By Ed Muniz- Photos by Kathy Jones
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ORLAND PARK— Th nightcap of the Wednesday Night Football League schedule of game held at Schussler Park on October 7 saw the Varsity Pioneers hosting the Jr. Warriors of New Lenox.
Both teams would use this game as a tune-up to next weeks playoffs as each had already earned a spot in the WNFL tournament, both vying to be this years Champion.
One thing about games like this, sometimes you dont show all your cards in what is actually a meaningless game. Sure you want to win every game you can regardless of the circumstances, but you also dont want to lose anyone vital to injury.
The Pioneers have been struggling with injuries all season with missing pieces having been on the mend for muchof the season. Next week at the start of the playoffs, many of those will return and could end up making the look on the field entirely different.
This game saw the Pioneers offense struggle with multiple turnovers becoming the main culpret of their 24-0 shutout loss. At this level, you cant give a team multiple opportunities and short fields and expect great results. That turned out to be the Pioneers nemesis this evening.
The Pioneers defense started the game after a few plays with an interception by John Sutter after the Jr. Warriors had moved to the Pioneers 30.
With the turnover, the Pioneers offense looked to take advantage of the opportunity. It didn’t happen as they ended up punting the ball back to the Jr. Warriors just four plays later after producing negative yards.
After stopping the Jr. Warriors for negative six-yards on their first three tries behind Max Street-Pruitt and Nolan Byrne, the Jr. Warriors hit on a pass that took them just outside the Pioneers redzone.
The next play saw the Jr. Warriors jump ahead with a 21-yard burst to the endzone. After adding the conversion-kick, the visitors led 8-0.
Speedster’ Rodney Vincent tried to repond for the Pioneers powering for 6-yards up the middle but one play later, the Jr. Warriors came awy with the first of the Pioneers turnovers, this time via an inteception.
Nick Mase and Zackary Salah help force the Jr. Warriors to give up the ball on their ensuing series, squashing any advantage they may have had after the interception.
Back on offense, the Pioneers tried to muster some positive offense and did. A run by Vincent started it off with 16-yards. Next was a connection by Vinny Ficaro to John Sutter for 21-yards.
After two big plays, the Jr. Warriors defense stepped up their play and attacked harder, forcing a turnover on downs at their own 24 after what looked like a promising Pioneer drive.
Although the Pioneers were behind with not much time left in the first half, their goal was to prevent another score and to keep from falling further behind.
Sutter and Streets-Pruitt did that with tackles while also shutting down their passing game with good pass coverage by Streets-Pruitt.
After three staright incompletions because of an ampped up Pioneers defense, the game went to the break with the same advantage of 8-0 for New Lenox.
The Pioneers began the second half possibly the worse way you could if you’re trailing.
First a bad snap saw quarterback Ficaro scrammble to get to the ball, then being tackled for a 10-yard loss. Next, a pass attempt found the Jr. Warrior defender for the interception, putting the Jr. Warriors on a short field and a golden opportunity to advance their lead.
The Jr. Warriors increased their lead to 16-0 just a couple plays later on a five-yard run and an added conversion-kick. Mase did find a tackle prior to the touchdown as the Pioneers looked to regroup now trailing by two scores.
Things continued to go wrong for the Pioneers. Their ensuing try saw them lose 7-yards followed by another interception thrown.
Trying to strike fast the Jr. Waerriors went to the air. Great pass defense by Dylan Enriquez and Streets-Pruitt prevented another score, especially when Streets-Pruitt picked off an errant Jr. Warrior pass, ending the threat.
The Pioneers best offensive series followed after the interception. Vincent powered up the middle for 6-yards on two rushes, that was followed by Ficaro connecting with Streets-Pruitt for seven then another pass to him that went for 19-yards with an additional 15-yards on the Jr. Warriors penalty.
Now sitting at the visitors 33, the Pioneers went to Vincent again, however, the Jr. Warrior defense picked up their defensive efforts and tacklesd him for a loss of 3-yards, forced an incompletion with good pass coverage.
Another pass to Streets-Pruitt did produce 5 more yards but a fourth down sack of Ficaro loss 14-yards, forcing a turnover on downs.
Despite the Pioneers coming up with multiple tackles by Ficaro, Sutter, Mase and Byrne, the Jr. Warriors increased their lead to 24-0 after reaching the Pioneers one. From there, the Jr. Warriors did the unexpected and passed 1-yard for their thiid touchdown of the game. With the added kick, the Jr. Warriors held a 24-0 lead late in the game.
The Pioneers again would finish the night throwing another interception trying to get on the scoreboard.
The game ended shortly there-after with the Jr. Warriors prevailing, 24-0, completing the shutout of the Pioneers.
Also giving all they could on the field or along the sidelines were Rayan Ghabayen, Hudson Doftert, Louai Suleiman, Cade Judeh, Anderson Matthews, NIcholas Peisker, Jude Daghlawi, Panos Kyros, Luke Tonra, Dylan Enriquez, Aleksandar Tosev, Marquise McMorris, Jacob Hyla, Leonardo Luciano, Thomas Lynch, Karam Olyyan, Nick Mase, Aws Khalil, Edward Follis, Gavin Connors, Ryan Kenny, Daniel Malacina, Faris Hussein, Abdelkarem Shuaibi, Julian Mika, Rodney Vincent, James Okrasinski, Nicholas Hertzog, Dylan Ahmer, Avery Vermilyea and Issam Abulaban.
