By Ed Muniz- Photos by Renee Kaspar
** Adiitional Photos Are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p77220496 **
Orland Park- Closing out the Wednesday evening entertainment in WNFL play, turned out to be a defensive battle by the Varsity Orland Park Pioneers and the Homer Stallions on September 4 in Orland Park.
No touchdowns, field goals or extra-points were scored, not a single play resulted in offensive scoring by either team yet, there was still a winner.
A third quarter miscue by the Pioneers would hold up to be their undoing and give the Stallions a 2-0 win.
Yes, a self-inflicted safety due to a poor snap saw Pioneers quarterback have to pounce on the ball in the endzone which gave the Stallions the only points of the game.
Just prior to the Safety, the Stallions ripped off a long run that looked like it was headed into the endzone, but showing incredible speed, Pioneer’s wideout’ Joey Driscoll ran down the get-away Homer runner, caught and forced a fumble which was recovered just outside the endzone by Henry Byrne.
What was a spectacular effort by Driscoll and Byrne, one play later was squandered on poor execution, and turned out to be the game winner.
“A center who has never snapped a ball in his life, running out of the gun, those things happen,” said Coach Andy Rybak addressing his team. ”I’ll chalk that up as not being prepared, I’ll take that on me.”
What plaque the Pioneers offense was the inability for open receivers to complete the catch. Quarterback Kyle Krokos would avoid the rush, get the ball where it needed to be and see his passes drop.
It happened throughout the game several times.
Another factor for the Pioneers’ offensive lack of success was their running game wasn’t clicking. Last week, the Pioneers used a running attack that dominated play, this week it struggled to get going.
Penalties also made their unwelcome appearance for the Pioneers. The discipline of weeks earlier was tattered at best, resulting in penalties that mounted up and resulted stalling drives or negating good runs.
The Pioneers also couldn’t take advantage of the three turnovers they forced.
“We can’t be making those kinds of mistakes, we’re constantly working out of a hole,” said Coach Rybak.
Unfortunately, the Pioneers couldn’t overcome simple mistakes, bad execution on the exchange and penalties.
Offensively, the Pioneers running game of Luke O’Reilly and Joey Driscoll did have some success advancing the ball. They’d gain several yards then find their next carry being caught behind the line for negative yards. It was a sequence that was repeated several times.
Quarterback Kyle Krokos completed five of nine passes for 43 yards but should have been more. His effort was stellar in this game. He would make a throw and get the ball to his receiver at times even under a heavy rush or scrambling.
Defensively, the Pioneers did their job, completely shutting down the Stallions offense and limiting their success.
Henry Byrne was among the defensive starts in this game. Byrne was around the ball. assisting on tackles or making the tackle. He also recovered a fumble.
“We played well today but we can defend the outside run better,” said Byrne. “We are doing really well against the run inside; we aren’t giving up much. Our tackling could be better, everyone thinks someone else will make the tackle, but we just need guys to step up and be the one making it.”
Byrne also felt he was playing pretty well for his team and credited his vision and reaction to the snap.
Byrne was correct stating the inside play of his defense was playing well. One doing all he can to limit opponents inside is linebacker’ Noah O’Kennard.
O’Kennard has found ways to clog up the middle and make a stop of assist on wrecking tries through the interior with his specialty of blitzing.
“When I first got called to blitz, I was focused on trying to bust through the line and get to the running back,” said Noah. “I try to be quick off the ball because if I have a gap responsibility and I give that up, it could cost us tons of yardage. Luckily now I am able to read the guards and if they leave the gap, I’m through it to make the stop like I did today.”
Noah admitted he’s had multiple instances where he ‘s missed it but not in this game.
Another reason the Pioneers shut out the Stallions offense was the play of Cristian Arevalo. His outside position allowed him to gauge and react to the flow of the Homer offense. Arevalo would quickly get into position to make or assist on the stop.
Frustrated in the first half with his own effort, his second half play was impressive as he turned it up a few notches.
“I was frustrated at being held by the jersey every time they ran my way,” said Arevalo. “I brought myself back together with help by Coach Votteler. I pushed through it and I knew they would continue to try and run my way; I was ready in the second half.”
Arevalo stated he feels if he stays focused and composed, less emotional, it will improve his whole game.
“I thought I was reading the plays really well all game and supporting my team, I normally don’t play outside linebacker, but moved there because a teammate got hurt, I feel I did a good job being there for my team and teammates.”
The Pioneers defense did force three fumbles, hits by Driscoll and Ezennaya Nwachukwu jarred the ball loose and fumbles were recovered by Dricoll, Byrne and Arevalo who also cause it.
Several other Pioneers stymied the Homer offense during their game. Caden Votteler, Nolan Burns, O’Reilly, Driscoll, Jack Bordelon, Keegan Fogarty, Nwachukwu and Luke Rybak all made stops throughout the game.
Other Pioneers supporting or giving their all in the game were Rayn Beeler, Colin McEllgiott, Connor Ward, Colin Kluever, David Kopec, Thomas Elliott, Santino Marrella, Josiah Johnson, Ashton Brennan, Mason Overmyer, Wyatt Heinze, Layth Zughayer, Nicholas Davis, Ryan Almasru, Harley Camargo, Nicholas Baniewicz, Michael Sraga, Mark Grech-Lisula, Jude Doftert, Nathaniel Owei, Willia Reilly, Brandon Castillo, Aidan Rios, Jacon Morakinyo, Cameron Taylor, Abdallah Abuhamda, William Gardner, Jon Marcos, Daniel Evers and Brady Straka.
