but the Bulldogs’ defense held its ground and forced another turnover on downs.
Maurella spoke about his efforts running the ball.
“I’m able to make those runs and just run as hard as I possibly can and try to get yards for the team.”
The Pioneers’ Lightweight defense once again kept Tinley Park from finding the end zone, with Moody Jaber, Abdelmuti and Rucinski making tackles and forcing another punt.
As the half approached, Richardson continued searching for openings through the air, connecting with Peyton Barbee on multiple passes while also using his legs to gain yardage. The Pioneers Lightweight moved the ball but could not sustain the drive and eventually punted.
Richardson spoke on his effort and how he’s able to find those spots to make those passes.
“The running backs were blocking, and then I faked it out, and then I got the pass up.”
Tinley Park then found the end zone again on a 9-yard touchdown to extend its lead to 12-0.
The Pioneers’ Lightweight answered on the ensuing extra-point attempt, with Landon Lawler making a play to stop the extra point and keep the score at 12-0 heading into halftime.
Coach Maurella reflected on his team’s first-half performance.
“I thought the first half went well. The first half went well; we could have done a couple more things: get the ball out there, a little bit better blocking. But all in all, I think it worked well. A couple bad calls at the end there, big tackle on our defense.”
The Pioneers Lightweight began the second half on defense, with Johnny Waliczek, Jaber, Ballouta and Barbee making tackles and forcing another turnover on downs.
Richardson then returned to the field with Ballouta and Bosack as the Pioneers
Lightweight tried to establish some offensive rhythm, but the Bulldogs once again forced a punt.
Ballouta and Jaber continued making plays defensively as the third quarter
progressed, keeping Tinley Park off the scoreboard and preserving the 12-0 scoreline heading into the final quarter.
The Pioneers Lightweight entered the fourth quarter still searching for an opportunity to cut into the Bulldogs’ lead.
Barbee, Richardson and Amari Adigun helped the defense force another turnover on downs, giving the Pioneers Lightweight one more possession.
Richardson then connected with Capps through the air, but the Bulldogs’ defense once again prevented the Pioneers Lightweight from finishing the drive and forced a turnover on downs.
Tinley Park eventually added another 1-yard touchdown to make it 18-0.
The Bulldogs converted the extra point to complete the scoring at 20-0.
Despite the result, Coach Maurella remained focused on the team’s next challenge.
“I’m looking forward to the Knights; they have been a strong team all year. I don’t think they have one loss. I’d like to go in there and ring their bell, and knock them out. I like it when it’s better competition, better teams to get these boys prepared. Us as coaches watching game films and taking these guys down.”
Despite the end result, the Pioneers Lightweight also received contributions from other players including Paul Bertucci, Harrison Ramirez, Quinn McCarthy, Isiah Holmes, Sean Mendoza, Brady Higgins, Luke Holoubek, Lorcan Redmond, Jayden Enriquez, Noah Radzikowski, Ian Frost, Cade Rucinski, William Speck, Ethan Hamideh and Noah Hall.
