By Ed Muniz-Photos by Kathy Jones
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
In sports, the more mistakes you make, the less likely you are to win or succeed!
Todd Shelton’s Varsity Pioneers open their 2022 season hosting the Homer Stallions. The expectations for this team are beyond High!!
After winning the River Valley Youth Football League Title in 2021, the reigning Junior Varsity Champions grew into their premiere season of “Big Boy” football at the Varsity Level.
At this level, you’ll see some behemoth 13 and 14-year-olds playing a contact sport. The size and speed are elevated and compares to nothing any of the participants have seen in the lower levels.
Taking on the visiting Homer Stallions, Sheltons’ team appeared very composed and relaxed. There was an air of confidence, sort of as if they already knew of the outcome.
Of course, they expected to win. What they didn’t expect was to have multiple turnovers.
The Varsity Pioneers are not a team prone to miscues. This is a group that is synchronized in all facets of the game. Sure, they get sloppy at times, but turning the ball over three times, and all in the first half? For most teams, that will come back and bite you hard on the scoreboard.
Most Teams!
The Pioneers are fortunate to have enough talent on both sides of the ball to be unlike Most Teams!
Despite three interceptions, the Pioneers kicked up their play and coasted to a 28-0 victory on August 28 at Sandburg HS.
Th Pioneer Defense made short work of the Stallions to open the game. Toddy Shelton and Kendall McDowell made sure of that, providing stops.
The Pioneers offense features a running-back who may be the best player in the league in Quinn Durkin. Add quarterback Sean Ruisz and receiver Barret Sigel, you have a lot to contend with.
Giving them a short field is suicide.
The Pioneers began at the Homer 36-yard-line and quickly moved inside the 10 behind the running of Durkin and Ruisz, for nine and 17-yards respectively. Rusiz added five more on a dash that put the Pioneers at the Homer 5-yard-line.
Deciding to throw on third down, Ruisz called on Sigel as he cut across the field. With some sauce on the throw, the pass was deflected off Sigel and was intercepted by the Stallions at their own six-yard-line.
“That was my fault, I’ll take full blame for that, I threw it too hard out in front,” said Ruisz.
Jordan Masino and Durkin limited the Stallions to negative yards on the ensuing three plays after the interception and quickly forced a punt back to their offense.
The Pioneers would use their second series to get on the scoreboard. Again, starting in Stallion territory, Durkins set up the Pioneers first score with runs of 3, 5 and 17 yards.
Calling his own number, Ruisz started left then cut up the middle to the end zone for the Pioneers first score. The 10-yard touchdown run was followed by Jack ‘Super Toe” Clifton, converting the kick-after for the 8-0 lead with four seconds left in the first quarter.
The Pioneers went back on offense shortly thereafter when Sigel snagged a pass intended for the Homer receiver. The interception gave the Pioneers another scoring chance.
Once again, for the second time in the game, the Pioneers were nearing the Homer endzone after using the running of Masino and Durkin and the passing of Ruisz.
Completions to Durkin and Jake Drew, churned up yards and had the Pioneers 18-yards from paydirt.
Looking to score, Ruisz pass was once again intercepted at the Homer five.
“I gotta say that was my fault,” said Coach Shelton. I should have not called for a pass at that point, but I was trying to do something in that situation we normally don’t do, it was a bad call by me.”
The Pioneer’s defense was dominating. Nothing the Stallions tried was gaining very much and tackles by Masino forced another Homer punt.
Although twice the Pioneers were turned away via the interception, they again moved deep into Stallion territory and downed the ball with just seconds left. The pioneers went to some “razzle-dazzle’, using a pitch to Durkin and rolling him out.
Initially it looked as though he’d run, but once outside his end, he scanned downfield looking to pass, but the mark it found was again a Homer Stallion who dove to make the third interception of the half for them.
The Pioneers carried an 8-0 lead into halftime.
Opening the second half, the Pioneers were more focused and showed why they are considered a top contender for the Varsity title.
It didn’t take long for Ruisz and Company to enhance their lead. Durkin took a handoff and bounced outside left and streaked 38 yards for the touchdown. Just like that, the Pioneers led 14-0
Masino is a threat to score or create havoc anytime he is called on. He runs and charges like he’s trying to punch a hole in you, a big hole. His demolishing style of play is quite entertaining.
He showed off his talents on both sides of the ball in this game. Needing the hard yards, he provided them willingly. Need to disrupt the party, he’s your man. Bot ways, he gives you his all.
“I think I need to work on staying focus, I know that because at times my head was wandering around and I had to get back into the game,” said Masino.
Again, the Pioneers forced a quick punt from the Stallions and picked up 30 yards on the Durkin punt return, putting the Pioneers in good position.
