By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
Foreshadowing is a predictive literary technique that explains future actions.
Jase Enstrom knows the sensation.
Twice he caught punts and utilized his quickness, speed and elusiveness in the open field to register significant returns. His first return went for 22 yards. The next one was 18 yards. He has some significant wheels, and he knows how to shift gears.
“I like to use my speed and get outside, where nobody can get me,” Enstrom said. “I had those early point returns, and I like to use my speed and follow my blockers.”
Enstrom is quick, lithe, and explosive with the ball. He has a knack for finding open spaces. The punt returns gave him a chance to get a running start. That was just the beginning.
Enstrom scored three touchdowns in leading the Orland Park Pioneers Super Lightweights program to the 26-0 victory over the Homer Stallions in the season-opener of the River Valley Youth Football League at Sandburg High School on Sunday, August 28.
“I can’t run the ball without my blockers running,” he said. “If there is nobody blocking, I’d just get tackled.”
Likely he’d have to get caught from behind.
Enstrom was spectacular in getting around the right end on three different occasions in leading the Pioneers’ rout. He scored on runs of 31, 42 and 32 yards in leading the Pioneers to a commanding 20-0 halftime lead.
Quarterback Luke Krokos directed the attack. He orchestrated the run dominant action in a highly efficient and capable manner.
“We just focused, and ran our plays,” Luke Krokos said. “The blocking was really good, and our running game was also pretty good.”
As the quarterback, his responsibility is making sure all the pieces flow together. With Enstrom operating out in the flat on passing formations, Luke Krokos forced the Stallions into selling out the possibility of the pass.
The Stallions knew what the Pioneers wanted to do, and they were virtually helpless to stop it.
“In our offense, I get to hand off the ball, and pass the ball,” Luke Krokos said. “I also get to run it.”
Enstrom was the lead story. He was far from the other headliner in a dominant attack.
Defensively, the Pioneers were a one-man rocking band that shut down the Stallions virtually every way imaginable. The Stallions secured a first down on the opening series, and ostensibly never moved the ball again.
Frank Wilkinson, a disruptive and overpowering defensive tackle, made sure the Stallions never got into any comfortable offensive rhythm. He used his size and power to harass and obliterate the Stallions’ offensive line. He wreaked havoc.
“I play tackle, or pretty much where I want, and they didn’t really have anybody who could block me,” Wilkinson said. “I get into a really good three-point stance, and I just fly out.”
He was not alone as defensive presence who made life miserable for the Stallions.
Another defensive lineman, Owen Garrity, was brilliant for the Pioneers. He finished with a sack and two other tackles for loss. He also scored on a conversion run following Enstrom’s third touchdown run of the first half
Erwin Carter, Blake Schuler, Scott Gumienny and Lucca Morandi never allowed any breathing space for the Stallions.
After the opening possession, the Pioneers walled off the air space, and made it virtually impossible for Homer to create any open running avenues. The Pioneers’ defenders simply flew to the ball, shutting down any chance the Stallions ever had of reaching pay dirt.
Wilkinson also secured the first turnover of the season with a fumble recovery.
“I got into the backfield,” he said, “and I saw the ball was on the ground, so I jumped on it.”
Wilkinson said the dominant performance was weeks in the making. The Pioneers simply created a working template from their practice habits. The Stallions never had a chance.
“We had 24 practices before our first game, and we really worked hard during that time,” Wilkinson said. “We put a lot of attitude and effort into the game, and I think that’s why we had such a great game shutting down their offense.
Enstrom finished with 106 yards on six carries, all in the first half.
“It feels great to have such a great first game of the season,” he said.
Each of his three touchdown runs followed a similar action. He bolted to his right and simply got to the edge turned upfield before the Stallions could recover.
Carter and Michael O’Connor took over for Enstrom in the second half. They used their speed, power and willingness to throw their bodies into defenders. O’Connor was shaken up in the second quarter. He returned with a vengeance.
The Pioneers showed no desire to take it easy in the second half. Carter ripped off a 24-yard run on the first play from scrimmage.
The players meant business.
“I like to just go fast, follow my blockers, lower my shoulder, and just hit somebody,” Carter said.
Carter and O’Connor alternated for six carries in the 50-yard scoring drive that put that game officially out of reach. Carter earned his first touchdown of the season with the seven-yard burst.
“This is my first year playing with the Pioneers,” he said. “I really like playing football. I like hitting, and pretty much anything about the game.”
Likewise, O’Connor shook off the second quarter stinger and returned to action. He showed toughness and moxie. If Enstrom showed the thrilling breakaway talent, O’Connor revealed a punishing side.
“I like running the ball, and I like tackling people,” O’Conor said. “My favorite part is running the ball, and I can lower my shoulder and hit people.”
A year ago the Super Lightweights struggled at the start in trying to find their identity. The team caught fire midway through the season, and showed great improvement in reaching the Super Bowl.
“It’s a new group of kids, but building off what we were able to do at the end of the season, whether it was the Wednesday Night Football League or the playoffs, even ending the season before we got into the playoffs, really helped,” coach Al Krokos said.
“We have nine people on our team in their third year. We are relying on a lot of them.”
The defense was shattering and disruptive. That shows highly promising signs ahead.
“Offensively I always feel it takes a little bit longer to get going, and we were able to put some points on the board,” Krokos said. “Defensively, we were aggressive, and everybody was handling their responsibilities. It was fun to watch.”
During the Fifth Quarter, Al Krokos praised the running of Austin Flynn, the blocking of Adam Krokos, the physical play of Laith Hammami, and the all-around play of defensive tackle Nathan Campos.
The Orland Park Pioneers Super Lightweights had many players take part in the 26-0 season-opening victory. Other top performers were Thomas Sutter, Jack DuBois, Taylan Morandi, Zane Judeh, Cole Baldridge, Zachariah Ballouta, Vincent Spizzirri, Wyatt Kipper, Cayden Caldwell, Carter Erwin, Ellis Hubbard, Michael O’Connor, Lucca Morandi, Jason Erwin, Noah Cordoba, Christopher Medina, Shane Sternberg, Andrew Richardson, Jordan Ulaszek, Gavin Garrity, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Christian Paulson, Frank Wilkinson, Cody Godlewski, Nick Pomonis, Yousef Yasin, James Okrasinski, Nolan Burke, Aaron McCarthy, Michael Ordman, Thomas Richardson, Jude Morrar, Rayder Slabenak, and Maximus Bauer.
The cheerleaders also brought a beautiful energy and grace to the game with their passion and routines. They included Juliana Corsi, Madison Davis, Violet Fredin, Brynn Fregeau, Mia Fregeau, Martin Groark, Hadley Hanrahan, Quinn Heinze, Alaina Holoubek, Vera Joda, Margot Joda, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Ella Kluever, Gemma Laniosz, Brielle Lenzen, Aubrey Mason, Amanda Mathis, Brailey McDonough, Annabella Milosovic, Ayya Ramadani, Avery Seliga, Peyton Tomasik and Moira Troy.
