9U season ends with hard-fought game
The 2021 9U Falcon season came to an unsatisfying conclusion on Saturday. It was a hard-fought game by both teams, but the Falcons fell 6-0 to the Bartlett Raiders.
After a second quarter touchdown pass by the Raiders, the Falcon defense regained its footing. The defense had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, limiting Bartlett the rest of the afternoon.
However, the offense was stuck in second gear all day. The Falcons had two drives stall in the red zone, and a last-ditch effort came up short in Bartlett territory.
The Falcons finished the season 6-4. More valuable was the experience gained in their first year of youth tackle football. The coaches were proud of the commitment each player made, of the effort given every week and of the improvement each individual and the team made throughout the year.
The hope is that each player is well-positioned to enjoy their Falcons’ football career the next four to five years.
Congratulations to each player on a great season and good luck as they move forward.
The 2021 9U First Play, Every Play — All Day Falcons are George Beatty, Kellen Brown, Massimo Burdi, Salvatore Calendriello, Sullivan Camp, Nick Carbonara, Josh Castro, Sebastian Christensen, Jack Cory, Joey Hillegass, Michael Kipnis, Luke Lieberenz, Spencer Marnell, Keegan McCoskey, Ben Murphy, Ryan Pieczkowski, Gavin Schuler, Nate Thangamani, Giancarlo Turano III, Grady Wood and Bennett Zeikus.
Special thanks to head coach Matt Camp and assistant coaches Nate Brown and Mike Murphy.
VARSITY SILVER LOSES IN OT to wheaton rams
Saturday night the Varsity Silver Falcons came into Graf Park in Wheaton with upset on their mind. The night before Halloween proved to be a scary one for both offenses.
All night the two teams battled. The Falcons continued to tighten up their defense when they needed it most. Twice the Wheaton Rams had first and goal from inside the 5 yard line. Both times they were turned away by the staunch defensive line led by Corbin Camp, Liam Joyce, Anthony Mayan, Austin Haggerty, EJ Dynis and Leith Fattouh.
The Falcons’ offense was showing some success running the ball, but the Wheaton Rams kept coming up with timely stops. Connor Hoddle, Johnny Martinez, Alec Allegra and Timas Marchertas all had big moments that unfortunately didn’t sustain.
As the second half hit, the game still tied at 0-0, Johnny Martinez gave the Falcons their best shot as he intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards down field. Yet again the Falcons couldn’t muster up much offense.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons stopped a final threat with some excellent swarm tackling by Gavin Klobach, Luke Melillo, Ben Tiritilli, Navin Limson and Will Lynch.
At the end of regulation the score was still tied 0-0. The Falcons really dug deep to hold the Rams out of the endzone in overtime, but Wheaton was finally able to pound the ball in to take the lead. The Falcons had one more shot to extend the match, but fell just short of a beautiful pass by Hoddle to Fattouh that was tipped away at the last second.
It was a roller coaster season with these Falcons. Thanks for the memories, boys! Great season by all!
JV SILVER SHUTS OUT NAPERVILLE 33-0
The JV Silver Falcon squad showed up ready to play this past Sunday at Dickinson Field. They scored early and often en route to a 33-0 victory over the Naperville Gold team.
The Hinsdale team scored on five of their first six possessions. Alex Przyzycki ran well and blasted up the middle for 23 yards on the second play of the game. He would lead off the scoring a few plays later with a run from 8 yards out, where he slipped three would-be tacklers before crossing the goal line. Quarterback Owen Sunderson would score his first of three touchdowns on the Falcon’s second possession, breaking four tackles before finding the edge and scampering 45 yards to the endzone. John Breton would set up the team’s third score with 25-yard run off the left side. Sunderson would cap off the drive two plays later with a sensational run from 21 yards out, where he cut back against the grain and left three Naperville tacklers grabbing air on his way to the end zone. The Falcon offense had another chance to score before the first half ended following a Przyzycki interception at midfield. With 41 seconds and three time outs to spare, the high powered Hinsdale offense would not disappoint. Three plays later they would score again by way of a “Cutback” Sunderson dazzling run from 37 yards out. At the end of the first half the score was 26-0.
