By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p892744110 **
ORLAND PARK— Every game often comes down to lessons learned, or opportunities lost.
Progress is always measured differently with young players just learning how to play the game. Improvement is not always linear, or a matter of simply going from A to B.
Improvement is both incremental and chaotic, and sometimes only recognized after the fact.
The Super Lightweights program of the Orland Park Pioneers made the necessary strides of continuity and development worth taking note of.
“We made a lot of tackles out there, had some turnovers, and really showed improvement,” two-way standout Liam McNulty said.
The next step is converting those actions into more meaningful results.
The Super Lightweights did everything right except score in their 13-0 defeat against the Frankfort Falcons in River Valley Youth Football league play here at Sandburg High School on Sunday, August 30.
Despite the setback, the team displayed the kind of toughness, effort and desire that coaches preach.
The most symbolic action came on the final play of scrimmage as Vinny LaPapa broke through the left side and ripped the ball out of the Falcons’ ball carrier as time expired.
It did not change the outcome. The moment illustrated the proper mentality going forward.
“We just need to play harder and block better,” LaPapa said. “If we do that, and we practice hard, we’re going to do the right thing out there.
“We’re going to start scoring touchdowns on almost every play.”
Paul Bertucci is the first-year coach Super Lightweights who matriculated from the flag program. Only about a fourth of the team has any previous experience playing tackle football.
For many of the newcomers, the season represents a trial by fire. Expectations require context.
“I thought the kids played really well today,” Bertucci said. “We saw some things out there today that we’ve been working really hard on in practice.”
The defense played with intensity and purpose, flowing to the ball and disrupting some of the quick actions by the Falcons. LaPapa broke through for a five-yard tackle for loss on the opening play of the game.
Even when the team was caught off guard, the Pioneers responded with desire and grit.
Getting caught on a reverse, LaPapa ran down the near length of the field for a touchdown-saving tackle on the Falcons’ 49-yard gain. One play later, star defensive end Michael Maurella broke through for a crushing hit that dislodged the ball from the Falcons’ running back.
Dominic Dronzek jumped on the fumble recovery.
Maurella was a dynamic presence throughout the game. He finished with nine tackles.
The son of a coach—his father Adam is the coach of the Blue team of the Lightweights—the younger Maurella showed a great knack for shedding blockers and disrupting the ball at the point of attack.
“I thought our linemen blocked really well and that let the linebackers and the ends get into their backfield,” he said. “My dad was really good at football and he taught me the game, and how to play. He’s the reason I love playing so much.”
The other two-way star for the Pioneers was the player affectionately known as “Scooby.”
Suhaib Ballouta was a one-player wrecking crew who played with reckless fury and imagination. Every time the Falcons appeared to create a dangerous action, Ballouta was there to shut the movement down.
He had an interception and nine tackles He was also one of the Pioneers’ strongest threats running the ball.
“He’s just all over the field,” Bertucci said. “He’s the standout player on both sides.”
He has great instincts and a feel for the ball.
Throughout the first half, the Pioneers’ defense answered every call.
The side also received strong support from linemen Abdallah Hasan and Tyler Duchovitz.
“We’re playing very hard, and trying our best out there,” Hasan said. “On defense we tackled very hard, and didn’t let their runners get very far.” That versatility and positional flexibility opened up a range of possibilities.
“We moved some guys around to help with our execution,” Bertucci said. “We put them in spots where they could succeed, and I thought they really played well today. Our effort was outstanding.”
Now the offense must reach the same level for the team to make the leap forward. McNulty works out of the option and Wildcat as the primary quarterback. He had some success taking direct snaps. Ballouta and Maurella are the primary running backs.
“I think our guys who go both ways are struggling a little bit,” Bertucci said. “I think they’re getting a little tired on offense.”
As great as the defense played, the offense put them in too many tough situations. The Falcons went up 6-0 with a short touchdown drive at the end of the first half. The second half was a mirror of the first. The defense supplied the highlights. The offense is still a work in progress.
Ballouta ended one Falcons’ drive with a great interception. “We have to do more work with our blocking and making the holes,” McNulty said. Once we do that, we’re going to start scoring touchdowns.”
Now it’s a matter of the offense matching the skill and execution of the defense. A big part of that is simply finding its identity, and developing a forward momentum. The talent is there, creating a template for success and achievement.
“We’re still a young team, and every week matters in terms of getting to know their assignments and getting them in a palace where they are comfortable,” Bertucci said. “We have to see it all in practice. We still have all the pieces, we just have to fit them together.”
Quarterback Ben Poore provided a lift during the Fifth Quarter action. Playing quarterback, he often called his own number, to spectacular effect. He had runs of 21 and 24 yards. He was one of the standouts.
“I really love being the quarterback,” he said. “The running backs made good blocks, and I was able to get outside. We have a good bond with this team. We all get along very well.”
The Super Lightweights of the Orland Park Pioneers had many standout contributors against the Falcons. They included Jack Bertucci, Elias Joda, Matthew O’Shea, Stanley Bielawski, Lakye Peniche, Jax Thomas, Max Kalker, Karter Pipkin, Logan Biskup, Ryker Tyrakowski, John Ordman, Anthony Comiskey, Kirk Valach, Lachlan Glassner, Liam Serafin, Mahmoud Hinnawi, Hudson Glassner, Benjmain Ally, Nicholas Smurzynski, Oliver Skwara, Kenan Ballouta, Jamal Jebreal, Shane McDermott, Zakariya Jaber, and Jibreel Morrar.
The cheerleaders also brought energy, style and grace to their routines and performances. They were Olivia Raggio, Morgan Griffin, Addison Theres, Lanie Hermann, Molly LaPapa, Teagan Paluch, Gianna Cruz, Alannah Rossi, Nella Leithleiter, Lydia Babarskis, Kelsey O’Sullivan, Everly Wagner, Madelyn Heidemann, Maura Flanagan, Kaelyn Flanagan, Maeve Zelensek, Mila Nikolic, Mia Morandi, Desiree Wilkie, Emery Christensen, Emma Podoreski, Emma Grambozov, Sarah Petraitis, Gabriela Rysiewicz and Maice Hinnawi.
