By Ed Muniz-Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
**Additional Photos are available for purchase at justallsports.zenfolio.com/2022pioneers.**
The finale of the Pioneers’ Homecoming weekend would pit the undefeated Varsity Pioneers against the visiting Jr. Knights.
For the Pioneers, expectations and results are what drives them. After winning a JV league title last year unscathed, the pressure to continue winning at the Varsity level might be too much for some teams.
For Todd Shelton’s Pioneers, it’s no sweat!!
Surprisingly, this years’ Varsity version starts only three players with experience at that level, the rest are rookies, but you wouldn’t know it by the way this team plays.
Expectations are at a constant high for this team. Players also expect themselves to be at their best.
What is evident watching them on the field or off, they are a cohesive bunch that know exactly what each is doing come game time.
For Homecoming, the Pioneers may have saved their best performance so far, dominating the visiting Jr. Knights at all levels. The 30-0 final score could have been doubled as first and second units had total control of their guest.
“It was really clean today, everybody came out and did their job,” said Coach Shelton. “Sean (Ruisz) looked really good, our offensive line was great, we had a mistake early, a check down I tried that we really hadn’t worked on much so that was my fault but otherwise, we did really well”
This was a great test for our passing game as we want to open that up, we did well with six different receivers touching the ball.”
Shelton was also impressed with his second unit play especially offensively.
“Taylor (McDoniel) has been outstanding for us at Quarterback, he has no nerves, and this is his first year playing football. The skies the limit with him, he gets in and does a great job, throws a nice ball and has a touch.”
“(Jad) Jaber, wow has he stepped up. This year we saw him running after playing several positions for me from offensive line and on, so we said we got to get him the ball. He’s fun to watch. This year he has been phenomenal, he never gives up and tries to gain every single inch, now a lot of that I don’t recommend how he runs, but he keeps moving and doesn’t lose the ball.”
The Pioneers don’t make a lot of mistakes, but it occasionally happens. On their first series of the game, Ruisz scrambled and coughed up the ball.
Quinn Durkin, Briggs Corona and Barret Sigel made short work of the Jr. Knights first efforts, forcing a punt.
The Pioneers quickly responded with an 89-yard touchdown pass from Ruisz to Jake Drew. Drew streaked down the near sideline, never touched on the score. Kicker Jack Clifton converted the kick for the 8-0 lead.
“I just ran a fly, he saw me, and I caught the ball and scored, said Drew. “I had two touchdowns today, probably a B+ for me. I think our blocking probably could get better.”
The Pioneer defense again shutdown the visiting offense, forcing a second punt. The opening quarter ended with Ruisz completing pass of 26 and 6 yards to Sigel and Jake Tomczak respectively.
Ruisz continued spraying the ball around completing passes to Corona for 12-yards and to Brody Wantroba for 24-yards.
Inside the Jr. Knight 10, Durkin blasted for 6-yards and was followed by Drew, who caught the 4-yard touchdown pass from Ruisz. Clifton converted the kick that gave the Pioneers a 16-0 lead.
“I think my mechanics and my arm and being able to read the defenses now are showing up to me, so I’m knowing where to hit my team,” said Ruisz. “I noticed my feet were slowing me down so I’ve been working on my footwork as much as I can to improve that, and I really did what I can today. Thanks to my linemen and Briggs Corona and Quinn Durkin with blocks that helped me on that long touchdown run I had.”
Tomczak was defending passes and making tackles on the Jr. Knights following series. A sack by defensive lineman’ Nolan Torgerson forced another punt.
The Pioneer defense was giving the Jr. Knights very little and to make things worse, scored again with under a minute left in the first half.
Ruisz connected with Durkin who was simply too quick going 47-yards untouched for the Pioneers third touchdown. Clifton once again converted and raised the advantage to 24-0.
Being down three scores, being over-matched and punting on every possession, the Jr. Knights were not going to get back into this game and they knew it heading into half time.
The third quarter saw the Pioneers add to their dominance. Timing a pass-play headed his way, Kendall McDowell heard the end-zone calling him from his corner position. In his eagerness to get there a sure “Pick-Six” sat in his hands but running before catching saw him lose control and drop the opportunity.
Ruisz did call his own number once the Jr. Knights lost the ball on downs. He raced 88-yards up the middle of the visiting defense and never looked back on his bolt to the end-zone.
Up 30-0, the Pioneers were forced to change their offense and went for it via the run for the extra-point but were stopped.
After a sack by McDowell closed out the third quarter, Logan Kondziolka stepped Infront of a Jr. Knight pass for the Interception.
McDoniel directed the Pioneer offense in the fourth quarter. With a running clock, the Pioneers used up the entire quarter. A handoff to Jaber went for 24-yards. Rushes by Zayne Salah (4-yards) and Carson Conrad (11-yards) and a reverse by Matthew Durkin that went 19-yards, soon had the Pioneers inside the Jr. Knight 20.
Jaber then displayed his abilities on the field. A play that seemed to take minutes entertained all as Jaber juked, spun and weaved back and forth. The ballet running displayed, lasted seconds, but Jaber had all eyes on him as he refused to be tackled.
The 15-yard performance had the Pioneers just yards from the goal-line. Jaber would eventually score as the clock went zeros, but a penalty called it back to end the game.
Some players go unheralded for how well they’ve played this season, among them is two-way starter Briggs Corona. His play has been stellar all year. In this game, he was active both ways, provide blocks and made tackles.
“I’m focused on my gaps, maintain my gap and hitting the right gaps,” said Briggs. “We work as a team, we all do the same thing, work well together too, practicing together, hard work, drills. Ill work on footwork and technique to improve.”
Fifth Quarter play at times seems to be unfair for the Pioneer opponents. McDoniel is so good at directing his offense, at times seems effortless. His ability to make the right decision keeps his team in great position. He scrambles to extend a play and will spot the open receiver or take off.
The first-year player has opened many eyes with his play and decision making, with added size, he could be quite a talent.
“Repetition on everything in practice really helps, knowing exactly what I need to do,” said McDoniel. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming out of the gate, but everything really has slowed down for me with everyone else doing their part”
Whether running during the Fifth Quarter or during time in the regular game, you’ll get the same product from Jad Jaber. The elusive running-back is making folks take notice. His never quit running style has been exciting all season and each game you see improvement.
“I feel I’m going to keep playing football beyond here,” said Jaber. “I can’t just clock guys, I’m not a power runner, I must be elusive and give my all each time I get the chance. I think speed is my best attribute, I’m also very confident I can do well with the starters.”
The Pioneers scored three times during Fifth Quarter play. A 45-yard dash by Jaber and completions from McDoniel to Jaber and Matthew Durkin of 8 and 15-yards.
Runs by McDoniel for 22-yards, Conrad for 10-yards, Jaber for 32-yards and Salah, highlighted the offense.
Defensively, Torgerson was dominating play. Also providing tackles were Egan Kelly, Will Beeler, Stephen Caxton-Idowu, Rami Agha, Cash Phillips, Shafik Yasin, McDoniel and Ethan Krueger.
The Pioneers also saw efforts from Henry Selof, Toddy Shelton, Devin Stefanos, Nolan Rodriguez, Chase Czerwonka, Othman Mizyed, Adam Hoak, Luke Kruszynski, Adam Danko, Mohammad Ghadban, Ibrahim Jaffal, David klimaszka, Cade Koehler, Jax Arocho, Blake WagnerRocco McCarthy, Jake Buechele and Keegan Kirk.
Cheering on the players and providing the sideline and halftime entertainment were Varsity Pioneer Cheerleaders 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.
