By Ed Muniz- Photos by Raj Chavda
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PLAINFIELD- Homecoming games have that extra urgency to perform at your best. The atmosphere surrounding the event along with the day long celebration puts added pressure to be at the top of your game.
Of course, it doesn’t help to have all eyes from the large home crowd focused on every little detail whether on the field or off. If you struggle, you will be remembered for your failures, if you excel, you’re the latest Hero of the Game.
Either way, Homecoming has its rewards and its disappointments.
The 10U D1 Plainfield Saints were excited to host and take on the Rockford Titans on September 22 at Plainfield Central, site of the 2024 Homecoming.
Beside the Homecoming atmosphere, another reason was that both teams came into this game unbeaten at 4-0.
In a heavy downpour, both teams were tested but despite the weather, they performed well considering the elements.
What looked like a sure win for the host Saints, turned into a jaw-dropping an 18-13 defeat with the Titans scoring two touchdowns in the span of just over a minute in the last 3-minutes of the game, giving the Saints their first loss, leaving a bitter taste of defeat at their Homecoming.
“We didn’t get many calls go our way today,” said Head Coach Chris Rogus. “A very tough loss. At the end of the day, we made too many mistakes. You can’t win football games if you make mistakes in the end. We had them, but mistakes, mental mistakes happened which is the tough part.”
The Saints did play shorthanded, missing their two middle linebackers in this game.
“They realized that and took advantage, it’s where all their long runs came from, up the middle on us. It’s football, you make mistakes, you learn from it, and you get it next week. The boys played as best they could, missing our guys. I think at the end of the game when you needed leadership, your buddy isn’t there it’s tough, you see it at every level of football from youth all the way to the pros, when you’re without that, it’s tough.”
The Saints started strong using a running attack of Anthony Ecklund, Oliver Jeninga, Robert Hyde Jr. and Bennett Towry.
They moved up field and used up the entirety of the first quarter and into the second during their opening drive rushing to the Titans 2 yard-line.
The Saints jumped ahead early in quarter two when Jeninga pounded in the last two yards for the touchdown. After a failed extra-point try, the Saints led 6-0.
The Titans looked like they would even up the game with the way they were running the ball, picking up yard after yard during their 9-play drive.
Tackles by Logan Leonhardt, Cameron Lamorte, Hyde Jr., Camerin Jackson and Umir Henson (loss of 6 yards) slowed the Titans but didn’t stop them until Lamorte stepped in front of a Titan pass, intercepted it, returning it 57 yards for the Saints.
“I read the quarterback and see where they hand off or throw the ball and then go to the ball,” said Lamorte. “I want to be in the play and make or help with the tackle or make an interception like I did.”
With the big defensive play, the Saints were sitting pretty at the Rockford 23 yard-line with a chance to extend their lead. The elation of their Titan stop turned into disaster on the very next play, fumbling the exchange and losing the momentum when the Titans recovered the loose ball.
The Saints defense closed out the opening half with tackles by Tyler Thompson, Caleb Cooke, Hyde Jr. and a sack by Cameron Cosme.
It took the Titans just two snaps into the second half to even up the game at 6-6. A 50-yard jaunt up the middle of the Saints defense seemed to surprise them as they gave chase to no avail. The Titans did fail on the conversion, leaving the game tied.
After fumbling the ensuing offensive snap, the Saints used workhorse running-back Ecklund on the next two plays, the second attempt went for 49-yards as the low, robust runner pinballed his way through the Titan defense up the middle.
Hyde Jr. followed that run with 9 more yards, again up the middle and Jeninga followed suit right through the middle of the Titan defense from three yards out for the Saints second touchdown. Towry powered in for the extra-point, giving the Saints a 13-6 advantage.
Jeninga was a difficult stop for the Titans, his short-yardage game appears to be his specialty with his size and power. His two touchdowns were proof of that.
“I pretty much do the short yard running,” said Jeninga. “I like running with the ball. I like running up the middle but also outside but when they want me to get the short ones, I like that too. I need to practice on my defense and wrapping up and lowering my level, I have been tackling high like a lot of the team. I thought we did good as a team.”
With the lead, the Saints defense became more aggressive and grabbed several tackles, stalling the Titans drive, forcing a loss of the football on downs to conclude the third quarter.
A couple penalties hampered the next Saints drive, but a 24-yard pass by Towry to Jeninga gave the Saints some working room. Unfortunately, just two plays later, Jeninga coughed up the ball as the Titans grabbed the fumble.
One play later, the Titans again scored on a long 51-yard run to close the score to 13-12 after they once again failed on the conversion try.
Knowing with 3 minutes left in the game, they might not get the ball back, the Titans tried an onside kick which they recovered as some Saints looked unsure whether to touch the ball or not.
Amazingly, the Titans used another run up the middle that didn’t stop until it reached the endzone for the 48-yard touchdown that shocked the home sideline.
With just over two minutes to play, the Saints now trailed 18-13 after what looked to be a safe bet to earn the victory.
With not enough time in difficult weather, the Saints couldn’t sustain a quick drive down field and when a fourth down pass fell incomplete, the game was over.
A tough loss to swallow for all the Saints including running-back Anthony Ecklund who provided much of the rushing attack for the Saints.
“I think we did good, we just got to get better at tackling,” said Ecklund. “Our snaps have to be better, we had to jump for them a lot. I thought I ran the ball well, but I should have gotten to the outside more and not juke as much.”
Also adding to the running attack was Robert Hyde Jr. His ability to not give defenders an easy target due to his slashing running style that works for him.
“Normally I like running straight, I know I have my shoulders up and have to work on that,” said Hyde Jr. “I think I have a good read and make it quick, but I could have been better also on defense, staying even with the ball carrier and getting to the outside for the tackle. I think we need to work on swarming to the ball although we should have won today.”
Other Saints giving all they could when called on were Mason LaFountain, Tyler Bernabel, Jackson Hill, Youssef Elmaaroufi, Landen Robertson, Logan Zaleski-Lawell, Kaiden Lingier, Jerry Tyler, Luke Rybczyk, Brady Hayes, Maxim McBee, and Cameron Marry. Tyler Bernabel and Jayden Washinton, were the key players missing in action due to illness
