By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Kathy Jones
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p148748866 **
Playing in the rain against a cruel, darkened sky, the Super Lightweights of the Orland Park Pioneers were joyous and exuberant.
“We’ve been working really hard in practice, and learning the plays and running our offense,” said Jackson Biskup, who had a fumble recovery.
“With the way we practice now, we just keep getting better, and you see that now in all of our games.”
The Super Lightweights turned Homecoming into a party of the ages, showcasing a quick strike offense and a punishing defense that left no doubt.
“It’s a completely different group of 43 kids from day one until now,.” coach Pat Richardson said.
The Super Lightweights ran their offense with efficiency and power in blitzing the Steger Storm 39-0 in a River Valley Youth Football League game at Sandburg on Sunday, September 17.
The Pioneers scored on all six of their possessions.
With the Super Lightweights up 33-0 at the start of the second half, the game was officially called with 6:41 remaining in the third quarter.
The Pioneers put the game formally away on a 43-yard touchdown run by Brooks Foster on their opening drive of the second half.
“The coaches did a great job of preparing me for this moment,” Brooks said. “My sister Anderson, who’s a cheerleader, and my family are also my inspiration.”
With just 12 players dressed and lightning detected over the field, the Storm could not continue. In effect, the mercy, or slaughter rule, was invoked.
The Pioneers did their damage, working a quick strike attack that thoroughly upended Steeger, using movement and direction with lethal accuracy and precision.
Amazingly, the Super Lightweights ran just 15 plays from scrimmage, resulting in six touchdowns. During the first half bonanza, five of the 11 plays on offense resulted in touchdowns.
“We blocked today, and we did a great job running the ball,” two-way standout Michael O’Connor said.
Running back Dominic Sopha is known to his teammates as “Sunshine.” The nickname certainly proved appropriate. All he did was run to daylight.
He started the rout with a 25-yard bust on the first play from scrimmage. The tone was set.
“My running style is about hitting the open hole,” Sopha said. “If I get there, and the hole is not open, then I just go wherever is open. A couple of times today I found the opening on the outside.
“If nobody was behind me or there was somebody in front of me, I tried to juke him. If they are behind me, I try to truck them.”
Quarterback Gavin Garrity started the fun, deftly executing a naked bootleg around the right end for the game-openingt 25-yard touchdown run.
“We hit the hole, took the ball hard, and I did my job,” he said. “I’m getting more comfortable running the team. I love getting the ball, having it in my hands, and just giving it to the other players.”
On the Storm’s second play from scrimmage, Aaron McCarthy knifed in and recovered a fumble. O’Connor needed just two plays for the second touchdown, a 27-yard rumble down the right edge.
“We were all very motivated and excited to come out and play hard today on our Homecoming,” O’Connor said. “It was important to keep playing well. We’ve seen a lot of improvement every week.
“We just need to keep running, and do a great job out there blocking.”
A jarring hit by O’Connor created another turnover, setting up Sopha’s 27-yard scoring dash.
“Obviously scoring my first touchdown felt really good,” he said. “Overall we did just a very good job. We really ran well, like these guys are saying. We blocked really well, and we played great on defense. We got a lot of fumble recoveries.”
The dominant narrative never faltered. The Super Lightweights lit up the scoreboard, and the defense disrupted and destroyed any hope of the Storm to move the ball.
The Storm failed to achieve a first down, and had just three plays of positive yardage.
In addition to O’Connor and Sopha, Christopher Medina, Jr., Thomas Sutter and Ellis Hubbard created the defensive pressure that leveled Steger.
Medina had four tackles, three for losses. He was a one-player wrecking crew, anticipating the snap and exploding into the Storm’s backfield.
“I did really well today,” he said. “I like to run fast, and hit hard, and that’s what I did out there. I have great speed and size.”
The defense ran hard to the ball, and simply overwhelmed the Storm. Players like Medina Jr were often in the backfield before the quarterback exchange with the Storm runners.
“Chris has been an incredible leader all season long,” Richardson said. “We challenged him to be that guy, and he has been doing it, in practice and in the games.
“There are several other ones who are stepping up.”
Taylan Morandi also had a fumble recovery for the Pioneers. The first half ended with two gorgeous touchdown sequences, an 11-yard run by Jordy Kolodziej and a 22-yard burst by Foster.
The rest of the day belonged to the players, who could celebrate and enjoy their moment.
“They are working hard in practice every day,” Richardson said. “We are challenging the kids every day. Our leaders have stepped up. Our second group is also starting to step it up.”
The game also featured an intrasquad scrimmage in place of the traditional Fifth Quarter. Quarterback Ryan Lukas made some strong runs up the middle. CJ Hufford made some very strong plays defensively.
The Super Lightweights earned strong play from a variety of players in the 39-0 Homecoming victory. They included Peyton Barbee, Jaweed Abuzir, Nathan Abbs, Keith Piekarz, Jack DuBois, Moody Jaber, Luke Bosack, Sean Kikilas, Zachariah Ballouta, Wyatt Kipper, Vito Cangelosi, Seth Cobbs, Jason Erwin, Zakariyeh Jaber, Alex Kopec, Shane Sternberg, Arun Mallavarapu, Tyler Wilkie, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Blake Nance, Dean Kassel, Laith Hammami, Jonathan Mizera, Dominic Gabriele, Jimmy Elsberg, Connor Kvelland, Thomas Richardson, Logan Cohen, Dominic Maurella and Adam Krokos.
The cheerleaders also brought a beautiful energy and grace with their passion and routines. Lea Barbee, Charlotte Dorigan, Anderson Foster, Alaina Holoubek, Clarke Jones, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Gianna Kipper, Grace Kvelland, Mia Mizera, Grace Poore, Elena Schmaling and Scarlett Sternberg.
