By Ed Muniz- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p261793120 **
ORLAND PARK— When a sports team has depth at every position, that team has a good chance at being successful even when starting units aren’t playing. The calibur of execution remains high and opponents quickly realize no matter what, they’re in for a difficult time and it doesnt get easier.
Coach Andy Rybak is touting exactly that in this years version of the Varsity Pioneers.
“When you can have twos (backups) step in for ones (starters), and threes for twos or even ones. I’m trilled,” said Coach Rybak. “The speed and level of play at Varsity is intense and guys need a breather and to have confidence in that second unit at just about any position and step up is critical and we know this year we have it.”
“We have a group here we feel we can make a run at both Sunday and Wedneday titles. Some of the guys in the Fith Quarter even are ready to step up and play, it’s a very deep group and a testament to the coaching staff and the Pioneers program, some of these guys have been playing for the Pioneers for years. I’m excited for our team this year.”
Not a bad situation to be in.
Week two of the Wednesday Night Football League saw the Pioneers play hosts to the Homer Stallions on August 27. With the starting units for each team rooting their teammates on from the sidelines, the backups would face off.
Second and third unit players would play in this game. For the Pioneers, it took just one play, make that two plays because the first one was called back on a penalty, to go the length of the field and open the scoring.
On consecutive plays, first to far sideline and then to the near sideline, running-back’ David Burgert would race untouched, first 70-yards (called back) and then go 80-yards the opposite way, again untouched for the touchdown. Brian Curran converted the kick-after and just like that, the Pioneers were up 8-0 less than a minute and a half into the game.
On two consecutive plays, Bergert displayed a “Jim Thorpeian-like’ skill similar to the Carlisle Indians star that defeated powerhouse Army in 1912.
“Its’ always a tough matchup with teams we play, we never know whats coming,” said Bergert. “I realy like playing on this team. it’s nice to get everybody in and what the coach is doing for this team. It’s not hard staying in the game even when you’re way up, you have a lot of adrenaline you get after that first hit, the first touchdown, the first big run; it all comes together, you want to keep going whether in the game or watching it from the sidelines. We have some really good starters in Enzo (Angone) and Ben Snider so I just try to do as best I can when I play.”
In most cases, the games in the WNFL are close with similar talent on each team. But in this game, the disparity of talent became quite clear minutes into the game. Having the depth at key positions, the Pioneers were back on offense after Ben Schwarz recovered a Stallions fumble three plays later.
Schwarz called his own number on the Pioneers next play and was off headed to the near sideline, beating everyone to the edge and streaking 30 yards for the Pioneers second touchdown. Curran again booted the conversion-kick to climb the lead to 16-0.
“I definitely feel I ran the ball well,” said Schwarz. “I’m very comfortable running the ball. I like knowing I can be a big impact on the game running the ball. We didnt really know each other for a while, David and I, this our first year playing with each other, I’m proud that we are working this well together. I think I need to get lower when I’m running and work on switching the ball to the sideline side. I thought as a team we did great.”
On two offensive series, the Pioneers had run just two total plays and made it look easy.
Defensively, the Pioneers were all over the Stallions led by Diego Aguilar. The Pioneer defensive lineman was difficult for the opposing Homer team to block and was a wall on any attempt his way.
“I thought for me the blocking and the tackling I did, was all working for me. I like being a lineman, getting the tackle and making the stop to end a play is the best, I really like do ing that. I do prefer defense over offense.”
Diego went on to add why he feels he excels on the defensive side; “I think I come off the ball really fast, I track the ball and finish it off by tackling the guy. I play to make the stops. I need to anticipate the snap better because I have jumped offsides before, also, I have to say our team work was awesome today, man to man, without us all doing our job, we wouldn’t be successful.”
Aguilar, Bergert and Evan Lavelle made short work of the Stallions next possession with stops, forcing a punt.
Two plays into their next series, Sean Buer took a hand off, started left, broke a tackle got to the sideline looked to be stopped but accelerated back to the middle and headed straight to the endzone for the touchdown, essentially putting the game away still in the opening quarter, 23-0.
“After I got to the outside, I started to get butterflies in my stomach because I saw open field,” said Buer. “I wasnt really thinking what was going on and just running. I kept breaking tackles, the one guy snagged my leg but I was like, you know what, soI kept going outside and then my blockers did an amazing job on that play to help me score. I’m not really that strong or heavy so I kind of rely on my speed and being able to juke the defender.”
Starting the second quarter, the Pioneers began mixing in other players. Both second and third units eventually became mostly third unit team facing off against the visitors.
The Stallions did test the Pioneer in quarter two, holding possession of the ball the entire quarter. The 11-play drive came to an end seconds before halftime on Brock Lenzen’s interception.
Prior to that, the Pioneers defense spread their tackling around. Aguilar, Adam Naser, Steven Mullins, Justin McNamara, Brandon Castillo and Bergert all grabbed tackles.
The third quarter again saw Homer control possession of the ball for the entire quarter, once again the Pioneers bent but kept the Satllions off the scoreboard.
The Homer drive continued into the fourth quarter with the Pioneers using eveyone eligible to play. Sitting at the Pioneers 2 yard-line, the Stallions completed a pass to a back who then fumbled on contact which was recovered just outside the endzone by the Pioneers, ending Homer’s 15-play drive.
After a 22-yard run by Gavin Loman down the far sideline, a Lenzen pass was intercepted which gave Homer another shot at scoring. Which they did three plays later to cut the lead to 23-6 late in the game. The Stallions sideline cheered knowing they wouldn’t be shutout against a surperior opponent.
Several Pioneers came up with tackles during the Stallion long drive, they included Camden Czarnecki, Ryan Pempek, Castillo, Finn Redmond, Curran, Lenzen and Naser.
The Pioneers ended the game with a couple small runs for the 23-6 victory and improve to 2-0 in WNFL play.
Others participating or supporting in the win were Syncere Preshon, Riley Atzman, Dylan Butler, Cade McNulty, Charlie Enstrom, Liam West, Luke Rybak, Ben Snider, Jake Marzullo, Logan Helman, John Werner, Gage Cucci, Drake Ulaszek, Enzo Angone, Maverick Vander Veer, Ryan Duckhorn, Malcolm McGonegal, Michael Sraga, Mohammad Abedalrahman, Gianluca Arceo, Aidan Rios, Ahmed Ali, Michael Stefancic, Nicholas Hertzog, Yousif Dahdal, Julian Trevino, Erik Baran and Qais Naser.
