By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
Mother Nature can play havoc at times. We’ve all seen or experienced her wrath. It comes quick and shows no mercy when she passes through.
Saturday, her presence came with a fury. Strong winds and pelting, sideway-rain were her introduction at Lincoln-Way West High School, site of the River Valley Youth Football League Semi-Finals on November 5.
The Super Lightweight and Junior Varsity games would determine finalists for the League crowns next Sunday, November 13 at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
The Super Lightweights opened the day with the Jr. Warriors as the top seed being upset by the Homer Stallions 12-6. They dealt with strong winds all game and managed to avoid the deluge that followed as their game concluded.
The high winds had gray clouds racing across the sky as the Orland Park Pioneers and the Frankfort Square Wildcats warmed up. Soon the Wildcats were running for cover as the blanket of showers took shapes in the high winds, engulfing all in its’ way, while the Pioneers formed a ball of bodies in the North end-zone.
Quickly drenched, the Pioneers withstood the wet onslaught, defying the sudden drop in temperature.
Cold and wet, the Pioneers came for one purpose. Mother Nature would have to try harder!
After withstanding the hardships of the wind, rain and cold, the Pioneers stellar defense would once again prevail this season and defeat the Frankfort Square Wildcats 13-0, earning a spot in the RVYFL Super Lightweight Championship game.
“We took the opening drive and scored, once we get up, I think the other team coaches must be hammering to their players that they have to keep us out of the end-zone,” said Al Krokos. “Experience really pays off at this level, we have 9 boys that are in their third year of playing, that’s huge.”
“We couldn’t throw in that condition, didn’t even try and we have done well with the pass, just couldn’t. We have mentally tough kids and they played well in those conditions. Just amazing group. Our defense is also mostly wrestlers and that really works for us.”
From the onset, the Pioneers had things go their way. Winning the coin toss, they elected to go on offense.
Wise choice because starting at their own 30-yard-line, Quarterback Luke Krokos and his teammates went on a 9-play drive that ended with Krokos sneaking in from a yard out for the opening score and a quick 6-0 lead.
Key on the drive was the rushing of Carter Erwin, of the 9 offensive plays to begin the game, Erwin would carry the ball 7 times for 56 total yards, with a long of 23-yards on one rush, taking the first five handoffs in a row.
Star running-back Michael O’Connor was sidelined after having difficulties initially dealing with the forceful elements as were other teammates.
O’Connor would later return and add his usual talents in the win.
The success of Carter Erwin when O’Connor came back, worked well not only because of his talent but also because the Wildcats were focused on O’Connor after running all over them in their previous game.
The weather was rapidly changing, rain began to slow down and eventually stop but the Pioneers and Wildcats still had to deal with the relentless strong wind and the changing temperature.
The Wildcats first possession didn’t last long, two plays into it, they fumbled which was recovered by Vinnie Spizzirri.
The Pioneers offense went back on the attack, but four plays on the short field gained them just under 10-yards, forcing a turnover on downs, missing an early opportunity to probably put the game out of reach.
It easy to think that. All season the Pioneers’ defense has shut down offenses. In their 10 games to date, they have shutout six opponents, including their two playoff games and given up just a single score in the other four.
A two-score lead would certainly doom the opponent.
The Wildcats tried to respond in the next opportunity, managing to get to the Pioneers’ 6-yard-line on their own 9-play drive. But a pair of consecutive penalties moved them back to their own 15 on third and forth downs which were easy stopped by the Pioneers vaunted defense.
Typical was how the Pioneers defense played. Even without the penalties, it was doubtful the Wildcats would have scored. They bend and even occasionally give up a big play, but the team speed has come through and saved scoring threats. The Pioneers seem to come up big with stops when they needed to.
Stops by Krokos, Cole Baldridge, Owen Garrity, O’Connor, Jase Enstrom, Spizzirri and Frank Wilkinson forced an eventual change of possessions on downs.
Closing out the first half, Carter Erwin was back at it, moving the ball 33-yards on four straight rushes. O’Connor was warming up and began to add to the offensive tally, but time was the opponent the Pioneers couldn’t get past as it expired, keeping the score at 6-0 for the Pioneers.
Defense once again made its mark early in the third quarter for the Pioneers. O’Connor, Baldridge and Jude Morrar made short work of the Wildcats possession, snuffing them out with Morrar also recovering a fumble just 5-plays in.
