SLW Jr. Warriors Get Past Jr. Knights with 6-0 win

By Ed Muniz- Photos by Kathy Jones

** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase for 2 Weeks at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p852256834 **

NEW LENOX– A Rival.

A person or group that tries to defeat or be more successful than the other person or group for superiority in the same field within close proximity of each other or be consider longtime rivals when trying to out do the other for many years.

In Sports, a rival is the one opponent you take most pleasure in outdoing or defeating.

Thus is the case with the Jr. Knights and the Jr. Warriors both of New Lenox.

For these two, the rivalry flows into the stands although many of the players and parents on both sides know each other outside of football.

Once the pads are on and the competitive juices start to flow, it’s a different story.

But it wasn’t always like that.

The Jr. Knights came into existence in 2006. Originally part to the New Lenox Mustang program, a few of the Fathers got together and started the Jr Knights program solely because at that time, larger, bigger boys wanting to play football were not allowed due to weight limits of the youth league the Mustangs were in.

They looked at the River Valley Youth Football League which accommodated their boys, although still faced with restrictions, but were now allowed to participate in football and saw Lincoln-Way Central as their home field.

For three years, boys in the New Lenox area now had two choices for football, the Mustangs or the newly established Jr. Knights.

Move forward three years to 2009, the year the newly built Lincoln-Way West opened. Those that were in charge of the Jr. Knights, decided to offer boys and girls an opportunity to also play or cheer as a Jr. Warrior to align with the opening of the new High School while still under the same governing of the New Lenox Youth Football Associate (NLYFA).

For the most part, boys were placed evenly between the two programs with a few exceptions while siblings were always together. Request to be placed on one team or the other usually fell on deaf ears as keeping participant numbers even was a priority. Once a Jr. Knight or Jr. Warrior, you stayed as one throughout your youth career within the NLYFA.

Today’s combined programs now have over 600 boys and girls competing in the RVYFL.

The familiarity between both programs formed a natural rivalry soon after, much like a sibling rivalry. It exists to this day and probably more so with fans of both teams not giving an ounce of acknowledgement to the other.

Kick staring the day of rivals and the final week of the RVYFL regular season were the Super Lightweights.

The Jr. Warriors came into this game looking to extend their winning streak to four games while the Jr. Knights hoped to rebound after a loss the previous week. In the standings, the Jr Warriors had lost just one game all year while the Jr. Knight had lost twice.

Defense was a big factor throughout this game with a solo touchdown the difference in the game. A second quarter 29-yard touchdown pass from Colton Ryan to Kamden Kavanaugh turned out to be the winning score for the Jr Warriors in their 6-0 victory.

“I threw the ball pretty good today,” said Colton. “I was making good reads today and we work on that, we work hard in practice. We stopped them from getting first downs. I think I can do better at watching where the ball goes.”

On the receiving end was Kavanaugh, he explained what he did after he got the football.

“I started with the ball running straight then I cut back in,” said Kamden. “I went a little swerve and I got that touchdown. I think my speed and my size works for me, its natural ability and I work hard at practice. I can get better by being faster. I blocked pretty good too today. Its not the best playing those guys, they talked a little crap but its still our family though, so its ok.”

The game opened with Kavanaugh sprinting for 8 yards for the Jr. Warriors. The Jr. Warriors were moving the ball on the ground well and started with a seven-play drive.

 Runs by Kavanaugh, Anthony Vassalla and Ryan did move their team to the Jr. Knights’ 23-yard line but the drive stalled mainly due to the tackling of Jr. Knights’ Grayson Youngberg, his three solos led the Jr. Knights effort with Colin Splant, Shea Broders and Jacob Vogt adding stops.

The Jr. Knights didn’t get much going on their first offensive efforts. A quick three and out by the Jr. Warriors defense led by tackles from Anthony Puccillo, William Littrell and Tom Athanasoulis forced a punt.

