By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Eileen Copenhaver
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NEW LENOX— The plan for the Varsity of the Orland Park Pioneers was succinct, sharp and well designed.
The team looked to keep the game tight and find enough offense to support an athletic and dynamic defense that played with a controlled fury and purpose.
The plan worked out wondrously—but only up to a point. Then everything tattered around the edges and eventually the center.
“It felt like we got the stops when we needed to,” linebacker and receiver Cade Judeh said. “We got some good defensive stops. Our linebackers stepped up and filled those holes. Early we stopped them a lot on third and fourth down, and that allowed us to get the ball back.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert on offense, but it was good defensively until the second half.”
The offense never matched the defense in a 30-0 defeat to the New Lenox Jr. Warriors in a River Valley Youth Football League game at Lincoln-West West High School on Sunday, September 27.
The final score is a bit misleading given an inspired Pioneers’ defense posted two red zone stops during the first half in trailing just 6-0 at halftime.
The defense was largely the sole calling card given the struggles of the offense to move the ball at any consistent level.
“I thought it was a little bit of our mistakes offensively and what they were doing to us,” tackle Nicholas Hertzog said. “The offense was not clicking on the line, and how we like to run the ball.
“We couldn’t really adapt to what they were doing.”
Nick Peisker ran the ball really hard, and quarterback Hudson Doftert did an admirable job of extending plays with his feet and trying to find open receivers.
He made some connections with Dylan Ahmer and Judeh. The best vertical threat, Anderson Matthews, remains out with a foot injury. His absence has left a void.
“I think when we get Anderson back, that will be huge and really unlock our full passing game,” Ahmer said. “We almost had some great connections, especially in that first half.
“The ball just touched my fingertips and I barely missed it. That’s just the way the games have been going.”
The defense was up to the challenge.
Pinned deep in their end on the Jr. Warriors’ opening possession, Peisker and Judeh lived up to the moment with back-to-back pressure campaigns on the quarterback that forced incomplete passes.
The defense made an excellent opening statement, with strong play from linebackers Noah Maslowiec and Daniel Ramirez, supported by Joseph McCann doing excellent work upfront.
“We were very excited in the first half with those defensive stops that we were making,” Ramirez said. “We were just doing anything to try and get the ball back.
“I thought we did a pretty good job of outside containment, and when they tried to cut in the inside, the other linebackers were there to fill the holes.”
Judeh also had the biggest special teams play of the first half when he recovered a muffed punt. Unfortunately the Pioneers were not able to take advantage.
No matter how hard they tried, that part of the script the Varsity could not change or modify to their benefit. Doftert made a couple of short gains by improvising out of the pocket.
The big moment or breakthrough action that had the possibility of unleashing the attack never materialized.
Down 6-0 late in the second quarter, the defense again rose to the occasion by stopping the Jr. Warriors on a first and goal.
Down lineman Mohammad Ashkar, Peisker, Ramirez and Maslowiec did their best to limit the scoring chances by the Jr. Warriors.
“Our coaches have been super positive in the weeks after these losses,” Judeh said. “We’ve just been practicing and trying to get better every day.
“Today was a struggle offensively. We missed a couple of blocks, myself especially. There were some opportunities we could have gotten outside, and cut in and done something.”
The play of the defense kept the team afloat and within striking distance. The one-score differential did not seem insurmountable at the start of the second half.
“What allowed us to dig in was how we played, especially out there on defense in the first half,” McCann said. “We did a good job of communicating.
“We have a great connection out there on the field, and everybody knows where they’re supposed to go and how they’re supposed to do it. The coaches have done a great job of just coaching us.”
The burden put on the defense to play a perfect game was suddenly too much to ask for.
The defense had really just one lapse the entire game, allowing their quarterback to break free outside for a 33-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the second half.
“Even when we were down two scores, we still had some momentum and we were playing well,” Ahmer said. “When they scored on the kickoff, that changed everything.
“We felt like we still had a shot.”
On the ensuing kickoff, the Pioneers’ return man was jarred by a huge hit, and a Jr. Warriors’ defender ripped the ball from him and returned it for a touchdown.
The team was dazed but still fought back.
“We always have to make sure we keep our heads up,” Hertzog said. “We never let the score affect our attitude, and how hard we go out and play. It doesn’t change how aggressive we are the rest of the game.
“We just try to take the bad things or plays that don’t go our way and try to improve and make the best out of the situations.”
The offense could not answer, and the Jr. Warriors put the game out of reach after a Pioneers punt went awry.
The scoreboard said one thing, the larger game was more competitive, at least in regard to the stellar play of the Pioneers’ defense.
“We’re going to get healthier, come back strong and work really hard at practice,” Ahmer said. “The coaches have been really supportive.
“We’re still optimistic and proud.”
Move on and carry forward was the team attitude and refrain. Their spirit remains unbroken.
“What’s in the past is the past, and we don’t necessarily want to remember that,” McCann said. “You have to worry about what’s coming in the future.
“We’d rather worry about what’s ahead of us than worry about a loss that we just had.”
Quarterback Vinny Ficaro was able to close out the game with some reps with the first team. His impressive pass to Maslowiec was just beyond the grasp of the tight end.
Ficaro was a standout during the Fifth Quarter that preceded the main competition.
“It’s a really good group, and the Fifth Quarter gives the third stringers a chance to get out there and play in a game situation,” he said. “There’s also some playing time for those of us on the second string.
“We did a good job moving the ball.”
Despite the loss, the Orland Park Pioneers’ Varsity received strong contributions throughout the roster. They included Maximus Streets-Pruitt, Rayan Ghabayen, Louai Suleiman, Zackary Salah, Jude Daghlawi, Panos Kyros, John Sutter, Luke Tonra, Nolan Byrne, Dylan Enriquez, Aleksandar Tosev, Marquise McMorris, Jacob Hyla, Carter Peluso, Leonardo Luciano, Thomas Lynch, Karam Olyyan, Nick Mase, Muhammad Kassem, Aws Khalil, Edward Follis, Gavin Connors, Ryan Kenny, Daniel Malacina, Faris Hussein, Abdelkarem Shuaibi, Julian Mika, Rodney Vincent, James Okrasinski, Avery Vermilyea, Brian Curran and Issam Abulaban.
The cheerleaders also brought passion and energy to their routines and tumbling exercises. The group has a keen sense of chemistry and togetherness when they perform.
“Football games are really fun because we get to laugh a lot, hang out and have a great time together,” Gia Parisi said. “I really like tumbling and doing stunts.
“We get along very well.”
Giuliana Cangelosi is grateful for the friendships made.
“My favorite part is seeing how happy everybody gets after the routine is done,” she said. “This is my fourth year doing this, and I made a lot of friends.”
The other cheerleaders are Brinley Laniosz, Charlotte Day, Leah Janota, Addison Meyers, Oliwia Burda, Violet Fino, Natalie Brown, Aviana Briseno, Annabelle Briseno, Frankie Ficaro, Aubrey Baran, Natalie Kehoe, Ellyana Connors, Aviana Martinez, Keira Barrera, Annabelle Deloya, Brittney Blazys, Brooke Blazys, Kaelyn Albright, Luciana Rupp, Nora Velez, Giuliana Bertucci, Lily Hahn, Perla Boulus, Gabriela Alonso, Sonia Carlan, Hailey Camargo and Marguerite Ryan.
