Opening Day for Palos Stars 2025 Season

The Palos Stars football and cheerleading program hosted the South Holland Jets on Sunday, August 24th. Both teams play for the Southwest Midget League and they whole league has dedicated this season to Coach Lou. Coach Lou ran the Stars program for 39 years before he passed away this July. Everyone in the league is wearing Coach Lou Helmet stickers and the Palos Stars held a 39 second moment of silence before each game in honor of Lou's 39 years.

And with the approval of the Jets team, the Palos Stars Mighty-Mites ran a special play in honor of Coach Lou to open the 2025 season. Coach Lou's youngest grandson is starting his 1st season of Palos Stars football at the age of 5. The Stars lined up in a modified wing position while the Jets players took a knee.

The ball was hiked and handed off to #34 Herbert, Lou's youngest grandson. He took off running, a bit confused what exactly to do, but listened to the cheers from the crowd to just keep running.

He ran all the way for a Stars touchdown, right under the score board that reads Louie Trench Field and where a memorial poster of his Papa hangs. It was a touching moment for the Trench Family and the perfect way to open the 2025 season.

After that, the Mighty-Mites game began for real. This is the biggest team the Stars have had for Mighty-Mites, with 17 players compared to last years 9.

It's a developmental level that doesn't keep score but teaching fundamentals and safety. #42 Coleman-Foster had a good carry. #74-L. Farr disturbed a pass attempt by the Jets. At halftime, the first ever Palos Stars Mighty-Mites Cheerleaders took the field.

They had the fans yelling P S F! Their loud and proud cheers kept the sidelines pumped up.

To see what they have learned so far was fabulous, from the cheers to the stunts. In the second half, #65 Larkins made a tackle after #28 K. Rogers slowed the runner down. #65 Larkins had a great tackle.

#65 Larkins blocked a pass attempt by the Jets. And #42 Coleman-Foster had a great tackle to end the game. With so many players brand new to football, this was a great first game with another exciting opportunity for growth this season.

The Widgets were up next.

#19 Inabi started the game off with a big run for a Stars 1st down. They followed up with another 1st down by #78 Larkins. #9 Vara had a quarterback keep to pick up a few more yards. #78 Larkins ran in for a Stars touchdown.

A constellation of Stars tackled the runner. #23 Eid lead another constellation tackle. #9 Vara made a great tackle after a Jets player had gotten away on a big run. #9 Vara, #72 Ruggio , #23 Eid made another tackle to stop the Jets. #72 Ruggio powered into the backfield and stopped any movement while a teammate came in to tackle. After the Jets fumbled the snap, a constellation of Stars tackled as the Jets tried to recover. Quarterback #9 Vara and running backs, #78 Larkins and #19 Inabi took turns getting the ball down the field by getting multiple first downs. #19 Inabi had a great attempt at a run with 6 seconds left in the half, but fell short. In the second half, #19 Inabi punted the ball for better position. #27 Bowater got a backfield tackle with #14 Compean JR helping to finish it off. #27 Bowater then made another tackle. #52 Ennis and #9 Vara made a tackle at line of scrimmage.

After multiple Stars got in the way of the Jets ball carrier, a constellation tackle was made for no gain. #52 Ennis made a great tackle in the backfield. This was a nail biting game, down to the very end. The Stars Widgets team looks very promising for this season and were able to take away some lessons from today's close game. Final Score, Stars 6, Jets 7.

The Pee-wees teams came out next.

#7 Quinn had a great throw to his receiver. #30 Inabi blocked a pass attempt. #30 Inabi and #22 GTO made a great tackle. #10 Dickerson had a good tackle. #12 Williams had a great open field tackle. #15 Lichtenberger stopped the Jets just shy of goal line. #17 Clarke had a good run on the kick return from the Jets. With quick instincts, #22 GTO grabbed an overthrown snap and ran hard for a few yards.

#5 Akel and #22 GTO made a tackle. #30 Inabi tackled to block an extra point attempt by the Jets. #58 Moore grabbed the ball on the kick return. The Pee-wees cheerleaders kept the stands lively all game.

At halftime, they put on a great performance showing off VICTORY for the Stars.

