Buccaneers Get Mauled By Lions

Joliet- Not the result that the Buccaneers wanted for the season opener yesterday afternoon at Aux Sable Park. The Buccaneers lost to the Freeport Lions 28 to 6 in their season Home Opener in Joliet. “I’m proud of these guys,” said Head Coach Michael Ingram Jr. We have no excuses and I won’t blame it on the fact that we were missing some key people on offense and defensive side of the ball says Ingram.It was a defensive game from the start with the Bucs forcing the Lions to work the ball down the field and causing them to turnover the ball on downs in Bucs territory. Buccaneers’ offense led by long time veteran QB #2 Anthony Michalowicz couldn’t find his rhythm. “I was frustrated with the way the offense hadn’t moved the ball to start off, I thought later in the game, I got into a little groove with our receiver core,” said Michalowicz. Michalowicz ended the game with 12 for 25 186 yards passing 1 Touchdown and 1 interception. Leading receiver newcomer # 11 Jake Bern former Bradley Bourbonnais Boiler 5 Receptions 104 yds and a touchdown. Berns touchdown reception in the far north endzone jump started the crowd with a great toe tap in the back of the endzone. “This kid is the future of our team,” said Ingram. Newcomer # 3 Dillian Wellman added 3 Receptions for 22 yards and Veteran #7 Keyshawn Canady 2 Receptions for 10 yards and 2 carries for 12 yards. Returning veteran Running-back #23 Lamarr Hopper (10 carries for 36 yards) continues to be the hard nose runner that has garnered so much praise from his coaches and fellow teammates. “When Lamarr is running hard he makes things happen”, said Michalowicz. Buccaneers had a bright spot-on special team with Return Specialist # 00 Dekari Faultner Rookie returning a kick return 67 yards and setting the Buccaneers up in great field position in the second half, unfortunately the Bucs couldn’t capitalize on the great field position and squandered an opportunity to take the lead. The Defense spent more time on the field than the offense said Assist Head Coach and Line Coach Russell Saley. I was very disappointed with the line play, but I take responsibility for that, it won’t happen again, says Saley. Normally, the Buccaneers defense has always been their strength, not tonight says Ingram. We were missing some people, and our veteran leadership over the last few years is no longer with us anymore. The Buccaneers were starting 3 new fresh faces on offense and 5 new fresh faces on defense. It hurts that we couldn’t have any preseason games to get these guys some valuable playing time ahead of this game said Ingram. It was a bad year for a lot of teams throughout the area as afar as preseason game were concerned Ingram says, but that doesn’t change the fact that we must play the games ahead of us. In a few weeks the Buccaneers travel northeast to Michigan to take on the Calvary Knights from the new Michigan Football League that the Bucs are in for the 2026 season. From what we have been told and what we have seen and or heard about them their a good team, said Saley. We have our work cut out for us! This will be our first test against a new opponent from our new league, said Ingram. They don’t know us and we don’t’ know them, so it’s an even contest for the most part, but we must travel well and go do what we need to do to secure the win!

The team is always looking for young men to be a part of the team, and if there are any young men from the local area that graduated for high school/college in the last few years or in process of graduating and still have the itch and fire to strap on the pads and have some fun again. They should contact www.jolietbuccaneers.com and fill out a player application form.

For more information about the Joliet Buccaneers Adult Amateur Football Team please visit us online at jolietbuccaneers.com visit us on Facebook and or Instagram Joliet Buccaneers or call 815.302.8700