by Parma, Ohio- For the third consecutive season the Avon Eagles cruise to the Division II, Regional Final with an impressive 49-28 victory over the Benedictine Bengals at Byers Field. The Eagles will do battle with their arch rival Shoremen of Avon Lake who ousted the Grizzlies of Wadsworth 31-21 to set up the much anticipated rematch.
Avon has played through adversity this whole season as their roster mirrors a MASH unit, but once again their next man up mentality and the quality of the program has them primed for another trip to the finals.
They were surprised by a young but talented Bengals team who punched Avon in the mouth early as Kick returner Marvin Conkle took the opening kickoff and burst through the Avon defenders and scampered 96 yards and in a matter of seconds the Bengals led, 7-0.
Most teams lose their focus after they get hit early but not this squad. The stuck to their game plan and methodically answered with a statement 16 play 76 yard drive capped off by a Devon Hunter 1 yard plunge. The first of five touchdowns on the night. Hunter finished the night with a massive 32 carries for 207 yards and those five scores.
Avon quickly forced a punt and Hunter again finished a long 88 yard march with a 24 yard TD to give Avon it’s first lead. Benedictine was stymied on offense with a mere 6 yards total in the first quarter.
After an Avon fumble deep in their own territory to start the second, Benedictine capitalized on the mistake with a short field and scored when QB Ronnie Schultz took it in from 4 yards out, and although the Bengals only gained 17 total yards of offense, they were even on the scoreboard 14 all.
The Eagles scored two more times in the quarter as QB Niko Pappas, who orchestrated the game plan to perfection all night before being replaced due to injury, capped off another long drive with a 1 yard plunge, and another powerful run by Hunter gave Avon a 28-14 halftime lead.
Pappas had amassed 160 yards rushing and 125 passing yards and two TD of his own before breaking a bone in his thumb and not returning. Avon has played hurt all year. This was just another example of their resilience and faith in their program.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter as five straight possessions by both teams combined resulted in points. Avon came out first and scored to make it 35-14 and the squads went back and forth.
Two touchdown passes from Benedictine QB Ronnie Schultz made it interesting for the Bengals in the second half but it didn’t pose much of a threat to the Eagles.
Avon 12-0 faces the 11-1 Shoremen next week in a site yet to be determined. Benedictine finishes a promising season and expect to bring a talented and more experienced team again next season.
