By Ed Muniz-Photos By Jenn-Anne Gedhill
**Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p909654434 **
The Super Lightweight Pioneers traveled to Flossmoor to face H-F United.
The Pioneers were hoping to make it two in a row after their win over the Blitz last Sunday. While, H-F United was looking to get their first victory after debuting with a loss on the road the previous week.
Now at home, H-F were hopeful of using some home cooking to kick off the four games on tap at H-F High School on September 3 in Flossmoor.
The Pioneers played unwelcomed guest, using three touchdowns by their offense and a stout defense to keep H-F winless in 2023, with a 19-6 dominating victory, upping their season record to 2-1.
“Reps, Reps, and Reps, “said Head Coach Pat Richardson. “We’re getting a better test in practice, They’re working harder and staying more focused and its showing out on the field.”
“Everybody at all of our team levels is doing awesome, especially on the line, our linemen have really got shedding of the blocks down, playing with aggression and everybody coming along very nicely.”
Richardson also felt his team scrimmaging against the Lightweights has helped a lot.
Putting Jason (Erwin) in the backfield is opening up a lot of things for Michael (O’Connor), his vision is unmatched along with his power. We’ve been going more against the Lightweights in practice and that’s been pushing our starters, we’re going against bigger kids, that’s where are success is coming from.”
The Pioneers used Erwin along with Gavin Garrity at quarterback. Certain plays called for Garrity as it did for Erwin, so depending on the play, you could see either and it worked for the Pioneers.
Using both, the Pioneers went on an 11-play drive to start the game. Both Erwin and O’Connor used their skills and grounded gain after gain, moving towards the endzone.
The tandem had run after run of positive yards with Erwin going 11-yards on a keeper and later adding another run of 16-yards.
O’Connor would start one way and cut back and pick-up hard-fought yards, finally taking a handoff and zooming around right end on a sweep, getting in for the touchdown from 5-yards out.
The 6-0 lead didn’t last long.
The Pioneers were not ready for the speed of H-F and were caught by surprise when a run just two plays after their score was matched from 64-yards out to even the game at 6-6, ending the opening quarter.
The Second quarter would propel the Pioneers to a substantial lead they would never squander the rest of the game.
Answering the host touchdown, the Pioneers again set off to take the lead and they did soon after. Runs by Erwin and O’Connor soon had the Pioneers just yards away from doing so.
Erwin capped off the drive with a sprint to the endzone from 4-yards out that gave the Pioneers a 12-6 lead.
Defense came into play for the Pioneers on H-F’s second possession. Tackles by Ellis Hubbard, Erwin and a big stop by Connor Kvelland forced a punt by H-F and gave the Pioneer offense another scoring opportunity before half.
Time was nearing its end of the first half. The Pioneers started at the H-F 31-yardline. An 8-yard run by O’Connor followed by two Erwin runs had the Pioneers at the H-F 16-Yardline. A tie out was called that left just seconds for one last play before half.
A pass-play was called, and it worked perfectly. Erwin scrambled right and lofted a soft pass to Adam Krokos who cradled it in and got into the endzone untouched with no time left.
“They didn’t cover me so when he threw the ball to me, it was easy catching it and scoring.” said Krokos. “After I scored, I didn’t think of anything. I was a little happy, but I also thought maybe I could block better.”
With O’Connor weaving his way in for the extra-point, the Pioneers led 19-6 at half.
The second half began with all the momentum securely on the Pioneers side.
Tackles by O’Connor and a big stop by Laith Hammami had the Pioneer offense back on the field after four tries by H-F.
The Pioneers took over but only managed to run five plays. Little things were hurting their offense along with a more active H-F defense, resulting in turning over the football on downs.
H-F didn’t help itself; they fumbled their first play and gave it right back to the Pioneers when O’Connor recovered it.
Again, the Pioneers were stopped by the H-F defense, entering the fourth quarter. Four runs produced just two yards, they too had to give up possession.
Stellar defense by Erwin, O’Connor and Logan Cohen limited H-F to just four tries.
Unfortunately, a pair of penalties along with a fumble limited the Pioneers to just one play as H-F recovered the loose ball.
Garrity and O’Connor put the finishing defensive stops on H-F as time expired in the 19-6 Pioneers win.
Moving Erwin to the backfield has helped along with snaps at quarterback. The Pioneer offense had a different look than previously, resulting in duo-threat others will have to deal with.
“I like switching around during the game,” said Erwin. “I get the ball a lot. I thought I was going to hand off more, but I didn’t, I ran a lot. On the pass I threw for a touchdown, I think they thought the play was over, it turned into a free touchdown. It wasn’t an easy pass, I had to have the right power to throw.”
The Fifth Quarter featured some quality efforts from several Pioneers. Offensively, Rushes by Brooks Foster, Taylan Morandi, Luke Bosack, Ryan Lukas and Wyatt Kiper all showed their talents, but Thomas Richardson had the best showing, gaining several yards on his carries.
Defensively, CJ Hufford was a man on a mission when he was in there. His ability to get in the backfield to make stops was impressive.
“I was watching where the ball went so, I could know who I had to tackle,” said Hufford. “I was quick when they snapped the ball, but I want to make more tackles.”,
Hufford also claimed the Pioneer Belt for his efforts last Wednesday in WNFL play. He was a standout defensively.
Other Pioneers adding to victory were Peyton Barbee, Jaweed Abuzir, Aaron McCarthy, Nathan Abbs, Keith Piekarz, Thomas Sutter, Moody and Zakariyeh Jaber, Jack DuBois, Sean Kikilas, Zach Ballouta, Vito Cangelosi, Seth Cobbs, Dominic Sopha, Jackson Biskup, Alex Kopec, Chris Medina Jr., Shane Sternberg, Arun Mallavarapu, Tyler Wilke, Arthur Slabenak, Anthony LaPapa, Blake Nance, Dean Kassem, Johnathan Mizera, Dominic Gabriele, Jordy Kolodziej, Jimmy Elsberg, Connor KvElland, Logan Cohen and Dominic Maurella.
Cheering on the Pioneer players were the Super Lightweight Pioneer Cheerleader. Again, they showed off their skills at halftime and during the game. They are 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.
