By Patrick Z. McGavin- Photos by Kathy Jones
** Additional Photos are Available for Purchase at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p862862522 **
NEW LENOX— Never underestimate a team with resolve and incentive to get back at a team that took something the players felt was not deserved.
The Varsity program of the Orland Park Pioneers had a score to settle, and a statement to make. The exciting part was delayed but ultimately delivered, with authority and purpose.
“It really felt like a rough start in the first half, and we were looking for some revenge after what happened in our Sunday game,” Pioneers quarterback Benjamin Schwartz said. “We really took it to them after that, and that allowed us to come back.”
Schwartz broke off a 49-yard touchdown run for the Pioneers’ 12-6 victory in Wednesday Night Football League play at Lincoln-Way West High School on September 3rd.
“It was an inside zone play, and I have to give all of the credit to my blockers,” he said. “They did a great job of opening holes there. I wouldn’t have done it without them.”
The two-way standout had the perfect bookend for the Pioneers. His interception off a deflection prevented the Jr Warriors’ deepest penetration in the first half.
All the scoring took place in the third quarter.
The Pioneers appeared haunted by the devastating loss on Sunday, where the team failed to protect a 20-0 lead and lost 34-32 to the Jr Warriors in double overtime.
The first half was spent trying to vanquish those ghosts. Neither team did much offensively in the first half. The Jr Warriors closed down the outside spaces the Pioneers liked to attack.
“They had our outside zone blocking covered really well, and it was hard to move the ball,” Schwartz said.
The Pioneers awoke at the start of the third quarter, energized off a fumble recovery by edge rusher Justin McNamara. On the second play from scrimmage, the Jr Warriors tried a reverse. Off the second half off the ball hit the ground, and McNamara sprang into action.
“I just told myself I had to get there,” he said. “We were spying on them when they ran that reverse. As soon as I realized he dropped it, I split the double team there and got on the ball. With our defense we’re just trying to play as hard as we can. It doesn’t matter who, the line, linebackers or defensive backs, just go out there and do what you can do and play hard.”
David Burgert needed just one play to make the Jr Warriors pay for their breakdown. He took an inside handoff and broke free for a 56-yard touchdown. Burgert is different from most of the Wednesday Night players in that he sees more action in the traditional River Valley Youth Football league play.
He saw plenty of time against the Jr Warriors Sunday. He is also a first-year player in the program who came over from a much smaller league, the Southwest Midgets.
“Every chance I get, you never know what to expect,” Burgert said. “You just try your hardest and hope for the best outcome. You just have to play hard. Offensively I think we just needed that push in the right direction. It wasn’t really there in the first half. I think we were still a little down with how the game ended Sunday.”
The Jr Warriors responded with their best drive of the night, and caught the Pioneers off balance with a blast down the right sideline for the tying score.
The Pioneers needed just four plays to answer. Schwartz aided his own cause by drawing the Jr Warriors offsides on third down to extend the drive.
The fourth quarter was a battle of wills, with the Pioneers not conceding any real ground to the Jr Warriors. Up front, Gialuca Arceo, Diego Aguilar, Liam West and McNamara neutralized the speed and quickness of the Jr Warriors.
Arceo had a huge sack. Burgert, Schwartz, Drake Ulaszek and John Werner patrolled the middle and deep third. The Jr Warriors had three possessions.
On fourth and long, with just inside of three minutes, Schwartz forced a turnover on downs with his tackle of a Jr Warriors receiver that was short of the distance to gain.
The Jr Warriors had one final desperate chance with 22 seconds remaining. The Pioneers gave up a short pass play, and forced an incompletion on the final Hail Mary pass.
Fittingly, Schwartz was there in coverage.
“We just said we can’t let anybody get past us,” he said. “It’s just a great mood and feeling to be able to get some reps outside of the Sunday games, and show what you can do out there. We have a great bond, and it’s a chance to really improve.”
In the 12-6 victory, the Orland Park Pioneers Varsity had many standout contributors and the Sunday starters who were there in support of their teammates. Their members were Syncere Preshon, Riley Atzman, Brock Lenzen, Gavin Loman, Dylan Butler, Cade McNulty, Sean Buer, Charlie Enstrom, Evan Lavelle, Luke Rybak, Ben Snider, Finn Redmond, Jake Marzullo, Logan Helman, Gage Cucci, Adam Naser, Enzo Angone, Maverick Vander Veer, Ryan Duckhorn, Malcolm McGonegal, Michael Sraga, Mohammad Abedalrahman, Brandon Castillo, Aidan Rios, Ahmed Ali, Steven Mullins, Michael Stefancic, Nicholas Hertzog, Camden Czarnecki, Yousif Dahdal, Julian Trevino, Ryan Pempek, Erik Baran, Brian Curran and Qais Naser.
