8U FALCONS DEFEAT TRI CITY
The 8U Falcons appeared in midseason form in Sunday’s contest vs Tri City 8U Gray, winning by a score of 28-6. The Falcons scored on their first possession of the game when Connor Pauley delivered a 53-yard strike to Cole Sherwood, his first of two touchdown passes to Sherwood. Sherwood would finish the game with three touchdowns, including a 65-yard fourth-quarter run that resembled a Barry Sanders highlight film. Luke Schroeder also contributed to the scoring effort with a spectacular 58-yard touchdown run of his own on the second possession of the game. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the dominant play on the offensive line by Wyland Holmes, Keats Caruso, Michael Cannizzaro, Parker Brey and RT Kouba, as well as tight ends Ben Vula and Charlie Hillegass.
Meanwhile, the 8U Falcon’s hard-hitting, stingy defense turned in another near flawless effort allowing only a late-game score, thanks to the efforts on the defensive line by Rocco and Duke Maggio, Michael Dombroski, Raj Chandarana and Max Cantin. Meanwhile, Daniel Campbell and Brooks Jaqua delivered a handful of jarring hits that helped set the tone throughout the game, while Broderick Slavik and Henry Gastevski patrolled the secondary from the safety position.
The 8U Falcons play at home again this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. against Wheaton 8U Blue.
9U TEAM SHUTS OUT PARK RIDGE
A warm Sunday morning at Dickinson Field was the setting for the first home game for many of these burgeoning Falcons. Park Ridge came calling with identical 1-0 records. After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons broke through with a 48-yard touchdown run by Luke Wanless. He hit the hole hard following big blocks by AJ Siepker, Max Breton and Tate Pitts. Nate Morris rifled in a pass to Jack Slavik for the 2-point conversion and an 8-0 lead. The next possession resulted in a fumble recovery by Enzo Allegra, who set up the Falcons with great field position. Billy Jaqua punched in the ball for a TD behind Dean Windfelder and Brody Soberiaj. Morris added the extra point for a 15-0 lead.
Out came the defense. JP Rago, John Dunn, Grant Garber, Elijah Trombley and Quinn Houser, who spent most of the morning in the Park Ridge backfield, stifled the visiting team once again. The Falcons offense took over with under a minute to go in the half. Henry Appel followed blocks by Julian Taubuea and Will Jones to scamper in for a 28-yard TD run. Jones tacked on the extra point for a 22-0 half time lead.
The start of the second half brought more of the same for Hinsdale defense. Cooper Milburn, Kanas Zitkevicius and Massimo Buttitta shut the door on the Park Ridge offense once more. That set up Owen Moon to burst through the Park Ridge defense and sprint all the way for a 52-yard TD to close out the scoring, giving the Falcons a 28-0 victory.
“It was a solid performance and great demonstration of assignment football,” Coach Mike Dunn told the team.
The Falcons will head into practice next week with the stated goal of, “Every day, we get better”.
11U SILVER WINS HOME OPENER
In week two, the Falcons returned to Hinsdale with a vengeance for the home opener against the Tri-Cities Chargers.
From the opening kick, Hinsdale was dominant at the line of scrimmage, anchored by Graham Ellis at center. The ground game got going in a big way, with running back Logan Sullivan running for chunks on the edge. Hinsdale was on the goal line quickly and punched in the touchdown, with a James West quarterback keeper.
Defensively, the Falcons made sure the only direction Tri-Cities could move was backwards. Defensive Linemen Bennett Zeikus and Yeabsira Diedrich set up camp in the Chargers’ backfield. A huge tackle for loss and sack set up an early Tri-Cities punt.
The Hinsdale offense went back to work, capping off another drive with a 30-yard scoring pass to Sullivan, ending the half 13-0 in favor of the Falcons.
The second half was more of the same. Defensive end Chase Mitchell helped to corral the Chargers offense on the edge, allowing the Linebacking Corp to menace the Tri-Cities offense up the middle.
Linebackers Bruno Hoban and Burke Brotschul blitzed the Chargers into negative yardage, setting up a Dane Graham interception.
The Falcons capitalized on the turnover and punched in another West touchdown, going up 19-0 to start the fourth.
Finn Caruso and Lucas Spatara continued to put on a tackling clinic, stalling the Chargers’ drive and forcing another punt. Tri-Cities would score their first points of the game on a miscue by the defense, bringing the score to 19-7.
The Falcons would counterpunch on their next drive. Dane Graham hit the edge and was off to the races again for a 60-yard touchdown run. The score was capped by a Diedrich reception for two.
Hinsdale got its first statement win of the 2023 season, with a final score of 27-7.
11U GOLD PUTS UP GREAT FIGHT
The Falcons matched up with the Bartlett Raiders this weekend in a hot and hostile arena.
It was the Falcons that came out hot, with powerful running by Matt Wiskowski, Spencer Marnell, John Trombly and Gavin Schuler to put the Falcons ahead off of a 40-yard touchdown scamper by Marnell.
Brady Madden had some nice throws as well to receivers Leo Yanklowitz, Grayson Danek and Colin Boots. The offensive line helped open the holes, led by Dom Angeletti, Massimo Burdi, Jack O’Toole, Ryan Sweiton, Jackson Rediger and Luke Lieberenz.
The defense started strong as well, led by Ryan Pieczkowski, Bennett Shepherd, Alex Vivanco, Kaine Ortega, Nicholas Carbonara, Giancarlo Turano, Lucas Herrick and Ryan Sheikh. Ryan Pieczkowski returned an interception for a Pick 6, to put the Falcons up 14-0.
The second half was a different story. The heat and overwhelming size of the Bartlett offensive and defensive line took control of the game.
The Falcons put up a great fight but in the end fell to the Raiders 18-14.
The Falcons next game is home at Hinsdale Central against Park Ridge Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