#7 Quinn threw a few great passes to #10 Dickerson. Although the Stars remained scoreless in the end, they have learned what areas to work on for next week.

The JV teams had their turn next on the field. #11 Greenway and #18 Werdeg had an outside tackle. #14 Dreyer had a good run. #34 Alberts made a good tackle. There was a Stars Constellation tackle lead by #16 Tyma and #21 Madsen, just shy of goal line. #80 Gray had a great catch from #9 Ennis. #9 Ennis then got out of a few almost sacks and threw to a crowded #18 Werdeg who made a great catch and ran in for a Stars touchdown.

#17 A. Bittner grabbed shoes for a great tackle. #86 Goelitz made a good tackle. #14 Dreyer and #38 Jackson worked together for a good tackle. #86 Goelitz made a great tackle. #14 Dreyer made a looong touchdown run after grabbing the kick return. #9 Ennis passed to #21 Madsen for the extra point. #38 Jackson made a tackle with help from #44 Gonzalez, #14 Dreyer, and #80 Gray.

#18 Werdeg picked up a fumble at the Stars 38 yard line. #22 L. Bittner made a tackle with helping from #80 Gray and #11 Greenway. #16 Tyma, #86 Goelitz, and #11 Greenway worked together on a tackle to finish out the first half of the game. #18 Werdeg had a great catch from #9 Ennis, he then bounced around off a few Jets players picking up a great gain for the Stars. #9 Ennis, #18 Werdeg and #14 Dreyer took turns getting downs, driving down the field.

#21 Madsen and #11 Greenway joined in with great catches for another 1st down. And down to the wire at the end of the game, #18 Werdeg made a catch at the 1 yard line, just shy of a final touchdown. Final score Stars 13, Jets 47.

Varsity was last up for the day. #55 Fernandez started the game off with a great kick and #35 Carrillo made a tackle to stop the ball carrier. #5 Workman and #24 Sitko made great tackles. #12 Pettinga forced the Jets out of bounds.

#35 Carrillo stopped the extra point attempt. #5 Workman had another great tackle and followed that up with a great run on a kick return he grabbed. #12 Pettinga got some yards with a quarterback keep. After a constellation of Stars tackled the Jets, #5 Workman recovered the fumbled ball. #7 Portugues had a good carry for some yards. #2 Gordon had a great touchdown run to put the Stars on the board. The team wasn't ready to give up possession, so #5 Workman powered hard to grab the kick off after it bounced off a Jets player's helmet.

#12 Pettinga had a great run and then he had a great throw to #17 Matula for another Stars Touchdown. #5 Workman and #24 Sitko worked together for a tackle. #55 Fernandez made a great tackle. #5 Workman continued his goal of keeping that ball in Stars possession and caught an interception. #24 Sitko had a good run after a kick return. Our Varsity cheer squad were the loudest of the day on the sidelines. At halftime, they took to the field and showed out. In the second half, the Stars blocked an extra point attempt. #2 Gordon had a great run for a 1st down. #5 Workman had a great run down field, dragging Jets players on his stretched out shirt tails. And although the ball was then turned over, #5 Workman once again recovered a fumble. The gave Stars possession at their 20 yard line. #12 Pettinga made sure to take advantage of the good field placement and made a Stars touchdown. #5 Workman wasn't done helping his team succeed as he crossed to goal line for the extra point. #17 Matula recovered a fumble for the Stars. #2 Gordon, #5 Workman and #12 Pettinga had some great carries to pick up yards. #5 Workman made a Stars touchdown and scored the extra point. #12 Pettinga powered down the field to grab a tackle. #87 Reid-Doss and #17 Matula made a tackle. #24 Sitko made a great tackle. #10 Gonsur picked up the ball on a kick return and quickly handed it off to #24 Sitko who was able to run down near the 50 yard line for a better field position. The team this year is showing a lot of promise and seemed to have some fun on the field. Final score Stars 26, Jets 47

The Stars have a lot to work on this week in practice and will be back at it next Saturday when they host the Dolton Bears.

Many thanks to the local businesses that are sponsoring the Stars program this year, including Minuteman Press (formerly Park Printing) who printed up the memorial banners for the field.