by Tonight, all eyes were on Brunswick as an epic clash between Avon and Arch Bishop Hoban took place for a ticket to the State Championship Game in Division Two. Both teams played hard, and in the end, it was Arch Bishop Hoban handing Avon their first loss all year with a 30-6 victory.
The Hoban Knights powered their way to the victory tonight with a relentless stampede of rushing the ball down the gut of Avon. After a tight first half in which Avon did a great job of clock control, yet still trailing 10-6 at the break, Hoban pulled away in the second half.
Hoban Quarterback Shane Hamm didn’t do much in the air, but he didn’t need to as his legs were more then enough. The freshman quarterback rushed for 47 yards on 7 carries, scoring 0 once.
Sophomore running back Deamonte Trayanum racked up 126 yards on 8 touches, also scoring twice. Making that stat even more impressive for Trayanum is the fact that he never touched he ball until the second half. He was also a force on defense with a sack and interception.
Starting tailback Tyris Dickerson chipped in with 110 yards on 15 carries. He did not score however. Avon simply had no answers for the relentless rushing attack of Hoban.
The Hoban defense was every bit as impressive, forcing Ryan Maloy into multiple interceptions and also sacking him 7 times. It was clear the Eagles attack was running a little flat without Tony Ebhardt working at full speed. It was his first game back in several weeks after dealing with illness.
Avon converted a 3rd and 14 for 24 yards on the opening drive. Then was handed a 15-yard personal foul call from Hoban tacked on to the end of the play on a late hit. Avon would convert their next third down conversion with Nick Perusek on a third on 5. Perusek is only a sophomore so it was a rare carry for the young back in such a crucial situation. However, it was then Avon who would commit mistakes as back to back penalties would set up a 2nd down and 35 from the Hoban 44.
A Ryan Maloy interception by Hoban defender Garrett Houser who took it all the way back to the Avon 20-yard line after about an 85-yard return on the Maloy overthrown pass would stall the drive. The Eagles defense would force the Hoban offense to a 3 and out. Hoban would then convert a 35-yard field goal as kicker Jacob Branham bounced it in off the goal post. The Knights just had that kind of luck in the first half.
The ensuing kickoff would see yet another personal foul on Hoban, their second in the first seven minutes of the game. Ryan Maloy and the Eagles took advantage of the mental mistake, and began another impressive drive. On the legs of Maloy, Avon drove the ball down to the 20 of Hoban territory again.
Avon went for it on 4th and 1 from the Hoban 12-yard line with 1:38 left on the clock, Hoban once again helped them out by jumping offsides to hand Avon the first down. It would pay off two plays later as Ryan Maloy took it in himself from 7 yards out. The extra point was blocked, and it was 6-3 Eagles with 45 seconds left in the first quarter.
Avon continued to make costly mistakes, after forcing a Hoban punt early in the second quarter, the Eagles fumbled the punt and gave the ball right back to the Knights, this time on the 22-yard line of Avon. The Archbishop Hoban Knights wasted no time cashing in, as quarterback Shane Hamm ran it in from 4 yards out a few minutes later, putting the Knights up 10-6. Hoban was hit with their third personal foul of the game on the play as well, after the touchdown.
From there, the Eagles would string together yet another double-digit play, 6 plus minute long drive to close out the first half. They advanced the ball to the Hoban 18-yard line when 4th and 8 approached. They opted against the field goal, and decided to go for it. The Mike Elder gamble came up craps, as Ryan Maloy was rushed out of bounds, giving the ball back to the Knights with 58 seconds left in the half.
A strange first half muddled with penalties and turnovers, saw Hoban run less than 20 plays, throw only 2 passes, and yet, lead Avon 10-6 at the half. Avon ran a ball control offense, soaked up a lot of clock, but a blocked extra point, a turn over on downs and a redzone interception hurt them. Avon even out gained Hoban 155 to 55 yards in the half, but it simply didn’t matter.
Hoban started the second half with the ball and wasted no time cashing in again. Shane Hamm capped off the drive with a dashing 7-yard rumble to extend the lead. Avon would be forced to punt and quickly give the ball back to Hoban.
Once again, the powerful Knight offensive attack had no issues marching the ball down the field and scoring. This time it was sensational sophomore Deamonte Trayanum sprinting in from 16 yards out. The extra point was blocked, but the damage was done as Hoban now led 23-6. Despite 5 personal fouls, the Knights were dominating. Trayanum would put one more in before the night was over.
Hoban now advances to the Division Two State Championship Game next weekend from Tom Benson stadium in Canton.
Box Score
Avon 6 0 0 0 = 06
Arch 3 7 13 7 = 30
Scoring Summary
1Q 6:41 – 35-yard FG by Branham
1Q 0:45 – 7-yard touchdown run by Maloy. XP blocked.
2Q 7:41 – 4-yard touchdown run by Hamm. XP Good
3Q 10:29 -18-yard touchdown run by Hamm. XP Good.
3Q 6:03 16-yard touchdown run by Trayanum. XP blocked.
4Q 4:15 23yard touchdown run by Trayanum. XP Good.
