By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
If you’re lucky enough to catch a game the Varsity Pioneers are playing. You’ll notice a team that spews confidence.
It’s not cockiness and it isn’t arrogance. No, it’s none of that.
For many of the Varsity Pioneers, the Confidence you observe as they walk onto the field or display during games, is the result of years of playing together and winning.
Most of these boys have played together for 8 years. Now in their final year of youth football, they’ve had so much success and experience together, of course there’s a visible confidence every time they play.
Over the last seven seasons under Todd Shelton and Chris Stefanos, this group has won 53 of 66 games, have won three Championships (SLW and JV, WNFL at LW), played in 5 Championships with 3 consecutive finals currently, and have won at an .803 clip over that time period.
Last years championship season at Junior Varsity, this group was scoring 23 points a game, this year they are averaging 27-points a game while giving up 4-points at Varsity. They have won 4 of 8 games by shutout.
As you can see, they are a complete team that plays well on both sides of the football.
They also have won 19 games in a row and counting.
Several of these boys attend the same school. When asked if they ever discuss how good they are to each other, the response was the same all the time. They just don’t talk about it; they don’t toot their own horn or pat themselves on the back. They don’t have to. They simply talk about other things and let game-time speak for them.
Each player knows their role and what’s expected of them. They play as one unit, win as one unit and even make mistakes as one unit.
“Everything we have asked these boys to do they have done,” said Coach Todd Shelton.
Speaking of how this group reacts to his emotional way of coaching, Shelton added,
“We have a special bond after all these years together. I think they know I have their backs and they know I’m out there on the field with these kids. Hats off to these boys. We are working with a team and group of boys that comes around once in a lifetime. I mean, how lucky are we!?!…They love playing this game and love playing together. I’m very proud of them, without question.”
The final game of the regular season had the Pioneers traveling to Marian Catholic HS where they faced the H-F Kings.
A slow start by the Pioneers made the game interesting early on, but eventually, their talent took over, leaving with a 30-0 win over a physical Kings team that tested them.
A first quarter run of 30-yards by Quinn Durkin put the Pioneers ahead. Jack Clifton added the conversion-kick which gave the Pioneers an 8-0 advantage.
The Pioneers added another touchdown to close out the first half when Quarterback Sean Ruisz launched a pass to Barret Sigel in the end-zone. Sigel maneuvered himself to complete the catch and score with no time left, giving the Pioneers a 14-0 halftime lead.
Quinn Durkin added to the lead twice more with touchdown runs of 5-yards in the third quarter and 40-yards in the fourth. His final score was impressive in how he displayed a burst to outrun and pull away from the King defenders.
Clifton booted the conversion-kick successfully on each score giving the Pioneers a 30-0 advantage early in the final stanza.
The Pioneers also had impressive runs from Brody Wantroba. Last week he was put in the backfield as a fill-in. His performance warranted more time carrying the ball and he didn’t disappoint, gaining several yards each time he rushed.
“It started because our starters last week were away in Washington DC, I was just used to run up the middle to get us some yards,” said Wantroba.
“I love running the ball, I don’t know where my apparent speed came from. It’s OK with me if they want to keep me there. Some plays I got hammered but that’s OK, nothing is ever easy playing football, well, most of the time, I just do whatever the coach wants me to do.”
The only negative to the win was a fourth quarter questionable hit on Sean Ruisz who was injured playing defense. The Pioneer general left the game enroute to be checked at a hospital with a neck injury.
The Pioneers’ defense was as good as it’s been all season, finishing with their fourth shutout this year.
Wantroba along with Jake Tomczak, Adam Danko, Keegan Kirk, Sigel, Ruisz, Durkin, Toddy Shelton, Kendall McDowell, Chase Czerwonka, Briggs Corona, and second unit players’ Mohammad Ghadban and Devin Stefanos, all contributed with tackles and assists in the shutout win.
The defense wasn’t limited to the regular scheduled game, Fifth Quarter play also saw skills displayed with success. Among them was first year player Stephen Caxton-Idowu.
Caxton-Idowu doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he does have a lot of heart and gives what he can to help the Pioneers. He too managed to grab some tackles. Big in stature, his physical appearance can be intimidating. His soft-spoken demeaner will need to be turned up several notches during the Playoffs.
“I think I need to be more physical,” Stephen. “I try my best and certain things make me angry, like the hit on Sean (Ruisz), but I still need to improve. I really enjoy playing football and want to continue and get better. I hope I play during the playoffs.”
The Fifth Quarter also continued to showcase the depth the Pioneers have offensively.
Jad Jaber, Carson Conrad and the combo of Taylor McDoniel to Matt Durkin highlighted the Pioneers efforts.
Jad Jaber has opened many eyes. On any other team, he would be starting in the backfield. Again his uncanny elusive running style is entertaining to watch every time he touches the football.
Twice he scored from 11 and 36-yards while zooming through opening and weaving in and out past defenders. He also had a 32-yard sprint.
“Its all the hard work I put in all year at practice,” said Jaber. “Everyone works as hard and gets a chance to get a spot, you can’t do nothing about it but just keep working hard and be ready when you get the chance, it’s what I’ve done all year.”
Carson Conrad is an under-size player loaded with talent. Like teammate Jaber, he too could be else where in a starting position. No quit in this player and the will to do better shows up in games.
Conrad started the scoring for the Pioneers with a 21-yard dash. He was so quick on his run, it surprised the Kings, before you knew it, he was in the end-zone.
“I definitely feel I’ve gotten more runs in this year and being used a lot more. I also have learned a lot during games,” said Conrad. “One of my favorite things is running the ball. I plan on playing again next year. I think it’s a definite possibility I’ll grow taller and bigger for next year.”
Matt Durkin has been one of the Pioneers that has improve considerably this season. His play isn’t limited to Fifth Quarters only. Matt has gotten time during regular games as well and has come up with huge receptions and runs.
His combination with Quarterback Taylor McDoniel has provided some big plays all year.
“I credit my play to all the hard work I put in this year. This is my first year in a new position and a new environment around me,” said Matt. “I watch the starters from the sidelines every day, those guys are my role models, I believe I can do as well as them too.”
“I always get excited when coach puts in a play for me. I know I can perform.”
Matt Durkin has a knack of coming up with the big catch or a big run when needed. McDoniel has come to trust that any pass he throws his way, Matt will find a way to come up with it.
This year Matt has made several tough catches include in this game. He also hauls in the pass and adds yards after the catch. He has had a very noticeable good season.
Other Pioneers contributing to the unbeaten season are Jake Drew, Henry Selof, Logan Kondziolka, Zayne Salah, Ethan Krueger, Cash Phillips, Nolan Rodriguez, Egan Kelly, Jordan Masino, Othman Mizyed, Adam Hoak, Luke Kruszynski, Will Beeler, Ibrahim Jaffal, Shafi Yasin, Rami Agha, Nolan Torgerson, David Klimaszka, Cade Koehler, Jax Arocho. Blake Wagner, Rocco McCarthy and Jake Buechele.
The Varsity Pioneer Cheerleaders once again showed their skill level at halftime and along the sidelines during the game. Among the sideline stars was Ava Brennan, Madeline 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, Julia Werner and Anna Woloszyk.
The Pioneers open the RVYFL Playoffs against the New Lenox Jr. Knights on Sunday, October 30 at Homewood-Flossmoor HS at noon.
