Jr Celtics 8U Defeat Bolingbrook Trojans, 21-19 in Game of the Week

By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Lauren Gray

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MOKENA— The physical and stylistic differences of the two featured players could not have been more starkly observed.

The elusive, fast and breathtaking Westin White is the driving force for the Jr Celtics 8U program. He makes everything go.

His opposite number with the Bolingbrook Trojans was Anthony Ortiz, an overpowering and highly versatile runner and thrower who caused all kinds of mayhem. Styles and contrasts make fights, in boxing, and it created the template for a remarkable showdown.

“I love getting outside and using my speed,” White said.

In the end, the speed won out—just barely.

White scored three touchdowns that proved just enough to hold off a major rally created by Ortiz for the 21-19 victory in the Pop Warner Game of the Week at Main Park here on Saturday, September 20.

As it happened, White and Ortiz met on the opening play of the game with the speedster coming down hard off the corner and taking down Ortiz for a two-yard loss.

Their individual clash set the tone for a game of huge swings and radical changes of fortunes discovered from both sides. The fast, quick and explosive White was the lightning who countered the thunder of the big and very agile Ortiz. 

The all-purpose standout, who played running back and quarterback, Ortiz nearly pulled off the comeback with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.

“I love the versatility,” Ortiz said. “We had a slow start. Everything we did in practice really paid off during the last two quarters of this game.”

It took a literal village of the Jr Celtics to bring down the big-bodied Ortiz, who also showed remarkable quickness and breakaway speed for a player his size.

The moment Ortiz had the ball, Jr Celtics players like Michael Ruth, Jacob Palacios and Mario Williams shadowed him. Braxton Bellik was the early defensive catalyst, charging hard off his cornerback position to contain the Trojans.

“We really had to gang tackle every time he touched the ball,” the Jr Celtics’ James Mellon said. “When we were able to do that, he wasn’t really able to move and that’s how we got him down.”

In the end, the game was decided by a couple of extra points.

Getting to that moment was awfully thrilling. The Jr Celtics started off on fire, using the outside running plays of White in concert with the battering ram and inside running of Maximus Lepore.

“Our line is really good, and we have a lot of good running,” Lepore said. “Westin runs really fast, with all the blockers, and the other backs lead. We have a play called 38 Toss, where we toss it out, and all of us go to the right. We gain almost 40 yards every time.”

The Jr Celtics dominated much of the opening half, flying to the ball on defense and utilizing the jet-quickness of White to create the opening tempo that was fast and unrelenting.

The Trojans were thrown off guard.

“We started off slowly in the first half,” Trojans’ coach Gabriel Hillsman said. “During the second half, I told them we’re still in the game, and we definitely fought back. Our team is full of fighters, and it showed, each and every one of them. We continued playing and never gave up, and they brought us back into a close game, which is all we could ask for.”

White was a master in all phases of the game, taking back an early punt 21 yards to set up the opening score. After alternating with Francis Zalud for some sharp runs, White broke around the right edge for the 20-yard touchdown run. Lepore blasted through two tacklers on the conversion run.

After the Jr Celtics created a turnover on downs, White again stepped up with a gorgeously designed offensive play. He started in motion going left and took the pitch, where he reversed field and again ran untouched 20 yards down the right sideline.

Quarterback Landon Brown scored on the conversion run.

The Trojans appeared to alter the momentum when Ortiz broke off a 50-yard run. Another great stop by Bellik for a five-yard loss stymied the drive on fourth and goal.

White again emerged as the breakout talent by taking the next play from scrimmage 93-yards down the left sideline for an apparent backbreaking touchdown. Lepore again dove in on the conversion for the 21-0 lead.

“Those touchdowns happened because of all the great blocking I had,” White said. “It gave me a lot more confidence after the early plays.”

With their backs clearing up against it, the Trojans took their own stand. Ortiz shifted to quarterback and used his size to throw the ball over the top of the Jr Celtics’ secondary. He connected on a 16-yard pass with Jack McKenna that set up a 27-yard down the right sideline by Jasiah Negron. After his apparent 12-yard touchdown run was nullified by a penalty, Ortiz was unfazed. 

Returning to quarterback, he found Giovanni Lemus in the end zone for the 12-yard touchdown catch near the end of the first half. Ortiz also ran in the conversion.

The tide again shifted after Robert Thomas IV recovered a Jr Celtics fumble on the opening possession of the third quarter. Ortiz got to the edge for an electrifying 89-yard touchdown run.

An illegal block in the back turned it into a 66-yard official gain. 

Despite a couple of penalties that drove them back, Ortiz delivered again when he lofted a ball into space that Lemus made a leaping catch for the 32-yard touchdown.

“I really like throwing the ball,” Ortiz said. “On the first touchdown, I saw Giovanni down there, and I threw it to him. On the second touchdown, I meant to pass to somebody else, but the ball slipped because it was raining. It almost accidentally slipped into his hands.”

In what turned out to be the play of the game, Lepore, Williams, Mellon and Jackson Paul converged on Ortiz to deny his conversion run, leaving the score at 21-13. The eight-point spread meant the game was ostensibly a two-possession game, or that the Trojans had to kick a two-point extra point for the tie.

White again appeared to shut out the final Trojans’ rally with a spectacular diving interception deep in his own territory. Disaster struck when the Jr Celtics fumbled the ball on the next play.

Ortiz powered in for the two-yard touchdown with 2:36 remaining. With little choice but attempting a kick, Ortiz lined up for the two-point conversion. His attempt was wide and short.

What appeared a rout turned into a barnburner, and spoke to the toughness on both sides.

“I’m a first-year coach, and this has been a great time,” Hillsman said. “The experience has been great. We had an earlier game this season where we were down and came back to win. These kids have fought every single game they played.”

Despite the loss, the Bolingbrook Trojans 8U side received standout play from their entire roster. They included Ethan Pecina, Zy’Aire Dean, Zayden Akins, Cincere Simmons, Alec Tapia, Jeremiah Hillsman, Kayden Sawyer, Lincoln Nieves, Taj Cunningham, Amelia Taylor, Khadin Lyles, Jencarlos Tapia, Quinn Corrigan, Caleb Murray, Zayden Haqq, Dominic Smith, Hezekiah Ankum, and Mazen Ahrens.

The Trojans also had two cheerleading groups who brought great passion and energy to their routines. The Tiny Mite cheerleaders are Cataleya Alfaro, Ariella Axocoyopa, Araya Franklin, Kaliyah Gaston, Avery Goetz, Parker House, Emilia Landa, Zendaya Negron, Alaya Theus and Taina Thomas-Ortiz. The Mighty Mite performers were Kaylee Upshaw, Nohemy Reyes, Violet Curry- George, Ciara Ragland, Kennedy Robinson, Journei Boss and Lulleulla Cicchirillo.

The Jr Celtics 8U had many standout players contributing in their victory. They include Mason Comise, Soren Fleck, Ronan Lahey, Emmett Juknevicius, Jaxon Franz, Jaxton Yaeger, Sebastian Diaz, Nicholas Petrocelli, Oliver Bogle, Calvin Wilson, Camden Kokolus, Rory Brennan, Jacob Palacios and Thomas Fletcher.