By Ed Muniz-Photos by Kathy Jones
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
When the Pioneers saw they’d be visiting the Tinley Park Bulldogs again this year. They knew week four of the River Valley Youth Football League schedule would be a difficult one.
Each year, the Bulldogs program feature some of the toughest teams to get the upper hand on.
Throw in that this year, the Pioneers task of winning games would be extra-difficult on the Bulldogs Homecoming festivities.
Not an easy opponent for sure at all levels.
Last year, the Pioneers left Tinley Park licking their wounds after suffering losses in three of the four games with the JV Pioneers the sole Victor for the organization.
Would a repeat of last years dismal outcome on the Bulldogs featured day materialize again?
Not a Chance!!
The Pioneers went into the Bulldogs doghouse and silenced the large Homecoming crowd, winning every game at each of the four levels!
Payback was a year in the making but well worth it. Super lightweight won 12-6, Lightweight held on 13-12, while both JV and Varsity dominated to easy wins of 40-20 and 36-7, respectively.
For the Super Lightweight Pioneers, they came in without a loss and continued that streak.
Though a tough Bulldog defense limited them to just two scores, the Pioneers defense was even better.
The Pioneers allowed just one score and used a swarming defense that saw several players making tackles or assisting on them.
Initially, the Pioneers went to their offense and jumped ahead 6-0 on their very first drive.
The running of Michael O’connor and Jase Enstrom gobbled up yards like it was candy.
O’Connor was difficult to tackle on his carries and Enstrom streaked for 35-yards on one run then capped it off with a 4-yard touchdown blast to the end zone.
Blake Schuler, O’Connor and a sack by Frank Wilkinson, made short work of the Bulldogs first efforts.
The Pioneers next series saw Quarterback Luke Krokos go to the air. He saw a wide-open Enstrom and lofted a perfect pass to him, unfortunately, Enstrom couldn’t complete the pass.
That was followed up with an 11-yard run by O’Connor, an 18-yard romp by Krokos and another 6-yards by Owen Garrity as the opening quarter concluded.
The Pioneers continued their drive and finished it opening the second quarter. Owen Garrity used his muscle and powered in with several Bulldogs on him for the 3-yard touchdown. With the score, the Pioneers now led 12-0.
Little did anyone know that would turn out to be the winning score for the Pioneers.
After the 12-0 lead, the Pioneers defensive stinginess continued with Cole Baldridge, Owen Garrity and Andrew Richardson playing stout defense and allowing very little to the Host.
After exchanging punts as the half neared its end, the Bulldogs managed to find a crack in the Pioneers defense.
After a defensive stance themselves that saw the Pioneers lose ground and having to punt from their own 7-yard-line, the Bullodgs used a short field and powered their way to the Pioneer 6-yard-line.
They would score their lone touchdown of the game from there on their next play, which brought the score to 12-6 just before halftime.
Schuler, O’Connor and Vinnie Spizzirri all made tackles trying to slow the eventual Tinley Park touchdown.
The Third quarter saw defense dominate play from both sides. The Pioneers were holding the lead and the Bulldogs were preventing falling further behind.
For the Pioneers, Spizzirri, O’Connor, Richardson, Christian Paulson, and two big tackles for loss and a sack to end the third quarter by Garrity, and Lucca Morandi, maintained the Pioneer lead.
Entering the final quarter, the Pioneers took over but couldn’t maintain possession and run off clock. Desperate to tie the game, the Bulldogs were swarming and making big stops wherever the Pioneers went.
On fourth down and needing three yards to continue possession, a penalty moved the Pioneers back to their own 26. They went for it and picked up just a yard, forcing a turn-over on downs.
Needing a touchdown to tie and possibly win the game, both sides were playing hard to score and prevent.
Tackles by O’Connor and Wilkinson stopped the Bulldog tries with minimal gains. Two plays later, on fourth down, Jase Enstrom poked the ball free during the Bulldog run and was pounced on and recovered by Scott Gumienny.
“Jase (Enstrom) knocked the ball out from the runner, and I jumped on the ball, I recovered the fumble,” said the excited Scott. “I was filling in for someone and I was happy playing defense because I love hitting. I think I’m pretty good at that, but I got to get better.”
There was still plenty of time for the Bulldogs to get back in the game but they needed a stop of the Pioneer offense. That came to an end when O’Conner popped free for 13-yards on third down after the Bulldogs used all their timeouts.
The Pioneers went on to secure the 12-6 win and remain unbeaten on the season.
Pioneer Quarterback Luke Krokos runs the team offense well and added.
“That was a tough game, but we did well because we were focused at the beginning when we were warming up,” said Luke Krokos. “We did good because we all fought, listened to our coaches and stayed focused the whole game and finished. That was a tough team.”
Offensively, its nice to have a back like Michael O’Connor. His ability to elude tackles or break free with his slipperiness and array of spins and jukes gives defenses fits. When needed , he seems to perform best at crunch time.
“I like just knocking people over when I have the ball,” said O’Connor. “I try not to fumble, and I think I need to probably block better for other guys running. I don’t let guys tackle me easy that’s how I run most of the time.”
Fifth Quarter found the going more difficult. They struggled to get plays off and looked off some, unable to score once. Offensively, the Pioneers tried but a tough Bulldog team kept them scoreless. Gavin Garrity was a positive as he continued to run and gain yards, twice running for 16 and 15-yards. Quarterback Nolan Burke gave his all along with Zane Judeh and Zach Ballouta.
The Pioneer defense did supply plenty of tackling with Thomas Sutter, Yousef Yasin, Nick Pomonis, Cayden Caldwell, Ellis Hubbard, Austin Flynn, Ballouta, Thomas Richardson and Jordan Ulaszek providing stops, but the Pioneers did give up a pair of touchdowns.
Several other Pioneers were playing their hardest against the Bulldogs. They include Jack DuBois, Tylan Morandi, Wyatt Kipper, Carter Erwin, Jason Erwin, Noah Cordoba, Chris Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Arthur Slabenak, Anthny LaPapa, Laith Hammami, Codu Godlewski, James Okrasinski, Aaron McCarthy, Michael Ordman, Nathan Campos, Jude Morrar, Rayder Slabenak, Maximus Bauer and Adam Krokos.
Cheering on the Pioneers were Super Lightweight Pioneer Cheerleaders’Juliana Corsi, Madison Davis, Violet Fredin, Brynn Fregeau, Mia Fregeau, Martin Groark, Hadley Hanrahan, Quinn Heinze, Alaina Holoubek, Vera Joda, Margot Joda, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Ella Kluever, Gemma Laniosz, Brielle Lenzen, Aubrey Mason, Amanda Mathis, Brailey McDonough, Annabella Milosovic, Ayya Ramadani, Avery Seliga, Peyton Tomasik and Moira Troy