By Ed Muniz- Photos by Lauren Gray
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p1057281925 **
MOKENA— Celebrating the Homecoming Day, the Jr. Celtics slowly march each team in prior to their game behind a Bagpiper. For one Bagpiper, it’s a full days work that started at 8am and concluding at 8pm. That’s nine times he march in followed by each Jr. Celtics team.
He leads them to a blowup large football helmet and they enter the playing field with cheerleaders or prior teams lined along each side forming a tunnel, then rushing onto the field. Then comes the National Anthem and a coin toss at midfield, then game on. It was all routine, nine times throughout the day. A tradition in Mokena for the Jr. Celtics.
But the 8U game threw a kink in it, a pretty cool kink and it worked really well. Sure the team marched in as before following the Bagpiper, players waving Od Glory, but the National Anthem was different. Set up near the blow-up Helmet was Trent Cercone, standing there plugged into a speaker and holding an electric guitar.
Trent was there to perform the National Anthem, a solo guitarist ready. His rendition was pure art and skill, there was no mistaking what he was playing, all were standing, hats off as he proceeded to play Francis Scott Key’s Anthem of America, our USA song!
His performance warranted applause and he got it. It was the perfect way to start a game his dad, Dave Cercone would coach in. The Proud Pops couldn’t feel anything than proud!
The Next performance took place on the field as the 8U Celtics hosted the Elgin Steelers.
Coach Cercone doesn’t have a kid on the team, his sons are long out of the game and in their 20’s, but the 8U Jr. Celtics have many young faces wanting to help out but not yet seasoned in the coaching realm. In comes Coach Cercone, a veteran of many years of coaching, ready and willing to step in and help. Cercone has plenty of help among the coaching staff but he too is able to step back and let them gain experience. It’s worked out quite well with the young players benefitting the most and it showed in their Homecoming game.
The visiting Steelers were no match for the home team. Great defense and offensive execution saw the Jr. Celtics outplay the Steelers enroute to a convincing 20-0 shutout Homecoming victory on August 30 at Mokena’s Main Park.
“They did their jobs,” said Coach Cercone. “We game planned well for that team. the offensive line blocked like they should. Our Center and Quarterback exchange was perfect and my running-backs ran amuck but they also blocked for each other, It was selfish-free ball today. We have some big physical football players.”
As good as they played with Cercone quite happy with the win, he still felt the need to improve. Typical head coach thinking.
“Like we say every Monday or Tuesday, when we go back to practice, There’s Always work to Be Done! We can always improve what we do, so in every aspect of it, all sides of the ball, we have improvement that needs to be done. I want faster play calls from the huddle and faster cadence, all the way down to the actual play being run. Sky’s the limit.”
The Jr. Celtic offense, led by Quarterback’ Landon Brown got the ball first. Using a running attack, the Jr. Celtics moved the ball with runs by Max Lepore, Weston White and Landon Brown in their first possession.
White and Lepore are totally different in their running styles but both are so effective. White is a gazelle, once he hits the edge and gets to the sideline, you arent catching him. Lepore is a power runner that can cause you pain on impact but he to has some giddy-up and shows burst when needed.
The Jr. Celtics drove to the Steelers 7-yard-line. Whites’ 20-yard burst was the big run of the series and help set up Lepore’s 7-yard blast up the middle for the touchdown. White added the conversion for the 7-0 Jr. Celtic lead, still in the first quarter.
“I like playing the fullback position, I like to put people off their feet running the ball and getting yards,” said Lepore. ” On defense I have the speed and use my muscles to rip through people and get in the backfield and get anybody who has the ball. I have good vision and follow the ball pretty quick. I look at the ball and right when its snapped, I explode and rip. I really like playing defense and tackling but offense isn’t bad, I do pretty well there too. I feel we have a great defense too.”
The Jr. Celtics defense got the ball back to its offense after a couple tackles by White but a play later at the start of the second quarter, Emmett Juknevicius came up with a Steeler fumble for the games first turnover.
