9U WINS FIRST PLAYOFF GAME
It was chilly but dry Sunday morning as the 9U Falcons took Dickinson Field for their opening playoff game. The Bartlett Raiders came to town looking to spoil the Falcons’ undefeated season; however, the young Falcons prevailed with a hard-fought 21-0 victory.
The offense stalled on its first drive of the game, but the Falcon D picked got the ball back to them four plays later. This time they methodically drove the ball toward the goal line. Luke Wanless finished the drive behind a Quinn Houser and AJ Siepker double-team block for the 3-yard touchdown run. Nate Morris rolled out to his left and found Jack Slavik in the end zone for the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
The Falcons’ defense got the ball back to the offense quickly following a Billy Jaqua interception. Three plays later, the Falcons stuck again from 40 yards out. Max Breton and Dean Winfelder held the Raiders at bay allowing the TD run. Tate Pitts provided the final block, springing Wanless for his second score. Owen Moon scooted around end for the extra point and a 15-0 Falcons halftime lead.
The Falcons closed out the scoring with a 35-yard TD run by Wanless. A big block by Brody Sobieraj lead the way for the Wanless“hat trick. A great team effort was responsible for the win. A special shout out goes to the defense, which secured the ninth shutout of the season — JP Rago, Enzo Allegra, Henry Appel (forced fumble and recovery), Cooper Milburn, Grant Garber, John Dunn, Elijah Trombly, Massismo Buttitta and Kanas Zitkevicius.
It has already been a great season! These hungry Falcons hope to continue it next week at HCHS against a tough opponent with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
10U SILVER WINS DEFENSIVE BATTLE
Playoff football for the Hinsdale Falcon Silver 10U team came to Dickinson Field, and what a contest it was. Hinsdale took on the Park Ridge Falcons in tightly contested defensive battle, as both defenses kept the game scoreless until the fourth quarter. The Hinsdale Falcons outlasted Park Ridge 12-6, with all scoring occurring in the last 6 minutes.
The Falcon defense again was the key to victory, as it keep Park Ridge players from scoring until late in the game when they were in desperation mode. Early in the third quarter Hinsdale kept Park Ridge out of the end zone when they were deep in the Hinsdale territory. Marco Oliverio, Brennan Smith, Rohan Sheth, Miles Perucki, Grant Garver, Jack O’Malley, Luke Hanson, Blake Bazan, Theo Messeih and Rahil Thakkar were all played a role in the defensive presence.
Great secondary play from Leo Solorio, Frankie Levato, Rohn Ramani and Danny McFarland kept the Park Ridge passing attack at bay, especially late in the game when they needed a tying score.
The offense, led by Sawyer Mhyra, was efficient and moved the ball with blocking from Will Rooney, Nico Will, Joey Hillegass, Hayden Sobieraj and Carter Cox. They generated key blocks at key times throughout the contest to ultimately win the game.
Hinsdale, desperate for a spark, gambled and went for a 4th-and-1 on their own 12-yard line. A hard-nosed run from Jacob Zager secured the first down, and they were rewarded with an 85-yard TD run from Luca Striltschuk. Jacob Zager won the game on a 73-yard TD run late in the fourth.
Viren Singh continued his mastery of solid kick offs.
Off to the semifinals next week to face the Tri City White Chargers. Game time and date TBD.
11U Gold D1 Gets Win with Shutout
“Survive and Advance.”
That’s exactly what the Hinsdale Falcons did in a cold, wet playoff game against the Downers Grove Panthers. The Hinsdale defense led the way, pitching a 12-0 shutout for the win.
The Falcons got the opening kick off and, after an impressive return by Grant Kirchheimer, went to work marching down the field with a steady diet of runs from Michael Kipnis and Kellan Goodwin behind Sullivan Camp’s lead blocking. The drive culminated in a 1-yard plunge by Kipnis for the score, making it 6-0 Hinsdale.
The Hinsdale defense came out with a fury, getting the pads popping early. On the Panthers’ third play, Brock Bradley laid a big blindside quarterback hit, jarring the ball loose, leading to a Oliver Johnson recovery. After a stalled Falcon drive, the defensive dogs got loose again. The series belonged to the defensive line with a Sal Calendriello tackle for loss, a Torsten Wood backfield takedown and an incredible blocked punt and recovery by Wood. Unable to find the endzone again, Hinsdale led 6-0 at half.
The second half started with a bang as Jaxon Uthe recovered the opening onside kick to get Hinsdale an extra possession. The Falcon offense battled the tough conditions and put together some extended drives behind strong play from quarterback Dillon Phelan and the line led by Ben Kurinsky, Connor Gaylord and Grant Wanless, but were still unable to score. The defense, chasing the shutout, was up to the task with continued physical play from Wood, Calendriello, Bradley, Leo Crooks and Angel Roman. Charlie Lynch, Shane Behar and Dominic Cresap put in their typical steady performances on defense as well. Hinsdale struck the final blow on the last play of the game with a lofted pass from Phelan to Bradley from 50 yards, capping Bradley’s phenomenal day. The Falcons will take on Lyons in the semifinals this week.