Not usually running the ball, Jake Drew was called on and turned in one of the best runs of the game. He scrambled back and forth and gained 23-yards. Two plays later, Ruisz rolled left, a difficult toss was low but found Durkin in the endzone who cradled the pass in.
Clifton’s kick doinked the upright which left the lead at 20-0.
The ensuing play from scrimmage saw a Homer pass get picked off once again by Sigel. His second interception gave the Pioneer offense another opportunity to build the lead.
Ruisz drove the Pioneers from the home 35 to just outside the endzone, using several short pass-plays and runs from Masino and Jake Tomczak along with a 7-yard, deflected pass to himself.
The drive culminated with Masino powering in from 2 yards out. Clifton added the kick-after to elevate the Pioneer lead to 28-0.
Officially the game was over there as a new ridiculous league rule ends games after a 24-point lead in the second half. You can score 100 in the first half though.
The remainder of the game saw two more scores, one by each team but officially they don’t count.
As good as Sean Ruisz played, he wasn’t satisfied.
“I feel like my feet are too slow so I’m going to watch film and see what’s wrong and then fix it up in practice. The first half we pushed and did nothing but in the second half we came out on fire. Usually first games don’t go as well as you like with everyone getting tired and hot, but we will fix it up and play much better.”
For the Pioneers work horse, Quinn Durkin was quite happy with the results.
“Getting to the outside and past everyone for me went well. I shouldn’t have danced around as much as I did because that’s how you can get hurt, I should have just run through guys. I think our defense was really good today, I don’t think we gave up a first down today. I guess I could encourage the team more is what I need to improve.”
Jack Clifton was solid on the offensive line. He mentioned why his play as improved from last season.
“My agility is better this year. Last year I was playing against bigger guys, so I needed help a lot of the time. As a lineman, to get better you have to work on your strength and agility.”
After a hiatus of a couple seasons, Keegan Kirk returns to the action at nose guard. Larger than previously, the stout-framed returnee is the perfect fit. For the Pioneer defense. His ability to glog the middle will pay huge benefits as the season progresses.
“I got bigger and I’m playing against big kids. I’m practicing hard to get better and be more physical so I can help us win. I thought we got better in the second half
Fifth quarter saw several players excel. They demonstrated the depth that the Pioneers have throughout. They managed to score twice and allowed Homer a single score.
Defensively, Cash Phillips, Shafik Yasin, Rami Agha, Egan Kelly, Devin Stefanos, Adam Dano and Jax Arocho made tackles or defended the pass.
Offensively, Taylor McDoniel’s quarterback play was stellar getting plays of fand directing the teamhis running and passing provided advantages for the Pioneers.
But the offensive stand out was the running of Jad Jaber. His rushes provide plenty of positive yards while also scoring a long 35-yard touchdown. He also had a long score called back.
“I think the toss plays I did very good. I’d like to get more playing time. I need to improve my footwork and speed. I’ll work on that.”
Carson Conrad also added a short touchdown in the Fifth Quarter.
“It was definitely a struggle in the redzone to start the game but that is on me. I was trying a few things. It’s not what I usually do. We have some work to do, there was a lot of rust there, as coaches we will get to that. I do truly believe we have the best quarterback in the league, and I think Durkin can do the moonwalk and still score a touchdown, he’s that good. Both of these guys are special gifts.”
”Listen, we have a lot of talented kids; so many that can win games for us. Its not just Sean and Quinn.
Not only among the starters but also the Fifth Quarter guys. There are a lot of guys playing there that are going to do good things for us.
I thought we started slow, but our second half showed a lot of who we are. We have players that are improving each game. I’m excited for the rest of the year.”
Providing what it takes to win include Brody Wantroba, Henry Selof, Logan Kondziolka, Zayne Salah, Ethan Krueger, Nolan Rodriguez, Chase Czerwonka, OthmanMizyed, Adam Hoak, Briggs Corona, Luke Kruszynski, Will Beeler, Adam Danko, Mohammad Ghadban, Ibrahim Jaffal, Nolan Torgerson, David Klimaszka, Blake Wagner, Matthew Durkin, Rocco McCarthy, Jake Buechele and Stephen Caxton-Idowu.
Sideline entertainment and cheers for the Varsity were provided by Ava Brennan, Madeleine Carrier, Mia Franzese, Emery Gasa, Sophia Gasior, Ella Groark, Chloe Havens, Tayla Lovitt, Lily Masino, Audrey Mitchell, Rain Murphy, Fiona Sejud, Bella Senese, Kiera Ulaszek, Summer Vahl, Giselle Velasco, Kylee Votteler, Julian Werner and Anna Woloszyk.
The Pioneers will have to be reckon with. This is a team used to winning and has big goals in mind. Come ready to play when you line up opposite them this year!