Taking their next series into the second quarter, the Jr. Warriors were moving up field using the glegs of Kavanaugh, Vassalla and Ryan but it was through the air that did the most damage to the Jr. Knights. Completions of 15-, 18- and eventually 29-yards got the Jr. Warriors the lead.

Kavanaugh caught passes of 15 and 29 yards, and Puccillo caught one of 18 yards.

The remainder of the first half saw both defenses turn it up a notch.

The Jr. Knights tried to respond and even the score using runs by Vogt, Splant, Landon Millar, and Cameron Gagan with Splant going for 26-yards on one carry but a stout Jr. Warriors defense was swarming to the ball and using quick reaction, kept the Jr. Knights scoreless.

Vogt was the workhorse in the backfield. His running stle was that of a guy that looks for contact in this game. He looked for big yards but wasn’t shy about banging to make a hole for small gains.

“I like running up the middle. I like running that way pounding the ball. I enjoy the contact<” said Vogt. “I think if I get through the hole quicker, I can get a lot more yards. I prefer running up the middle than going outside. When I play defense. I need to wrap up more and make more tackles.”

Quarterback Colin Splant led the Jr. Knights offense. He showed poise and a knack for getting plays off against a tough defense.

“It’s a little hard playing quarterback but I actually don’t know why,” said Splant. “I think handling the ball on every play and not fumbling the snap is a little hard. We did pretty well on defense just couldn’t score. I did handoff where I was supposed to and didn’t fumble any snaps, that was good for me. I like running the ball too and follow my blocking. We have to get better at  blocking for the playoffs.”

Tackles by Raymond Hadac, Jaxon Burns, Cameron Cerullo, Puccillo, Ryan, and Aiden Kramski were the reason.

The Jr. Warriors also struggled to move the ball for the rest of the opening half due the aggressive defense the Jr. Knights after giving up a score. Tackles by Gagan, Splant, Grayson Youngberg, Shane McGinnis, John Fitzgerald and Hunter Pawlowski shut down the Jr. Warriors into halftime.

Gagan was impressive in his ability to be around the ball often while also adding to the Jr. Knights tackle tally.

“I was around the ball every time I saw them running to my side,” said Gagan. “I just mad ethe tackle a few times. I love playing defense. I’m an aggressive type of player and I like hitting people and making the tackle. I think when I run the ball, I need to get outside quicker. “

The second half became a game of attrition waiting for the other to make a mistake. The third quarter saw neither team gain an advantage as both defenses held the opposing offense in check.

The Jr, Knights punted after 5 plays to open the second half. Although the Jr. Warriors maintained ball control for the remainder of the third quarter, they too stalled out and lost the ball on downs to open the final quarter.

Turnovers plagued the Jr. Knights while penalties were the nemesis of the Jr. Warriors in quarter four.

Twice the Jr. Knights lost possession after a fumble recovered by Jr. Warrior Athanasoulis and an interception by Vassalla.

“Just getting rid of the guy in front of me and using my hand work has helped me make tackles and plays,” said Athanasoulis. “I can pursue better. I’ll work on that.”

The Jr. Warriors couldn’t take advantage of their good fortune. Twice in one series, touchdown runs of 20-and 14-yards were called back because of penalties.

The Jr. Warriors closed out the game after the interception and settled for the 6-0 win, heading to the playoff on a four-game win streak and a 7-1 season record while the Jr. Knights will also regroup and enter the playoff at 5-3.

“This is a team we scrimmaged five times, they knew what we have, we knew what they have so we knew what is coming so it was come and stop it,” said Coach Mitch Burns. “Today our blocking assignments, if we can work on that a little bit more. I was really happy with the way we were throwing the ball, to see little kids throwing it around like that, I’m kinda patting myself on the back some, I’m pretty impressed. It’s a smart group of kids.”

Coach Geoff Youngberg had this to say of his Jr. Knights team.

“It’s a crosstown rivalry, it’s a big game, all these kids go to school together, a lot of emotion out there. Defensively, I felt we played a pretty good game,” said Coach Youngberg. “They threw more passing at us than we’ve seen all year. That kid can throw so props to him. We got a little run going before the half, came up short due to the time. We just gotta get that offense rolling like that a little more frequently. We were more focused, disciplined attitude and cleaned up from last week.”

