By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Lauren Gray
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MOKENA— Time is always different in every game, marked by different registers of urgency, passion or possibly panic.
The Illinois Jr. Celtics 10U program was almost leisurely about estabihsing its power and will. When it matter most, the team put together the perfect blend of possession, opportunity and the glorious big strike capability.
Quarterback Mikey Comise is the son of the program, Tommy, and is the orchestrator of the attack. He has a lot of options at his disposal.
“We looked defeated at halftime,” he said. “Then we started to light off after that. I just love that I get to control the offense, and call all of the plays and read the run/play option.”
John Skuzinski V rushed for three touchdowns for the Jr. Celtics’ 35-0 victory over the Plainfield Saints in Pop Warner League play at Main Park on Sunday, September 13.
Most significantly, the Jr. Celtics used the time to their advantage, even if it did not result in material advantages. The start seemed sluggish after an opening drive was denied on fourth down.
It really did not matter.
Jacob Guisinger dove on a loose ball and recovered a fumble on the Saints’ first play from scrimmage. As it played out, the Saints ran only one play in the first 13 minutes of the game.
Even if a drive failed to create points, the Jr. Celtics repeatedly denied the Saints their own offensive chances. The math eventually turned dramatically in their favor.
The offense just needed time to get loose and comfortable, and do what the team does so well. Comise has a big play receiver in Hendrix Benard to stretch the field.
Skuzinski and Paxton Kirk are the dynamic threats out of the backfield, equally efficient and effective running sweeps or catching the ball in the flat.
“It’s great to have skill players,” Comise said. “If I read the run/play option the right way, I can throw it to either one, and they’ll always catch it and get the big yards.”
After a holding penalty wiped out an apparent touchdown, Skuzinski was unfazed. He motored around the left edge and went untouched for the 27-yard opening score.
Isaiah Hosman was 2-for-4 on two-point kicks.
“I have a soccer background, and I practiced a lot and spent a lot of time making those kicks,” he said. “After John’s long touchdown run, we all felt happiness, excitement and satisfaction.
“We have a great atmosphere and motivation. We all feed off each other. The touchdown changed the momentum. Once that happened, it felt like we’d already won.”
The dynamic combination between Comise and Benard created ideal conditions for the touchdown to close out the first half. Using his strong arm, the quarterback faded back and found Benard for a 23-yard completion.
“He’s a great receiver, and I know he’s going to get any ball that I throw.”
Benard elevated above two defenders and made the superb catch.
“We love practicing together, and hanging out and just have a great personal connection with my QB,” he said. “I really just trust him, and I fight as much as possible to get up there and get the ball.”
Comise called his own number, and scored on a two-yard keeper with 1.8 seconds remaining in the first half for the 14-0 lead.
If the offense was a work in progress, the defense was a constant.
Jeremiah and Isiah Hosman, Aiden Samanich, Vincent Venegas, Calogero DiNaso, Kirk, and Guisinger created constant havoc against the Saints.
The Plainfield team rarely had time or opportunity to make any kind of offensive push. The Jr. Celtics snuffed out a fake punt that set the late second quarter touchdown.
“We were following our plays and ran really hard out there on defense,” Jeremiah Hosman said. “I was just pumped and ready to play. I’ll do whatever to get down.
“The scoreboard was all the motivation we needed.”
Skuzinski effectively turned the game into a rout in the second half. He ripped off scoring runs of 27 and 15 yards. His quickness is a game changer, a force multiplier who has the ability to tilt the field.
Even in the moments when the Saints had defenders converging on him, Skuzinski raced around them or eluded with his excellent speed, change of pace and balance.
“I follow my blockers everywhere,” he said. “If I see space outside, I’m going to take that. No matter the situation, I just love running the ball.
“I looked to my guards, and if I see the cutback, or the play developing on the outside, the only thing I’m thinking about is scoring.”
As much as the Jr. Celtics controlled the tempo and pace of the first half, the team was not happy with its execution or larger performance.
The team felt sluggish and a step off. The team found its voice in the second half.
Kirk was a two-way force for the Jr. Celtics. He filled the hole from the defensive perimeter in making a series of top-notch tackles. He personified the athleticism, toughness and disruptive tactics on that side of the ball.
“We spend a lot of time in practice working on responsbiliities and where to go,” Kirk said. “The defense is always on top. We practice very hard, and it’s easy to always get our plays right.”
Offensively Kirk provides Comise with another skilled option. He flashed both the speed to get into space and the power to run through tackles.
“If I hit the outside, I can get somebody one-on-one,” he said. “I had a couple of those, and I was able to get first downs. I just feel like I’m a complete back.
“I can run, I can juke, and I can hit.”
Isaiah Hosman had an interception to set up the fourth touchdown.
The Jr. Celtics punctuated the superb performance with another glittering showcase. Bruising fullback Joey Paciorek got into the mix and had a couple of big runs. Another big connection from Comise to Benard set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Venegas.
By that point, it was game, set and match.
“On both sides, everybody played really hard,” Venegas said. “We shed their blocks, and we tackled really hard and we got to their guys in the backfield.
“On offense we never let up.”
The 10U team of the Jr. Celtics had many standout contributors in the 35-0 victory. They were Finn Ward, Jimmy Short, Owen Miller, Nicholas Mainor, Rhett Prasun, Leo Drabeck, Lukas Juricic, Jack Christou, Nash Surber, Jack Sanders, Weston Surber, Declan Faul and Anthony Raspanti.
The cheerleaders also brought passion and energy to their performance. They were Allison Gutierrez, Aria Christou, Aylin Morales, Bella Siano, Bethany Willis, Billie Wiemeyer, Brooklyn Kuzlik, Brynn Miller, Catalina Styburski, Gwen Oswald, Harper Sanders, Harper Clark, Hope Mahalik, Imery Lorenzo, Isabella Styburski, Isla Doogan, Jenna Lestina, Josie Paul, Kami Neylon, Kiera DeWolf, Lena Silvestri, Leona Bucshe, Lily Jones, Lola Petrocelli, Makenzie Garland, Malorie Hudson, Margaret Skuzinski, Noelle Lewis, Nora Hicks, Olivia Esposito, Olivia Palacios, Olivia Price, Olivia Martino, Rose Jones and Vivian Mann.
