Final Weekend of Palos Stars Football

This past weekend was the final football games for the Palos Stars 2024 season. All that's left now is some fun gatherings and the cheerleading competition! The Widgets played in the 2nd round of playoffs and the Mighty-Mites played on the Southwest Midget League Mighty-Mite Bowl!

On Saturday, the Widgets took on the number one ranked team, the New Lenox Mustangs. It was a tough battle but the Widgets fought hard and never gave up. #47 Lichtenberger made a great tackle.

#9 Haseman picked up a fumble to get the ball back for the Stars. #21 Aduib had good carries on offense. #23 Thomas and #27 J. Peterson made a good tackle. #9 Haseman slowed runner while a teammate came in to help with the tackle. #23 Thomas pushed the runner out of bounds to stop the Mustangs. #19 Larkins and #2 GTO made a tackle.

#9 Haseman and #6 Doyle made a tackle in the backfield. #23 Thomas made a great tackle. A big push inside by #40 Vara helped get some needed yards.

#9 Haseman blocked a pass. At halftime, the Widgets cheerleaders showed off another great routine on the field.

They kept the stands loud for the Stars on the sidelines, too.

#21 Aduib trips up the runner for stop, making sure he didn't get away.

#21 Aduib followed that up with a great tackle. #6 Doyle made a great tackle.

#9 Haseman and #78 Sundararaj made a tackle. #6 Doyle picked up a fumble. #47 Lichtenberger blocked the extra point attempt with a great tackle. The game did not end in favor of the Stars but the team, parents and coaches were all so proud of how far the team has come this season. There were many 1st time players on the team that were learning as they went.

And many of the more experienced players had moved up this season, leaving behind players that got to step up and be leaders this year. The team learned not only how to play football together but how to get along together as a team and friends. Although they didn't get to shave anyone else's beard this season, the coaches promised to grow them out for next season. This team shows a lot of promise for the years to come on the Palos Stars!

The following day, bright and early, the Mighty-Mites showed up for the Mighty-Mite Bowl. Getting to the field at 7am for warm us is no easy task for this group of 5-7 year Olds, but their dedication to the sport shines true. There were 12 teams competing in this double elimination tournament. Most teams having 15-25 players, the Palos Stars have 9 kids for the 8 on 8 plays.

The 1st game was against the Midcrest Panthers. #22 Eid made a tackle in the backfield. The Stars blocked the extra point aattempt.

#74 Compean made a tackle. #67 Rodgers forced a fumble. #67 Rodgers tackled by the shoe after the runner almost got away, but Rodgers wasn't ready to give up. #74 Compean tackled to block the extra point attempt. #74 Compean had a good run and then caught a great pass. #22 Eid made a great tackle.

#67 Rodgers blocked the extra point attempt. After a short 5 minute halftime, #42 Larkins had a great run. #22 Eid had a good carry. #42 Larkins made a great catch. #42 Larkins made a good tackle. #74 made a good tackle. #22 Eid had multiple backfield tackles to stop the Panthers.

#42 Larkins had a looong touchdown run, breaking tackles all the way. #22 Eid made another backfield tackle and then a very important touchdown saving tackle to end the game. This game was a loss for the Stars, so they moved onto the consolation bracket. This meant another game just as soon as the first one finished.

The Stars walked off the field and walked right onto the next, ready for game 2 against the Hegwisch Bulldogs. #74 Compean had a good carry. #8 Compean and 42 Larkins made a good tackle.

#22 Eid picked up a fumble to get the ball back for the Stars. It must have been fun to do that, because #22 Eid did it again on the next possession for Hegwisch. #42 Larkins and #22 Eid made a great tackle. #22 Eid was on it again as he picked up another fumble, as he was watching that ball like a hawk all game. After a quick 5 minute halftime filled with beef sticks and granola bars, the Stars made a constellation tackle. #28 Lichtenberger forced a fumble and #67 Rodgers picked it up for the Stars. #42 Larkins had a great run for a 1st down. #67 Rodgers had a good run. #22 Eid picked up fumble and this time was able to run it all the way down the field for a Stars touchdown!

The team worked together on a constellation tackle. #8 Compean made a tackle. #22 Eid blocked the extra point attempt. #42 Larkins had a great run, breaking multiple tackles, for a Stars 1st down. #42 Larkins got the ball again and was stiff arming his way down the field for another Stars touchdown, with great blocking from 53 Mauldin.

#8 Compean made a tackle. #22 Eid made a tackle. #42 Larkins picked up a fumble in an important play near the end of the game. Getting the ball back for the Stars sealed the win for this game as the clock then ran out. Final Score, Stars 12, Hegwisch 6. This win meant the team keeps playing, but this time with a break in between. They gathered for lunch, fun, and naps before the next game.

After a warm up to get ready again, the Stars played Game 3 vs Burbank Titans. #67 Rodgers made a great tackle. #22 Eid picked up fumble to get the ball back for the Stars. #8 Compean had a great run for a Stars 1st down. #28 Lichtenberger had a good run.

#8 Compean made a great run on a reverse play for a Stars 1st down. #42 Larkins and #5 Torres made a great tackle.

#67 Rodgers slowed the runner and #22 Eid and #42 Larkins made the tackle.

#67 Rodgers made a tackle. #42 Larkins and #8 Compean made a good tackle. #22 Eid kept up his streak from the day with a great backfield tackle. #8 Compean made a good tackle. #74 Compean followed that up with a good tackle to take the game to halftime. #42 Larkins had a great run and got down near the goal line. This allowed #22 Eid to make a Stars touchdown.

#5 Torres made a tackle. #42 Larkins made a great touchdown run for the Stars. #42 Larkins also ran in for the extra point.

He wasn't done helping his team yet, as he made a great tackle to stop the Titans on the change of possession. #67 Rodgers threw a great pass to #42 Larkins and he ran for a 1st down.

#22 Eid then ran in for a Stars touchdown. #22 Eid made sure to stop the offense again woth another backfield tackle. #42 Larkins and #67 Rodgers made a great touchdown saving tackle to end the game ahead! Final score Stars 19, Titans 13.

As game 3 ended Game 4 against the Oak Forest Raiders began. These back to back games were on the same field, so there was no break for the Stars. #74 Compean made a tackle. #42 Larkins made a tackle. #22 Eid and #67 Rodgers blocked the extra point attempt by the Raiders.

At halftime, the Stars once again had a brief 5 minutes to grab some beef sticks and granola bars before heading back out for the second half. The team was getting tired but kept firing through to finish the game. #42 Larkins had a good run for a 1st down. #67 Rodgers made a great tackle. #42 Larkins got the ball and ran the whole field for a final Stars touchdown. #22 Eid ran in for the extra point. #67 Rodgers made a final tackle for the Stars.

Although the game ended in a loss for Stars, it put them in 4th place out of 12 teams. For these 9 young players, that was a well deserved accomplishment. Coaches and parents from other teams were dumbfounded that these 9 kids held their own all day and never quit.

The bond the team and families have by the end of the season is so powerful and watching them work so hard at this tournament, strengthens it even more! The tears were starting at halftime of the last game, knowing it was almost over and the exhaustion didn't help much either. The coaches gave heart felt pep talks and the parents stood by with admiration of everything the kids and coaches did this season. A few of the players move up next year and they will be missed, but everyone is excited to see how far they go with everything they have learned as a Stars Mighty-Mite player.

As the kids recieved their medals, there was nothing but pure joy on their faces. The tired families went home, winners in their own way. Until next season! Let's Go Stars!