Fifth Quarter action saw just a solo score by Jr. Knights Jackson Lofky go 76-yards for the touchdown. Also adding a 60-yard run was Chase Wallerstedt. Defensively, the Jr. Knights were led by the tackling of Caleb Kurek and Lucas Cheek.

The Jr. Warriors offense was led by the combo of Roan Seville to Edward Kustusch passing and receiving while defensively, Raymond Hadac lead the team in tackles.

Other Jr. Warriors giving their all or supporting from the sidelines in this win include Logan Ritz, Bryce Minnis, Barnes Jack, Vincent Flores, Jack Raught, Brantley Fabian, Anthony Lanski, Laith Yassin, Anthony Matarrese, Dylan Schlender, Mason Robles, Wyatt Hamilton, Alexander Bulow, Connor Kammer, Michael Cirrintano, Bryce Peele, Sean Peterson, Noah Odette, Theodore Barton, Aiden Dinaso, Jackson Dumblauskas, Declan Eifel and Kade Philips.

The Jr. Knights gave their all and had contributions on the field and on the sidelines from Matthew Hudik, Lukas Herrera, Alexander Lopez, Cole Stipanov, Connor Freeman, Landon Perich, Rory Zarlengo, Daniel Connelly, Austin Gagan, Efstathios Zervos, Joseph Salzman, Aiden Pawlowski, Nolan Datzell, Kai Tuburan, Joseph Newren, Colton Kimzey, Mason Fazekas, Greyson Young, Matthew Fangerow, Jackson Lofky, Weston Farmer, Vincent and Calenb Orozco and Jordan Avelo.

Cheering on the players and entertaining their fans along the sidelines were the Jr. Warrior and Jr. Knights SLW and Mascot Cheerleaders

The Jr. Knights Mascot and SLW Cheerleaders include Charlotte and Penelope Bass, Layla Clifford, Penelope Davila, Kyla Greiner, Audrey Kaczmarski, Lily McGinnis, Mila Mori, Camryn Wallerstedt, Riley Wojtas, Paisley Adeszko, Shea Anderson, Emma Blaze, Kendall Briden, Emily Cwik, Olivia Daviduke, Penelope Decesare, Kylie Donnelly, Kinley Donovan, Giovanna Ellis, Madison Fagan, Josefina Grzebielucha, Evalyn Harvey, Kaylee Hedenschoug, Ariana Herrera, Parker Jarach, Charlotte Keim, Charlotte Knowles, Eileen Mahalik, Keira Marshall, Paisley Mueller, Ashlyn Neubauer, Lola OYoung, Gia Rea, Laney Roberts, Sloane and Reese Ruhaak, Ryann Runia, Sophia Salvatori, Paisly Santry, Nora Tarnowski, Griffin Verble, Gianna Wassong, Harper Wernet, Olivia Wolski and Parker Wright.

The Jr. Warriors Mascot and SLW Cheerleaders also include Sofia Berrini, Nicolette Brooks, Jordan Dahman, Jordyn Garcia, Maeve Harenberg, Makenna Paver, Reagan Pelkowski, Nora Pesek, Raelyn Ryan, Harper Thompson, Carly Weis, Alexia Athanasoulis, Cara Bartasius, Hailey Bojda, Brooklynn Bubinas, Briella Carmody, Vivienne Cooke, Hayden Edwards, Gwyneth Foytik, Peyton Garcia, Anna Gill, Lexi Hollaway, Abigail Koney, Sophia Koss, Mila Marzec, Brooklyn McDonnell, Samantha Mikos, Holly Mikuta, Elizabeth Morrin, Aubrey Ott-Karczewski, Nora Raught, Emma Richardson, Brystol Schaffer, Paige Stecko, Savannah Stukel, Madeline Tarrant and Aria Thompson.