By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn Anne Gledhill
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ORLAND PARK— Every team looks for that eureka moment when everything they work on comes together in an exhilarating way.
Improvement is sometimes subtle and hard to catch, and other times so obvious it’s like getting hit in the face.
Every game for the Orland Park Super Lightweights has been a study of patience, learning and development. In one gorgeous moment, it formed a lasting impression.
In the fourth quarter, quarterback Liam McNulty faked the run and sprinted and lofted a perfect pass to Suhaib Ballouta on the left wing for their longest play from scrimmage of the season.
It covered just under 20 yards of real estate. The team had been waiting for something like that.
“It’s always the quarterback who has a good throw, and then you have to catch it on your chest,” Ballouta said.
Time ran out for the Pioneers who watched a last-ditch effort for the equalizing score came up short on fourth down. The game spoke convincingly about the team and its rapidly improving players.
The Super Lightweights showed heart and discipline in the 7-0 Homecoming loss against the Tinley Bulldogs in a River Valley Youth Football League game at Sandburg High School on Sunday, September 6.
The team has narrowed the gap and become much more competitive.
The Pioneers have gone from losing by five touchdowns in their first game to a two-score game a week ago and now just a single score that came late in the game.
“I think it’s something we could build off,” coach Paul Bertucci said. “We were one, maybe two, plays away from winning that game.
“I think these guys are getting better. They’re working as a team much better. We still have to get the fundamentals down. There are things we have to clean up. The pass game is something to look forward to—as well as the hurry-up offense.”
The defense, in a word, was spectacular, and kept the Pioneers bunched together with the Bulldogs until the closing seconds.
Ballouta is called “Scooby,” by family, friends and teammates.
“My dad just kept calling me that when I was younger, and he gave me the nickname,” he said.
Ballouta was a one-player wrecking crew. He almost individually destabilized the Bulldogs’ offense by forcing and recovering fumbles on each of their first two possessions.
“My dad always tells me to rip the ball, and never give up on running plays,” he said. “You just need to have the speed. You just keep running, and you can do it.
“I just love doing what the coaches ask me to do. Run quickly, and I’m there.”
Ballouta had eight tackles. Defensive linemen Michael Maurella and Tyler Duchovitz were the other anchors.
The two harassed the Bulldogs’ offense throughout the day.
The two achieved success in different fashion, Maurella with his burst and speed off the edge, and Duchvitz using his size to overpower the offensive line.
“I was able to push them out of the way easier, and jump in and dive to get the quarterback or the running back,” Duchovitz said.
He had two sacks and three tackles for loss in the game.
“We’ve been working really hard to get better,” he said. “I’m learning how to get my guy off of me, and go in there and make the tackle.
“You always have to practice to get better.”
Maurella had six tackles, including a sack and two stops that resulted in negative plays. After playing running back the first two weeks of the season, he helped bolster the offensive line at tackle.
His two-way play brought variety and pace to the offensive attack.
Offensively, McNulty, Ballouta and Vinny LaPapa are the primary playmakers. Ballouta has the versatility to take the ball on sweeps and end rounds, and also get into space on passing routes.
LaPapa is a more traditional back.
“Those turnovers by Scooby got us all hyped up,” LaPapa said. “I think offensively we started blocking better and doing a better job of finding the holes.
“On defense we’re not tackling up at the head the way we did earlier in the season.”
Coming off the first strip and recovery by Ballouta, the offense generated one of its best drives of the season with an eight-play possession.
McNulty showed burst getting around the edge, and Ballouta also flashed great speed. The signs are definitely encouraging.
The defense was on the field for most of the second half. The Pioneers lost a fumble on their first play from scrimmage early in the fourth quarter.
The defense again rose to the occasion despite working in the shadow of their own goal line. Ballouta, McNulty and Maurella stuffed the Bulldogs on fourth down.
The only downside was the offense caught deep in its own end. Unable to advance the ball very far, the Pioneers were forced to punt, giving the Bulldogs possession again deep in their end.
The Pioneers’ only defensive breakdown proved costly. A mix up at the line of scrimmage and a broken play led to a 26-yard Bulldogs’ touchdown run on first down.
“They had a fake, and I didn’t know where he was, and he was able to run for the touchdown,” Ballouta said.
The Pioneers fought back, working against the clock, with just 1:34 remaining in the game. The best moment of the six-play drive was the pass play.
If the score went against them, the effort was undeniable.
“I think we’ve gotten better every week,” Bertucci said. “I can’t say enough about our defense. They kept us in the game. Scooby has a great nose for the ball, and he’s in our every play.
“Other guys like Liam, Maurella, Tyler, they were great. Jax Thomas came in from the Whites, and he did a great job. We lost by 34 the first week, and got that down to 13 last week. Today we’re one play away from winning the game. We’re on the right path here.”
In the Fifth Quarter, running back Ryker Tyrakowski was the standout, using his speed and agility to create a series of positive actions.
“I like to juke people out,” he said. “When I run, I like to also do a spin move. On that one big run, I couldn’t do it, but I still had a great run,”
The Homecoming festivities were a historic one with the Pioneers, or celebrating their golden jubilee, or 50th anniversary. The cheerleaders were also a central part of the beauty and grace.
“This is my time doing it,” Maeve Zelensek said. “My friends were doing it, and I wanted to join them. I really like when we do stunting.” The girls practice up to six to eight hours a week.
“I just wanted to do another sport, and I really love going out there at halftime for our routine,” Morgan Griffin said. “I’m one of the flyers, and I get thrown in the air. I don’t really get nervous doing it.”
Emma Grambozov is another of the girls who moves through the air.
“Doing the big halftime show was such an amazing experience,” she said.
Despite the tough 7-0 loss, the Super Lightweights had many standout contributors in the Homecoming game. They included
Jack Bertucci, Elias Joda, Matthew O’Shea, Stanley Bielawski, Lakye Peniche, Max Kalker, Ben Poore, Karter Pipkin, Logan Biskup, John Ordman, Anthony Comiskey, Kirk Valach, Lachlan Glassner, Liam Serafin, Mahmoud Hinnawi, Dominic Dronzek, Hudson Glassner, Benjmain Ally, Nicholas Smurzynski, Oliver Skwara, Kenan Ballouta, Jamal Jebreal, Abdallah Hasan, Shane McDermott, Zakariya Jaber and Jibreel Morrar.
In addition to Zelenzek, Griffin and Grambozov, the other cheerleaders were Olivia Raggio, 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, Mila Nikolic, Mia Morandi, Desiree Wilkie, Emery Christensen, Emma Podoreski, Sarah Petraitis, Gabriela Rysiewicz and Maice Hinnawi.
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