White ran for 15-yards on the next play and capped it off two plays later with a 66-yard streak that started right then cut back to the middle and finished in the endzone for the 13-0 Jr. Celtics lead.
The Jr. Celtics defense was on full display in the Steelers following series. Lepore and White each grabbed two tackles and forced another turnover on downs as the Steelers were being smothered on every try.
Runs by Lepore and White picked up 21 yards but time ran out in the first half with the hosts up 13-0.
Back on defense to start the second half, the Jr. Celtics would again benefit from the Steelers giving ways. Lepore recovered a Steelers fumble on their first try of the third quarter.
Taking advantage of opportunities is what good teams do, With a short field due to the fumble, the Jr. Celtics and Weston White didnt wait long to up the advantage.
Thomas Fletcher first ran for 14- yards moving the ball to the Steelers 21, from there White took took a handoff and finished the running the remaining yards into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Lepore added the point-after for a 20-0 lead.
“I was getting tackles and scoring today,” said White. “I like playing on both offense and defense. On offense I like running to the outside and the middle. I think i can do both of them pretty good. but the outside runs are better because i can use my speed. I need to cover the ball better too because you might fumble if you dont. On defense I can probably get to the ball quicker. I do that alrady but I can do better.”
Lepore again put an end to the Steelers next series. Their giving ways saw Lepore welcome his second fumble recovery in the last two Steeler series. After that, Lepore took three straight handoffs and ran for 29- yards.
Back and forth penalties now had the Jr. Celtics sitting at the Steelers 3. What looked like a sure touchdown turned into the Jr. Celtics lone error of the game as the ball was fumbled into the endzone and recovered by the Steelers to end the threat.
Entering the final quarter, the Jr. Celtics still kpet making tackles but also giving up some yards. Tackles by Rory Brennan, Lepore, Juknevicius, Jackson Paul and Nicholas Petrocelli again turned the Steelers back.
Back at the helm, the Jr. Celtics Offense took over and closed out the game by using the remaining time but not before Thomas Fketcher ran for 17 -yards and Brown added four more to conclude the game and keep the shutout intact.
One thing you realized as the Jr. Celtic offense runs plays is the play of center Mason Comise. In the trenches he would get the snap off then pick up a block repeatedly. Mason isn’t what anyone would say is huge, in fact as a center,
He’s quite under-sized. Not overly beefy or thick but he does an excellent job at his position. He engages in the trenches and does the best he can to provide for his offense. He is one of the players that doesnt get much credit but is a vital part of determining how well the team will do.
“I like playing center. I like coming out, snapping the ball and blocking,” said Mason. “As soon as I snap the ball. i have to get up and look for someone to block. Knowing the snap count is the hardest part of being a center. I think blocking is easier but I think I could still do better at it.”
There were other Jr. Celtics that performed at their best. They include Francis Zalud, James Mellon, Soren Fleck, Ronan Lahey, Jaxon Franz, Jaxton Yaeger, Sebastian Diaz, Oliver Bogle, Calvin Wilson, Camden Kokolus, Michael Ruth, Jacob Palacios, Mario Williams and Braxton Bellik.
The Mitey Mite and Pee Wee Jr. Celtics Cheerleaders also displayed some talent along the sidelines and at halftime. Showcasing their talents included Juliana Jachymiak, Lucille Nelson and Pee Wee members Mackenzie Tunney, McKenna Smith, Harper Kloiber, Lily Burke, Eliana Jones, Maya Varnado, Briella Price, Liliana Gotkowski.
Varsity Cheerleaders include Vivienne Andresen, Charlotte Fowler, Bevin Scanlan, Anais Nunnally, Eloise Morrison, Brianna Adair, Skyler Guinea, Luciana Kolenko, Gabrielle Migacz, Madison Varnado, Olivia Freyer, Ashlyn Woods, Charlotte Ozinga, Teagan Smith, Anya Stojak, Gianna Ponzi, Penny Oeser, Ella Dobbelhoff, Gianna Picciola, Mia Rhodes, Jessica Short, Chloe DiBennardi, Charlotte Mcdonald
