by AVON, OHIO – It wasn’t pretty by any stretch, but the Avon Eagles clawed out a 13-12 victory to reclaim the Silver Rail Trophy. For reasons no one is really sure why, this rivalry game was moved up to week one to open the 2019 season. And both teams played like it was their first game as neither looked impressive on offense, and it was a defensive battle all night.
Avon Lake graduated their incredible combo of QB (Jack Mikolich) & RB (Konnor Riggs) of a year ago, and they were hopeful the new starters could pick up where they left off. They did their best but it made for a long and scrappy night.
The Shoremen went with a duel quarterback attack as both players rotated in and out. Starting behind center was Harry Hebert who went 6 of 8 for 74 yards and was sacked 3 times.
He did his best damage with his legs and feet as he ran for 23 yards on 6 carries and kicked two crucial field goals that gave the Shoremen a late lead of 9-7, then 12-7.
Leading the two drives that resulted in those Hebert field goals was Michael Corbo who threw for only 30 yards and an interception on 3 of 10 passing.
To is credit, Corbo did hit several wideouts right in the hands, they simply dropped it. Where Corbo did his best work was on the ground, running for 78 yards on 5 carries.
Replacing Konnor Riggs in the backfield this season is Gage Duesler who ran for the only Shoremen touchdown. He totaled up 53 yards on 12 carries.
Avon had many of the same problems Avon Lake did trying to move the ball. First year quarterback Danny Zeh who is taking over for Ryan Maloy struggled all night long. Zeh went 15 of 22 for 146 yards with a touchdown, an interception and tasted the turf getting sacked 4 times.
Zeh’s touchdown pass was a 1-yard dump off that running back Nick Perusek took 23 yards for the score. It was Avon’s first and only score of the first half. It gave them a 7-0 lead at the time and they would take a 7-6 lead into half after the Avon Lake Duesler touchdown.
Perusek who didn’t play in the Eagle loss last year to the Shoremen, went for 85 yards on 18 carries, with two touchdowns.
The Shoremen used two long field goals in the third and fourth quarters by Harry Hebert to lead 12-7 late. A clutch Avon drive helped out by some costly penalties, allowed Nick Perusek to burst one through from 16 yards out with 5 minutes left, to eventually win the game 13-12.
The game saw three touchdowns, and only converted extra point. A game of defense and penalties on both sides of the ball. Perhaps the schedule makers need to consider moving this one further back on the schedule. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE RADIO CALL OF THIS GAME HERE
