By Ed Muniz-Photos by Laura Stubbs
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The Pioneer’s Varsity was itching to get their season underway. Weeks of practice culminated to their matchup against the Frankfort Square Wildcats.
First-Year Varsity Coach Andy Rybak and staff came into the Finale of the four games at Sandburg hoping to make it a clean sweep for the Program.
The sweltering day saw the Pioneers win the three previous games with the nightcap the only game left for the sweep to top the day.
Although both teams put up a combined score of 63-points, the Wildcats salvaged the last game by holding on to the 33-30 win.
“We’ve got playmakers for sure, but getting beat deep, I think it’s a pretty easy fix for us honestly,” said Coach Rybak. “I think the kids that we have and put in those position, they all have the ability and the speed we just got to work on that technique and stop watching the backfield and play the man.”
“I think we had guys in position to make a stop but tackling was our biggest issue, arm tackling, head down, we have to improve on our tackling.’
The Wildcats started off slowly. Their first series was quickly shut down by the Pioneers defense. Connor Ward and Ryan Almasri led the way with stops that forced the Wildcats to punt.
Returning the favor, The Wildcats also forced a punt, stopping the Pioneers after three rushes that tallied just four yards.
Soon after the Pioneers punt, the Wildcats would tally the opening score with a run of 24 yards. After the conversion-kick, the Wildcats led 8-0 6 minutes into the game.
It didn’t take long for the Pioneers to reach the endzone as well. Two plays into their second series, Quarterback’ Ashton Brennan connected a pass to Thomas Elliott who then sped and broke tackles, going 52 yards for the touchdown.
The extra-point try failed, leaving the Pioneers trailing 8-6.
It took the Pioneers 1:09 to answer the Wildcats touchdown but it only took the Wildcats :20 to regain the lead.
On their first snap after the Pioneers tally, the Wildcats sprinted right, hit the sidelines and scored on the 57-yard run. With the touchdown, the Wildcats once again led, 14-6.
In a matter of 89 seconds, three touchdowns were scored.
Elliott again showed his prowess running the ball, taking a handoff and muscling for 20 yards, and it looked like the Pioneers might again match the Wildcats earlier score when Brennan lofted a pass to wide out’ Nathaniel Owei, who juggled the pass but finally secured it and ran down the sidelines only to be caught at the Wildcats 4.
The Pioneers first attempt to get in the endzone resulted in a loss of two yard, then a penalty on second down, followed by three incompletions, ended the promising series.
The Wildcats tried to air it out from their own 16-yard-line after stopping the Pioneers on downs. In perfect position to defend the pass was Nicholas Davison their first attempt. Elliott made a stop for no gain next and then Colin McElligott snagged a Wildcats pass for the interception at the Frankfort Square 22.
With the short field, the Pioneers couldn’t take advantage of their position and took just four plays that lost 4 yards along with a fourth down incompletion.
It took the Wildcats just two pass completions after an initial fumble on first down to up their lead to 20-6 after a 45-yard touchdown pass.
The following kickoff was returned 37 yards to the Wildcats 28 by Elliott. Elliot was doing all he could to keep his team in the game. Two plays later, Elliott would again catch a pass and go the distance for the 23-yard touchdown and closing the score to 20-14
“I felt offensively we played pretty well most of the game,” said Elliott. “Our O-Line played very well, made some good blocks and we also had some pretty good passes. We just need to the defense some and keep our heads on a swivel.”
Elliot felt the team hasn’t played together much and only had a few practices and that contributed to some of the defensive issues.
The Wildcats would again target the Pioneers defensive backs, connecting on a 36-yard touchdown pass right before halftime. The Wildcats receiver simply outjumped the smaller Pioneers defender and strolled into the endzone for the 27-14 lead at halftime.
Trying to establish a running game to start the second half, the Pioneers went to Ryan Almasri. His hard, punishing running style did produce short gains and punished opponents but it also caused injury to him as he spent time on the sidelines.
“I had some struggles but I’m going to learn from my mistakes,” said Almasri. “I was just trying to support my team, I got hurt but didn’t tell anyone, so I kept playing with a hurt neck. I thought I ran the ball well; I kept pushing and pushing for every yard, give it all I got. I tried getting back in for every play. I’ll look at film and try to improve from that.”
The Pioneers went three and out.
At the 4:49 mark of the third quarter, the Wildcats took off on a long run that ended in the endzone for their fifth score of the game and a 33-14 lead.
With a 19-point deficit, most teams would call it a night, but these pioneers kept pushing and pushing attempting to get back in the game.
Just before the end of the third quarter, Elliott would once again score, this time taking a handoff and busting through the defense on the 51-yard run to the endzone, closing the lead to 33-22.
Entering the final quarter and trailing by eleven, the Pioneers defense needed stops to get the ball back to their offense. Tackles by Almasri, Brady Straka, Jude Doftert and Caden Votteler slowed the Wildcats some, but it was Connor Ward from his corner position that made the comeback a possibility.
Ward timed it perfectly, stepping in front of the Wildcats receiver and took it the distance for a 94-yard “Pick Six” touchdown.
“On the play, I couldn’t really see the quarterback that good, but I heard Pass from our sideline and the receiver turned around, so I stepped in and picked it,” said Ward. “I just kept on running and saw Thomas (Elliott) make a bock kinda behind me.”
The Pioneers were now trailing 33-30 with 4 minutes left in the game. Three straight tackles by Doftert forced the Wildcats to punt.
With just 1:55 left in the game, the Pioneers unbelievably had a chance to win the game.
Starting at their own 30, the Pioneers offense moved up field with quick play calling using Elliott to maneuver closer.
A big run by Elliott of 22 yards now had the Pioneers just 25 yards from the endzone. The next three plays saw incompletions and when Pioneers quarterback was sacked that lost several yards on third down, the game was down to one last play. Again, the pass fell incomplete and ended the game.
Several other players made great efforts in the Fifth Quarter, led by quarterback Kyle Krokos, who showed he’s ready to lead the offense when called on and runningbacks Luke O’Reilly and Joey Driscoll who have the talent to gain several yards on every carry.
Those giving their all included, Ryan Beeler, Colin Kluever, David Kopec, San Tino Marrella, Josiah Johnson, Mason Overmyer, Wyatt Heinze, Luke Rybak, Henry Byrne, Keegan Fogerty, Layth Zughayer, Nicholas Davis, Harley Camargo, Noah O’Kennard, Nicholas Baniewicz, Michael Sraga, Mark Grech-Lisula, Willam Reilly, Brandon Castillo, Aidan Rios, Jacob Morakinyo, Cameron Taylor, Abdallah Abuhamda, William Gardner, Ezennaya Nwachukwu, John Marcos, Nolan Burns, Cristian Arevalo, Daniel Evers, Jack Bordelon and Rhett Capps.
Cheering and displaying their talents along the sidelines and during halftime were the Pioneers Varsity Cheerleaders. Beaming in talent, the Varsity Cheer squad kept the sidelines entertaining. They include Alyssa Abed, Lily Carroll, Erica Gonsowski, Layla Jeffries, Hope Majdecki, Madalyn Marable, AnaSophia Martin, Hailey McDonald, Ava Mendoza, Avery Nugent, Maeve O’Connor, Ava Pastiak, Paige Pomonis, Arianna Ramadani, Leah Ramos, Jordyn Shamma, Jozelyn Tamayo, Klaudia Willis
