By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Renee Kaspar
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HOMER GLEN—Just call Dylan Ahmer the equivalent of the break glass in case of an emergency player.
The wide receiver found out Thursday that he was about to play the most important position on the field for the Varsity program of the Orland Park Pioneers—his first time ever in a game.
Hudson Doftert had started and played every game. He was unavailable due to an injury.
The shortened announcement gave little time for goosebumps or nerves.
“I found out at practice Thursday Hudson was at the doctor’s office, and I’d be the quarterback,” he said. “I’ve been getting reps since practice started in July.
“I’ve been ready the whole season.”
Ahmer rushed for two touchdowns and threw a scoring pass in the 32-12 victory over Manhattan Patriots in a first-round playoff game of River Valley Youth Football League at the Homer Township Sports Complex on Sunday, October 27.
The Varsity will play the New Lenox Jr. Warriors in the quarterfinals.
“I know as areceiver, If I was running a route, I know just where I’d want the quarterback to put it up there,” he said. “Thats what I tried t do.”
The first-string players were spectacular on both sides of the ball, creating explosive plays and consistent gains on offense, and generating turnovers and negative plays on defense.
Brian Curran was 4-for-4 on 2-point kicks.
Two-way star Nick Peisker set the dominant early tone by ripping off a 17-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage.
It proved a harbinger of things to come.
Three plays later, he broke around the left edge and drove two defenders into the end zone on a 23-yard touchdown gallop.
“It was a great way to start the game, and show them what kind of game it was going to be,” Peisker said.
“It showed we were going to rule the game. We were going to win, they were not, and we were going to punch them in the mouth.”
The defense picked up right where the offense left off with a statement-making opening possession.
Manhattan ran three plays, each resulting in negative yards with consecutive stops by Muhammad Kassem and Joseph McCann, Anderson Matthews and Cade Judeh.
Daniel Ramirez had three tackles and a fumble recovery for the Pioneers.
The return of Matthews following a foot injury proved a great boost for the Pioneers, emotionally and personally.
The athletic talent brings game-changing speed and athleticism to receiver and outside linebacker and safety.
He also is a great special teams player.
“I just really missed the guys and playing with my team,” Matthews said. “The offense came out really strong, but the defense is also a big part of the game.
“Getting a tackle for loss like that to start the game really hyped us up, and got everybody going.”
Peisker subsequently ripped off two separate 12-yard runs.
Ahmer did the rest, scoring the first of his two touchdowns on a direct snap in the Wildcat formation for the 16-0 lead.
It was not accidental how the Pioneers showed a particular snap and verve in their steps. The team was rested and sharp after a three-week break.
After beating Mt. Greenwood Colts 22-6 at Brother Rice on October 4, the Varsity had a bye and a forfeit victory. There were no signs of rust.
Just the opposite.
“You felt the difference out there,” Peisker said. “We definitely felt fresher out there. Everybody’s beating themselves up, and we’ve been getting fresher and better.
“We’re healing while everybody else has been getting injured.”
Streets-Pruitt stepped up huge to close out the first half and start the second half. He found his own redemption after being beat on a long pass play.
On the final play of the first half, he delivered a jarring hit that broke up a pass.
With his confidence soaring, Streets-Pruitt had an interception on the opening drive of the second half.
“I got beat deep, and I knew I had to come back and make a play to end the half,” he said. “Everyone was slapping my helmet after that hit. On the interception, Anderson played the ball great by covering the flat.
“He threw it deep, and I came down with it.”
Just like the first half, Peisker opened play with a 17-yard gain. One more play later, Ahmer broke through for the seven-yard touchdown run.
“Everybody was fired up and ready to go,” Judeh said. “We were ready to send a message to the other teams that are watching the game that we mean business.
“The extra time off really let us get ready for this game. We knew everything they were trying to do.”
The 24-0 late third quarter lead allowed the Pioneers’ coaches to play their entire roster. The second string defense came in, and held their own, despite allowing a touchdown.
Panos Kyros, Luke Tonra and John Sutter stepped up for some stops.
Ahmer and Matthews put the finishing touches on the victory by connecting on a 24-yard touchdown pass at the start of the fourth quarter.
“It was really fun for me being back after missing so much time,” Matthews said. “It was tough watching my team from the sidelines.
“On the touchdown, the defensive back tipped the ball, and I just went up and caught it.”
Ahmer threw the first touchdown of his career at any level.
“It’s just so great having Anderson back, and what he does out there, especially winning those jump balls like he did there,” he said.
The Pioneers crafted their own symmetry with a beautiful opening and a great close.
The Varsity hopes it is a sign of things to come.
“The coaches like to always say come off the bus ready, and we came running hard and we got to punch them in the mouth before they could do that to us,” Ahmer said.
“The whole team ran the ball so well, quarterback, the running backs, everybody, and we got a great push on the line.”
The game did not feature a traditional Fifth Quarter.
Those second and third string players all saw action. Fittingly, Carter Peluso put the finishing touches on the victory with an interception on the Patriots’ conversion attempt.
“It felt so great to get in the game,” Peluso said. “There was no Fifth Quarter, but our starters played so well, and beat them so bad we all got a chance to play.
“It felt really good.”
The Pioneers Varsity had many standout contributors in the playoff victory. They were Rayan Ghabayen, Louai Suleiman, Zackary Salah, Vinny Ficaro, Mohammad Ashkar, Jude Daghlawi, 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, Noah Maslowiec, Rodney Vincent, James Okrasinski, Nicholas Hertzog, Avery Vermilyea and Issam Abulaban.
