By Pat McGavin-Photos by Renne Kaspar
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
CHICAGO—
Football is a game animated by pure and raw emotion.
Technique, skill, teamwork and philosophy are all important. In its purest state, the game is animated by feeling and action.
The Orland Park Pioneers Super Lightweights were coming off their first loss of the year.
The players were mad, upset, and eager to get back on the winning path.
“We were all pretty sad and down after our game last week,” defensive lineman Owen Garrity said.
“We came out ready to win in this game.”
The Chicago Blitz had the unfortunate distinction of being the next team up.
The kids played with the right balance of fire, tenacity and commitment.
Running back Michael O’Connor rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 33-6 victory in a River Valley Youth Football League game at St. Rita on Sunday, October 9.
O’Connor needed just six carries to accumulate his gaudy yardage total.
He was both efficient and devastating, using his quickness and sideway actions to break free against the Blitz.
He also flashed compelling breakaway speed by scoring on runs of 50 and 19 yards.
“I was running pretty good, and I also tackled very well,” O’Connor said.
Confidence just begat more confidence, making every big play both natural and inevitable.
“I get excited when I score a touchdown,” he said. “When I get the ball, I have a lot of energy.”
The Pioneers had multiple standouts, on both sides of the ball, and impacting the game from the very start.
Running back Erwin Carter was the early catalyst.
At the beginning of every game, with the results hanging in the balance, a big play alters the early dynamic.
Carter was the early change agent. His two big runs set the dominant theme that played out the entire gmae.
After making two big tackles on the opening possession of the game that forced the Blitz to punt, Carter also took control offensively.
His first carry was a breathtaking 25-yard scamper.
“I like to hit the hole,” Carter said. “Once I hit the hole, I have the speed to change directions.
“I also have the size to body people up, or I have the speed to run past them.”
Carter broke through contact, and got to the edge.
His 33-yard touchdown helped pave the way for the early 7-0 lead.
He finished with 58 yards rushing.
He also scored all three of the Pioneers’ point after touchdown conversions.
The early success only deepened his resolve.
“You just want to ge the ball every time after that,” he said.
“You have more strength.”
Quarterback Luke Krokos orchestrated the attack brilliantly. He scored two touchdowns on runs of three and one yard.
The threat of his passing also opened up the running game.
“We had really great blocking, and the running backs did a great job of both running and blocking,” Luke Krokos said.
“Our defense did a great job of stopping them, and our running backs did a great job of making big plays.”
Up 13-0 midway through the second quarter, coach Al Krokos inserted the second team defense.
The Blitz responded with its best play of the game, a 50-yard touchdown burst.
The best teams always respond. The Pioneers treated the actin as a momentary setback rather than a defining action.
It sharpened their focus.
O’Connor had his first breakaway action of the game, breaking left through a seam the Blitz interior and breaking the run for a 33-yard gain.
Two runs by Jase Enstrom set up the one-yard plunge by Luke Krokos.
Order was restored as the Pioneers led 20-6 at halftime.
“Once they scored that touchdown, we definitely had to step up,” Carter said. “The offense came in, and scored that touchdown, and that boosted our confidence.”
O’Connor dominated the second half. The 50-yard touchdown came on the opening play of the second half.
“I saw daylight, and I got outside,” he said. “I just like to see the hole.
“If it’s not there, I like to bounce outside. If there’s just one guy left, sometimes I just like to run him over.”
O’Connor flashed the superb secondary speed as he accelerated down the left edge.
His 19-yard burst in the fourth quarter closed the scoring.
In both cases, he started on the inside and broke hard left in getting around th edge.
If the offense was clicking on all cylinders, the defense was suffocating and relentlessly on point.
Garrity and lineman Cole Baldridge obliterated the Blitz offensive line.
The Chicago team rarely had a moment to breathe, much less do anything of consequence.
Baldridge had two sacks and five tackles.
“I’m pretty good on defense,” he said, rather modestly.
“That is my favorite part of the game. I love to go out there, and rush the quarterback and create pressure.
Baldridge forced the Blitz to send a second or even third blocker to try and negate his presence.
That opened up avenues for players like Noah Cordoba, Thomas Sutter, Jordan Ulaszek and Jude Morrar to repeatedly make plays in the Blitz backfield.
“I like getting tackles and that stuff,” Baldridge said. “I like getting to the ball, and I like helping my team.
“I want to help us get to a Super Bowl.”
Lucca Morandi also had a big sack during the first half action.
Without a traditional Fifth Quarter, many key reserves saw prominent action in the game.
Jason Erwin had a fumble recovery, and Gavin Garrity had a couple of long runs to his credit
Motivation comes in a lot of different forms. The Super Lightweights had conviction on their side.
“We were pretty upset about losing to the Jr. Warriors last week,” Baldridge said. “We wanted to win this game.
“We fought hard, and we played well.”
The Orland Park Pioneers Super Lightweights had many players contribute to the dominating 33-6 victory.
The rest of the players who took part in the win included Jack DuBois, Taylan Morandi, Zane Judeh, Blake Schuler, Austin Flynn, Zachariah Ballouta, Vincent Spizzirri, Wyatt Kipper, Cayden Caldwell, Ellis Hubbard, Christopher Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Andrew Richardson, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Christian Paulson, Scott Gumienny, Frank Wilkinson, Laith Hammami, Cody Godlewski, Nick Pomonis, Yousef Yasin, James Okrasinski, Nolan Burke, Aaron McCarthy, Michael Ordman, Thomas Richardson, Nathan Campos, Rayder Slabenak, Maximus Bauer, and Adam Krokos.
The cheerleaders also brought a beautiful energy and grace to the game with their passion and routines. They included 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.