The Pioneers couldn’t get much going during their first try of the second half and were faced with a fourth and long with the wind in the face.
The choice to punt or to go for it was big. Needing 8-yards was not going to come easy so the Pioneers decided to punt into the strong wind.
Expecting very little on the punt, it was surprising when Luke Krokos punted low, keeping the football on a line, totaling 24-yards, nearly flipping the field.
Five plays later, the Wildcats were punting right back after Baldridge, O’Connor, Wilkinson, Morrar and Spizzirri made tackles. Spizzirri gained a sack and Morrar tackled for loss to end the third quarter.
The Pioneer would put the game out of reach on their next series.
O’Connor was now at full-go and demonstrated that form that thrashed the Wildcats defense earlier in the year. On seven carries, he gained 56-yards which included a 1-yard touchdown with 4:34 left in the game. O’Connor also added the point-after for the 13-0 lead.
One carry saw him take a quick step inward then cut back out, which grabbed him 20-yards. Carter Erwin also added a 14-yard rush.
Pioneers put the finishing touches curtesy of the defense of course. Morrar again made a stop for a loss, then Wilkinson stymied the Wildcat ball carrier with a tackle and finally, Spizzirri got to the backfield, made a hard hit that jarred the ball loose that was recovered by Wilkinson.
Krokos soon kneeled to end the game and advance the Pioneers to the Championship game.
“I was thinking about how some coaches wanted to switch our game to tomorrow, but the weather didn’t bother me and I’m glad we played today,” said Luke Krokos. “I like knowing where everyone is supposed to be on plays and getting plays off, that’s what quarterbacks are supposed to do and also be a leader on the field. I like doing that.”
Carter Erwin when called on this game was outstanding, his ability to fill in and move his team downfield was a big reason the Pioneers advanced. His performance rushing the ball gathered 115 yards on 18 carries while only rushing three times in the second half.
“I was like, can I have one play off because I was tired but on the other hand, I wanted to get the ball every play,” said Carter. “I think I had a pretty good game, and my stiff arm was part of why I did good today. I think if I lower my shoulder more, I can get more big runs.”
Defensively, Jude Morrar played one of the better individual games of the season from the line. He along with teammate Vinnie Spizzirri were forces to be reckoned with throughout the whole game. The Wildcats couldn’t find an answer for either.
“At first I had trouble wrapping up because my hands were cold,” said Morrar. I had a tackle early but couldn’t finish because I couldn’t wrap up. When I was offsides, later in the game. I was worried that they would get a first down and then a touchdown, but the next play I made a tackle in the backfield. After that, I was telling myself, “Good job Jude, get some more” so I kept playing hard till we won. I’m so happy for my team.”
Coach Krokos added about Spizzirri, “I’ve been coaching him the last few years and this game was his best game ever. He was so good and made big plays for us. He was almost unstoppable. He was getting through the line and making tackle after tackle. Just a real good game by him.”
The Fifth Quarter saw plenty of action by the Pioneers. Offensively, Michael Ordman led the way for the Pioneers. His talents will carry the team next year as his improvement has been steady all season. A Diet of big runs is what he feeds you.
Also adding to the potent offense is Gavin Garrity. His small stature and speed make him a difficult task to stop. Again, he made several Wildcats miss or outran them.
Defensively, a slew of Pioneers were making tackles or assisting on them, led by Nick Pomonis, who led all tacklers for the Pioneers. Also making stops or assisting was Ellis “Cannon Ball” Hubbard, Yousef Yasin, Nathan Campos, Thomas Sutter, Austin Flynn, Zach Ballouta, Laith Hammami, Cayden Caldwell, James Okrasinski, Scott Gumienny, Ordman, Aaron McCarthy, Wyatt Kipper, Cody Godlewski, Zane Judeth and Max Bauer.
Other Pioneers adding to the stellar season are Jack Dubois, Taylan Morandi, Blake Schuler, Lucca Morandi, Jason Erwin, Noah Cordoba, Chris Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Andrew Richardson, Jirdan Ulaszek, Arthur and Rayder Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Christian Paulson, Nolan Burke, Thomas Richardson and Adam Krokos.
The Pioneers will open the Championship slate next Sunday at 10 am against the Homer Stallions at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