John Breton would put the final score on the board in the third quarter from 11 yards out. The Falcon O line — led by Matthew Tomfohrde, Luke Zajicek, Michael Sharples, Harrish Mekla and Jimmy Satchwell — imposed its will on the Naperville defense all game long. Hinsdale would rush for 285 yards on the day.
The Falcon defense didn’t give the team from Naperville much to work with all day. They held them to 24 yards of total offense and grabbed four interceptions. Przyzycki and Sunderson each had a first half interception and ball hawk Michael Dunford snatched two for himself in the fourth quarter. The Falcons got outstanding play on the defensive line from Jonathon Fausto, Henry Kohn, James Frankel, Liam Gilmore, Isaiah Shin and Evan Zydek.
The JV Silver team will hope to ride the momentum of eight straight wins on the road in Elmhurst at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Berens Park. The Falcons look to avenge their week one loss to the Elmhurst Eagles in a bid to make the Super Bowl the following the week.
JV Gold posts dominant victory over wheaton
On a “perfect weather for football on Halloween” day at Hinsdale Central’s Dickinson Field, the JV Gold continued its dominating style of football versus their arch rivals, the Wheaton Rams.
The Wheaton Rams drew first blood on a botched punt that all the Falcons dove for, but the Rams picked it up and ran around the edge for 35 yards and the first score of the game. 8-0 Rams.
The Falcons went back to business and put together an impressive drive capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Brian O’Malley to Jupiter Pohlenz to tie the score in the first quarter.
On the next series, the Falcons D forced a quick three and out, setting up the Falcons’ first down from their own 20-yard line. The offensive line, anchored by Charles Calhoun, Luke Injaychock, Max Judge and Meko Zecevic, ran over the defensive front and made it possible for another 80-yard touchdown run by Pohlenz, who was untouched on the play.
Late in the second quarter, O’Malley hooked up again with Pohlenz for another 30-yard touchdown pass. Orestas Bockus was brilliant, hitting all three two-point conversions, making the score 24-8 Falcons at the half.
The second half the Falcons dominated on the ground, moving the chains at will. The O line and the D line for the Falcons were outstanding the entire game for a final score of 32-14 Falcons.
Next up is the Tri-City Chargers for the semifinals, where the winner gets a berth to the BGYFL Super Bowl.
SENIOR GOLD BEATS OSWEGO 11-0
No one ever said the playoffs were easy. It’s a clean slate for all the teams. But the Senior Gold Falcons squad has experienced veterans who have been through the BGYFL grind.
At the end of round one, the ultimate prize is still in their grasp. A trip to the Super Bowl!
On a spooky Halloween Sunday, in a defensive struggle marred by more tricks than treats, the Falcons pulled out a 11-0 win.
Micah Drescher continued to show his golden leg with a 32-yard field goal and an extra point.
“He had 15 yards more on that FG, and his punts flipped the field three times. What a leg. I was D1 billiards so I know talent, and that kid has it!” super fan Fred Boshardt quipped, wearing a Ghostbuster costume.
The game had 300 yards in penalties, hence the tricks, but the final treat was Gene Riordan’s candy pancake gift to an Oswego end as Riley Contreras romped behind the block 18 yards to seal the game. Michael McGowan’s blocked field goal and James Skokna’s pass coverage were huge in the game.
Next up is Palatine at noon on Sunday.
“We beat them in the heat the last time, 34-26 in a thriller” coach Joe Corcoran said, ironically wearing Michael Jackson’s Thriller costume. “It wasn’t as hot as I am in this red leather but we wore ’em down. It will be a great semi.”
In the distance, Mark Torsberg could be heard screaming about the yellow tricks. Go Falcons!
