9U ALMOST STAGES COMEBACK
First play, every play, all day. This has been the mantra for the 9U Falcons all year. However this week vs the Wheaton Rams, the Falcons didn’t follow through.
The Rams scored on an outside run on the first play to take an early 7-0 lead. Rather than hang their heads, the Falcons got back to work.
They went on a long drive following the blocking of Josh Castro, Bennett Zeikus, Grady Wood and strong runs by Gavin Schuler. A would be touchdown was ruled out of bounds and the drive stalled.
The defense stiffened, led by Sal Calandriello, Luke Lieberenz, Sullivan Camp, Ben Murphy and Keegan McCoskey. The Falcons went into halftime down 7-0.
The teams traded drives into the fourth quarter. The Falcons “D” provided another big stop. George Beatty, Spencer Marnell, Joey Hillegass and Kellen Brown would not be denied.
With time running out, quarterback Nick Carbonara got a pitch off just in time to Michael Kipnis. Kipper followed the blocks of Mas Burdi, Ryan Pieczkowski, Seabass Christensen and Nate Thangamani for a 50-yard touchdown run.
But alas the PAT was no good. One last-ditch effort left the Falcons 20 yards short of the winning touchdown as time expired.
A tough 7-6 loss will not keep the Falcons down long. Coaches expect a big bounce back this week.
JV SILVER WINS HIGH-SCORING GAME
The JV Silver Falcon squad moved to 6-1 with 37-28 victory Sunday afternoon over the visiting Wheaton Rams.
The Falcon offense got off to a rocky start fumbling the first snap. They quickly rebounded, though, when Tom Golon took a handoff on the very next play and went 80 yards untouched for the game’s first score.
Wheaton would chew some clock on their first possession but ultimately would turn the ball over on downs back to the Hinsdale offense, which would score a few plays later on a 49-yard touchdown run by quarterback Owen Sunderson. John Breton would score later from eight yards out.
Later in the game, Sunderson would add another 4-yard touchdown run as well as a 30-yard touchdown pass to sure handed tight end Henry Kohn. The Falcon “O” Line of Harish Mekla, Matthew Tomfohrde, Michael Sharples, Luke Zajicek and James Frankel was dominant once again and controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game.
The “bend but don’t break” Falcon defense didn’t have its best day, but it did enough to get the W. Graham Marnell, Drew Wyent, Jack Enright, Gordie Linn, Evan Zydek, Isaiah Shin and Michael Dunford all chipped in tackles to slow down the Wheaton running game that scored three second-half
touchdowns.
The team hosts Glen Ellyn at 1 p.m. Sunday at Hinsdale Central to wrap up regular season.
JV GOLD EARNS ANOTHER WIN
The Falcons JV Gold continued their winning ways on Saturday at Doerhoefer Park in Downers Grove vs. the Panthers.
The offense had some challenges against a staunch Panthers’ “D” Line in the first half, giving up three turnovers that led to a safety and a score of 2-0 at the half.
The dominant Falcon defense got the ball back quickly at the start of the second half, and the offense was able to put together a nice 45-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 25-yard pass from Brian O’Malley to Jupiter Pohlenz. Orestas Bockus booted the two point conversion, making the score 8 - 2 midway through the third quarter.
The Falcons’ defense, anchored by Charles Calhoun, Chris Kasky, Meko Zecevic, Charlie Miller, Seamus O’Meara, Colt Hilding, Max Judge and Colin Palm, pitched another second-half shut out.
The final score was 8-2, with the Falcons improving to a 6-2 record this season.
VARSITY SILVER WINS IN OT
The Hinsdale Falcons came out with something to prove Sunday afternoon at Northwest Park against the Park Ridge Falcons.
Connor Hoddle marched the Falcons down the field with strong runs by Johnny Martinez and Alec Allegra. Connor was efficient with his passing as well, hitting Spencer Martin and Gavin Klobach on some timely passing. Martinez pounded the ball in for the opening drive score.
The Falcons’ defense showed it was up for the challenge, shutting down the Park Ridge Falcons with huge plays by Ben Tiritilli, Luke Melillo, Luke Keiner and Austin Haggerty stuffing the middle.
On the next possession, Hoddle lofted a beautiful pass to Leith “Baby Gronk” Fattouh, which he gathered in and raced the entire defense 50 yards to the endzone.
Hinsdale seemed to get a little comfortable and let Park Ridge back in the game with two long passes against broken coverage. Coach Joyce lit a fire under his team and the Falcons shut down Park Ridge for the remainder of the half, which led to the overtime heroics.
Park Ridge started with the ball, but their dreams of victory were snatched away by ball hawk Will Lynch’s interception in the end zone. Hinsdale’s offensive line, led by Liam Joyce, Corbin Camp, Anthony Mayan, Luke Melillo and Faustus Antanaitis, paved a road of pancakes for Johnny Martinez to add his second score of the day for the winning touchdown.
Be sure to come out to Dickinson Field tis Sunday to watch these feisty Falcons take on the Naperville Saints.
SENIOR GOLD WINS AGAIN
A few weeks ago the Senior Gold Falcons suffered their first loss. Since then they have beaten two solid opponents.
This week the Falcons won 16-8 over a 7-0 Naperville team.
“We were worried about the boys looking ahead to DG next week and their heralded QB. But we stayed focused through all the adversity And got it done!” said coach Andrew “Butter” Bjorson. The adversity coach Bjorson talked about was there was no live clock, a gun range next to the field and a few key injuries.
Through it all, the Gold took command with a gritty defense and two key offensive drives. Riley Contreras continued his impressive season with a 10-yard touchdown, carrying six Saints into the end zone. Owen Joyce added a 5-yard run freed up on a IHOP Pancake block by BIG Gene Riordan. The defense was swarming all day, led by Michael McGowan, Jeffrey Collier, Charlie Hoyt and Jame-o Hellenga. Keith Bielarz had an interception to seal the deal.
Coach Joe “The Baka” Corcoran coming in from a bacon cooking gala piped in after the game: “Great job by the kids dealing with all the pops of the gun range. They were loud and annoying, like the Golden Mouse last night.”
Next up, rival Downers Grove at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Doerhoeffer.
