Argo’s Maciej Jarosz specializes in the type of bone-crunching hits that are legendary.
The senior middle linebacker added another one to his highlight reel Friday night with a tackle of senior running back Malik Salameh that forced Reavis to settle for an early field goal.
“When I go out there, I play to get my anger out,” Jarosz said. “I came here to win.
”We lost last year and my sophomore year. The only time we beat (Reavis) was during my freshman year, and I had an ankle injury and I didn‘t play. I wanted this win.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Jarosz delivered the goods with 16 tackles as the host Argonauts pulled out a 17-9 South Suburban Red victory over the longtime rival Rams in Summit.
Jarosz’s twin brother, Jakub, blocked an important extra-point kick in the fourth quarter.
Argo (3-0, 1-0) went up 14-3 in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Javoris Cotton and a 77-yard TD romp by senior running back Steven Holmes.
Senior kicker Kacper Lobas converted a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Junior wide receiver Nick Pryor scored on a 9-yard reception from junior quarterback Jonathan Liesen to lead the Rams (2-1, 0-1). It was the first TD allowed by Argo in 12 quarters of play.
Maciej and Jakub Jarosz have been the anchors of the Argonauts’ defense.
”It’s very rare for us to bring up sophomores,” Argo coach Phillip Rossberg said of the Jarosz twins, who are three-year starters. “But they just stood out with their size and their mobility.
”Maciej is a force multiplier, but he is also a very cerebral player who is very smooth. He reads and he goes. Once he does that, he just triggers.”
Maciej has been a force of nature for Argo, providing a disruptive presence. He has prototypical linebacker size, with bulk to stuff plays at the line of scrimmage and speed to get into space.
He had 12 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries last week in a 21-0 victory over Bloom. Amazingly, he had zero tackles in a 45-0 season-opening victory over De La Salle.
”All they did was pass and throw the ball,” Jarosz said. “I never got a chance to do much.
”(Friday night), I was out there just to fill the gaps and stuff the run. I was flying all over the field. I’m big, but I’m also fast, and if I get a grip on somebody, they’re not going anywhere.”
Soccer was the first love of the twins, but they turned their attention to football in the seventh grade following the encouragement and example of their older brother, Wojtek.
“He wore the same number as me and played the same linebacker position,” Maciej said. “When we were growing up, he taught us everything. We’d go outside, practice or throw the ball around.”
Their mother was born in the south suburbs to Polish immigrants and attended Argo. Their father was born in Poland. Their growing attachment to football paved the way for their assimilation.
“We grew up speaking Polish and English and started watching football,” Maciej said.
Jakub Jarosz said communication between the two during a game is almost unnecessary,
”We don’t really have to talk,” Jakub said, “We just have that understanding of the other, and that’s what makes us such a great duo out there.”
The twins have generated recruiting interest at the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels.
All options are on the table. And while Maciej Jarosz is a ferocious hitter, he has a sweet soul.
“This might sound different, but when I get to college, I want to study nursing,” he said. “I’m into helping people out and learning about the body.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
