By Pat Z McGavin- Photos by Renee Kaspar
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ORLAND PARK— The easy thing is always responding to the fireworks of a scoring play, though the lead up often delivers and creates the breakthrough action.
In an emotional and high stakes game with both teams eager to change the narrative, one big play carries outsized impact and consequences.
So it was with Gianluca Arceo, the defensive end for the Orland Park Pioneers Varsity who altered the trajectory of a scoreless game with one decisive action.
“Once I saw the open gap, I just wanted to go for the quarterback,” he said. “Right after that, when David got the pick, I was so hyped, and it just brought up the whole energy of the team.”
Arceo’s 12-yard sack set the stage for a three-touchdown explosion in the 22-0 victory over the New Lenox Jr Warriors in the semifinals of the Wednesday Night Football League at Sandburg High School on October 9.
One play after the big sack, linebacker David Burgert swooped in for a 44-yard interception return with 9:18 to play in the third quarter.
Fittingly Arcea booted the two-point kick for the 8-0 advantage.
“We had a slow start to the game, and we really needed that sack for a kick in the right direction,” Burgert said. “That really got us fired up and helped us go at it.
“This was a big game, playoffs, leading into the Super Bowl. As soon as we saw that, we took the opportunity to take it to the house.”
The Pioneers will face the Frankfort Falcons in the Super Bowl at Schussler Park on Wednesday, October 15. Orland Park defeated the Falcons 8-6 last Wednesday.
The aggressive and free-flowing defense forced two interceptions and a fumble recovery during the near-perfect second half performance.
Maverick Vander Veer also had a first half interception.
Quarterback Ben Schwarz did the rest with two excellent scoring drives in the third quarter. His two-way threat as a runner and passer unlocked the attack.
The Pioneers generated one solid drive in the second quarter that appeared to reach paydirt with Schwarz converting a fourth down run for first and goal.
The play was called back for a holding call, and the drive stalled on the fourth-and-14 play, leading to a scoreless game at the halftime break.
The Jr Warriors had the ball to start the third quarter, and they clicked on a long pass play that appeared to swing the momentum in their favor.
Arcea had other thoughts in mind with his sack. Operating from the left edge, Arcea formed an outstanding interior front with Liam West, Justin McNamara and Diego Aguilar. Their pressure created the instability in the attack of the Jr Warriors.
A stop by Arcea and West, and a pass break up by Sean Buer forced a change of possession on the punt.
Schwarz put together a perfect drive, blasting through the line for a nine-yard run, allowing Vander Veer a couple of big runs. The two combined for a crucial third down play on a 12-yard out to the running back.
“We really improved our play in the second half,” Vander Veer said. “We played really well, getting all the interceptions and the pick-6. “I should have run through the hole harder on the ball, but it felt great to make that catch and get some yards, and keep the drive alive.”
On a gorgeous scoring play, Schwarz bought time in the pocket and threw a perfect 35-yard pass down the right sideline that receiver Yousif Dahdal made a superb leaping grab over a defender and broke a tackle for the touchdown.
A highly-skilled soccer player, Dahdal is a first-year who is a crucial kicking specialist in the Sunday games. He scored his first touchdown on Saturday in the Fifth Quarter.
He showed his value is more than just as a kicker.
“I like both a lot,” he said. “When I first got on the team, I was just looking to kick, but then the coach put me in at wide receiver. Every time I get to play wide receiver, my quarterback does a great job of getting me the ball.
“It feels amazing, especially when you have a great quarterback. Usually in soccer, we don’t use our hands, right, so we feel amazing when we can use our hands with football. I think I should have tried this earlier, because it’s an amazing sport. I love how everybody bonds together.”
Schwartz was very happy to have such a dynamic player to connect with.
“He’s really athletic, and I knew he could get open,” Schwartz said. “So I just let it fly and pushed it down the field like that. The pick-6 really gave us a lot of momentum, and it really set the tone for the whole second half.
“It’s really fun playing quarterback on this level.”
Another two-point kick by Areceo extended the margin to 16-0.
The defense was not about to rest on its laurels. The pressure, effort and intensity of the defensive line created a nightmare for the Jr Warriors.
“I feel amazing playing on defense,” Arceo said. “It really gets me energetic, especially the rest of the line. We did jump offsides one time, but we never did that again.”
John Werner, who made several strong catches at receiver, continued the superb play with a diving interception that thwarted any hope of a comeback by the Jr Warriors.
With ideal field position, the Pioneers put the game out of reach with a dazzling 35-yard touchdown run down the right sideline by Burgert with 7:42 remaining.
He provided the perfect bookend, the opening and closing touchdowns, that punched the Pioneers’ ticket to the Super Bowl. As one of several first-year players in the program, the moment resonated deeply with him.
“I love doing my part,” Burgert said. “I love the organization. The team, we’re like a family, we all work together, and we all do our thing. We’re just working together
“We work together really well as a team, and everybody really clicks. Nobody has any problems with each other.”
Just the opposite, the Pioneers make problems for the other team. The defense pitched a shutout, with Aguilar recovering a fumble that allowed the second unit to put the finishing touches on the victory.
Backup running back Gavin Loman had three double-digit rushing yards to close out the night. Everything positive about the night traced to the influential 12-yard sack by Arcea.
“It gave us momentum in the right direction,” Burgert said. “We got our heads into the game, and we turned bad things into good things.”
The Orland Park Pioneers Varsity received many standout contributions in the 22-0 playoff semifinal victory. Many of the first-team players provided support and encouragement. Those other players were Syncere Preshon, Riley Atzman, Brock Lenzen, Dylan Butler, Cade McNulty, Charlie Enstrom, Evan Lavelle, Luke Rybak, Ben Snider, Finn Redmond, Jake Marzullo, Logan Helman, Gage Cucci, Drake Ulaszek, Adam Naser, Enzo Angone, Ryan Duckhorn, Malcolm McGonegal, Michael Sraga, Mohammad Abedalrahman, Brandon Castillo, Aidan Rios, Ahmed Ali, Steven Mullins, Michael Stefancic, Nicholas Hertzog, Camden Czarnecki, Julian Trevino, Ryan Pempek, Erik Baran, Brian Curran and Qais Naser.
