By Pat Z McGavin- Photos by Renee Kaspar
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p280641940 **
ELGIN— All the best planning and preparation sometimes disintegrates in a matter of seconds once the unexpected plays out.
Big plays mobilize the emotions and confidence of one team, and sink the other.
The Elgin Steelers 9U team was looking for a rebound after an unsatisfying performance of the previous game. Their coach, Billy Rodriguez, demanded that they be ready from the jump.
“We’ve been emphasizing all week the importance of a fast start,” he said. “We tried to do that last week, and we came out and laid an egg. We were not ready to play.
“We said bring the energy, bring the effort, and get out on top. We came out today and did that.”
Running back Mardairus Causey opened the game with a 64-yard touchdown run that sparked the 18-0 victory in the Pop Warner Game of the Week at Drake Field on Saturday, September 29.
Taking the handoff, Causey gashed the Wolverines by breaking free down the left sideline for the 6-0 lead less than a minute into the game.
Causey finished with the two longest plays from scrimmage in scoring two touchdowns for the Steelers.
He showed an electric burst, agility and elusiveness with the ball in hands. He changed the early gravity of the game with his open field running and ability to get into space.
“I just wanted to say thank my offensive line for blocking, and my parents for all of their help,” Causey said. “My dad and I work very hard, and he showed me that skill.
“My QB also did a great job.”
The Steelers quarterback, Jaycob Rodriguez, orchestrated the attack with precision and finesse. He connected with his receivers, and ran the offense with excellent timing. The early touchdown altered the complexion of the game.
The Steelers immediately had their objective, and the Wolverines were reeling and a bit stunned.
“Their offense was clicking at the beginning against our defense on the first drive, and that happened,” Wolverines’ coach Tristan Borzick said.
“You’re going to expect that against good teams, and you have to be able to dig deep and show the character you are made of, and rally back with the next series.”
Once the initial shock wore off, the Wolverines worked hard to find their rhythm and counter the early touchdown. On their first two possessions, they showed an excellent running attack with quarterback Nolan Mitchell and running backs Antonio Manzo and Ryder Borzick.
The strengths of both teams matched up well, the punishing inside running game of the Wolverines against the speed and power of the Steelers’ defense.
“Once they scored that first touchdown, then we know what they’re going to run,” Mitchell said. “We knew the game was still not over. We had some bad luck.
“I really like running and throwing the ball, and getting out there on the edge.”
Manzo said the early Steelers touchdown was a wake-up. The team was down, but not out.
“We had to focus at the point,” Manzo said. “We knew the game was not finished. There was a lot of time left. We went out there, and the first half we played pretty badly.
“We played better in the second half. We didn’t win, but we had some fun out there.”
The Wolverines had their most sustained drive on their second series with Manzo ripping off runs of 12 and 14 yards. The team encountered a brick wall in the shape of Steelers’ skilled and massive defensive tackle Bentley Currie.
He broke through for two stops for loss that ended the threat. Currie also played a crucial role in opening up holes for Causey and giving Jaycob Rodriguez the necessary time and protection to throw the ball.
“I just thank my mom and my dad for training me so hard, and I could get through and make those great tackles.” Currie said. “It felt great and gave us a lot of confidence to get out and have that fast start.
“This team is very close, and we have a great bond.”
If the opening touchdown run by Causey was a shot to the system, his 38-yard TD run with just 9.7 seconds to play in the first half pushed the lead to 12-0 at halftime.
“The second touchdown gave us a great cushion, and we went from there.”
Khailynn Camero is another multi-purpose threat for the Steelers. He caught two passes from Jaycob Rodriguez for 24 yards. He ran the ball three times for 16 yards.
His most explosive play came in the third quarter with a 47-yard punt return for the clinching touchdown.
“I was going to go to the right and try to get past all of those people,” Camero said. “Everybody was coming from the right, so I had to avoid those tackles.
“I went to the left. I had a touchdown like that last year on a punt return. I love getting free. We stayed focused the whole game, and the offensive line did a great job of blocking.”
Mitchell had a fourth quarter interception that ended the Steelers’ top offensive threat of the second half. Gianna Galvan, Trevon Wimberley and Nolan Sester were the other defensive standouts for the Wolverines.
By and large, the team stayed with the Steelers. In the end, they could not generate the same big-play, game-altering explosive plays.
“We ran the ball hard, and we ran it successfully,” Tristan Borzick said. “We did what we wanted to do, but just couldn’t generate any points.
“The punt return was not something we were expecting. We tell the kids all the time it’s going to be two or three plays that decide the game. The big plays hurt us.”
Billy Rodriguez was very pleased by the progress and sharper focus.
“We have some first-year players, a couple of new players, and a new coaching staff,” he said. “We’re still putting it all together.”
Despite the loss, the Tri-City Wolverines received strong play from its entire roster. Those players included Aiden Shaver, Brody Carter, Karmelo Harris, Isaiah Martin, Hunter Denzinger, Jazeel Dorsey, Pharris Weekley, Tyden Druhn, Ryan Zeiger, Broden Montes, Logan Harris, Carter Goeing, Theodore Emph, Braden Belcher, David Randolph, Emmett Garcia and Nolan Krnac.
The Elgin Steelers also had many standout contributors in the 18-0 shutout. Their players were Roman Jones, Carter Adams, Dorian Adams III, Zayden Lewis, Darnell Wilson, Kaiden Correa, Elijah Hayes, Nathan Mata, Kayden Holman, My’ell Burns, Levi Brooks, Izayhis Allen, Jonah Cifaldi-Johnson, Wyatt Payton, Kaleb Zamora, Damian Melendez, Cayden Adams and Esker Peoples V.
The cheerleaders also brought great passion and energy to their performance. Their members are Amirah Thomas, Aniyah Campbell, Arianna Williams, Brooklyn Currie, Isabella Vargas, Jayah Rodriguez, Lauryn Ellis, Meliani Gomez, Samia Woodard, Shayrell Wardell and Zamaya Lewis.
