By Patrick McGavin- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill
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ORLAND PARK— With a new look and structure, the Lightweights Red squad of the Orland Park Pioneers is still working through a bold experiment.
A surge in numbers transformed a single entity into two equal parts—two wholly different sides—and the players are still getting accustomed to how everything flows together.
“We started off with just the one team, and we had a lot more guys around and now we have our group, and we’re starting to get more reps in,” edge rusher Sean Kikilis said.
Working all the parts out is not always as easy as it looks. The Red team fashioned a brilliant start the Pioneers could not quite sustain.
The Red program of the Orland Park Pioneers could not protect an early lead and suffered a 12-6 loss against the Mt. Greenwood Colts in River Valley Youth Football league play here at Sandburg High School on Sunday, August 30.
Learning how to throw the hammer down, and seal the deal remains a developing feature for the team.
“We probably brought a little bit more energy,” Kikilis said. “We still need to work hard in practice. I thought in a lot of ways everything was really great.”
The start was electric, providing a rocket boost to the confidence. A booming opening kickoff pinned the Colts deep in their own territory.
Four plays later, defensive Arthur Slabenak penetrated the gap and blew up the play and dislodged the ball from the Colts’ runner. The Pioneers were in business with a first down at the Colts’ 12-yard line.
Slabenak was right in the middle of the early action as the defensive lineman and offensive center whose block set up the opening score.
“I was able to get in there, and cause the fumble,” he said. “After that we did a good job of moving the ball and scoring that first touchdown.
“We hit a quarterback sneak. He tapped me, and he just ran behind me and we got the touchdown. I think everything’s going to be fine with us. We just need more time.”
After a seven-yard burst by running back Taylan Morandi, quarterback Gavin Garrity called his own number with a four-yard sneak for the touchdown.
The two-point kick attempt was blocked.
The early effort, athleticism and sureness displayed by the defense created a wave of optimism.
Kikilis is a dynamic and disruptive force off the edge who has a knack for getting into the backfield and wreaking havoc against the offense. Garrity patrols the middle at linebacker.
Mahmoud Abu Alshaikh and Henry Wade also stood out on the defensive side, revealing explosive speed and the ability to track and take down ball carriers.
Playing with the lead allowed the Pioneers to show off their athleticism and aggression. Kikilis and Slabenak found gaps and vulnerabilities in the Colts’ front to strafe runners or apply pressure on the quarterback.
The offense only had two possessions in the first half.
“I think we started pretty good,” Morandi said. “I thought we did a great job at the start of running the ball, and showing what we are capable of.
“I thought we gave up a little bit in the second half.”
The Colts played a lot of stunt defenses, overloading one side of the field, and blitzing a lot. Garrity, Morandi and Kikilis alternated as the primary ball carriers.
The mold for success is there.
“I think going forward, we just have to work harder about the things we’re trying to do out there, what we call driving for five, blocking hard off the line, and opening up bigger holes,” Garrity said.
“Our defense was really good.”
An apparent Garrity interception ended the Colts’ best drive of the first half. The play was negated by a Pioneers’ penalty. Orland Park withstood a Colts’ trick play off a reverse and pass in the closing seconds of the half.
Morandi was stopped on fourth down of the Pioneers’ opening possession of the second half. The Colts created the equalizer with a 34-yard touchdown run.
The Red team stopped the conversion run for the 6-6 score.
The Pioneers regrouped, producing their best play from scrimmage with Garrity finding receiver Bennett Kersten for a gorgeous 16-yard pass play.
“My favorite passing route in the post out because if there’s a safety, that messes up their formation and I’m able to pull away from the corner,” Kersten said.
“There’s a gap, and I was able to get it.”
The drive stalled, and the Colts needed just one play to take their first lead, an 82-yard burst down the left sideline, with 9:28 remaining.
After leading much of the game, the Red squad was now anxious to find its way back. Over the final three possessions, Kikilis and Morandi were able to generate some decent runs.
“Their defense had a bunch of guys on one side of the line, and that was weird for us, and we were not used to seeing that,” Kikilis said.
“It’s a tough loss, but I saw how well we could play. We’re just going to get better.”
The Pioneers could not string together the necessary scoring drive. The big play was largely absent. It was not without effort.
Orland Park never solved the exotic looks and defensive packages the Colts threw at them.
“We’re pretty rusty,” Kersten said. “This is a new team, and we have new guys on offense and defense. We’re still getting used to playing with each other.”
At Homecoming next week, the two Lightweight programs—Red and Blue—will play against each other.
“So far, it’s been a little weird, and we’re all still getting adjusted to it,” Morandi said.
The faith is still there.
“We just need some time, and need to work on our running and blocking.” Garrity said. “This is a really fun group to play with. I think we’re going to start getting some wins and playing better together.”
In the Fifth Quarter, running backs Royal Ward and Nicholas Vuolo showed off some nifty running moves. Quarterback Nicolas Lang directed the attack.
Running back Anthony Lang delivered the big play with a 39-yard touchdown run.
“I started by going up the middle, and I read the play to see what was open,” Anthony Lang said. “I saw the outside was open, and I just had one guy to beat and I stiff-armed him and got to the end zone.”
“Today I thought our offensive line was doing great, and our defense was forcing fumbles. It was awesome all around.”
The Red Lightweights team of the Orland Park Pioneers featured many standout contributors against the Colts. They were Ethan Brandofino, MJ Groark, Zacharia Nofal, Jude Atieh, CJ Hufford, Shane Sternberg, Sean Johnson, Henry Simons, Taym Nofal, Austin D’Andrea, Arthur Slabenak, Jonathan Mizera, Mohammed Abu Alshaikh, William Sraga, Nathan Schultz, William Jordan, Thomas McCann, Jordy Kolodziej, Luke McDoniel, Paul Rylan Davies, Yazen Nijem and Amir Haddad.
The cheerleaders also brought great passion and skill to their routines and performances. They were Scarlett Sternberg, Kara O’Meara, Kennedy Krokos, Stella Bristow, Emerson Schweikert, Eleanor Koehn, Elena Schmaling, Isla Zelensek, Lucy Bohanek, Zoey France, Savannah Molina, Aleena Badwan, Vera Joda, Normandy Golden, Hazel Nichols, Mia Mizera, Maevry Harmatys, Mila Schweikert, Tessa Dunmore, Tessa Basek, Siena Lang, Callie Juarez-Radovanovic, Alaina Holoubek, Sadie Griffin, Lea Barbee, Ava Kolodziej, Eva Aubin, Sofie Annerino, Hailey Valan, Grace Poore, Eloise Sarhage, Anderson Foster, Meghan Shilney, Lillian Fudala, Rosie VanRaden and Giana Santos.
