by Rocky vs Apollo, Steelers vs Browns, Ali vs Frazier, Coke vs Pepsi, Democrats vs Republicans, every great rivalry has the same trait, and that is that it fuels passion in all involved. From the players on the field, to the parents in the stands, everyone involved gets excited. The wins feel better than ever, and the losses have the sting of a million angry Bee’s.
Perhaps no High School Rivalry on the Westside has a bigger impact then that of Avon Lake vs Avon. North vs South, the Battle of the Silver Rail Trophy. It means so much more to everyone involved then perhaps any rivalry, debate or disagreement they may have for the rest of their lives. Its passion personified and perhaps 3 hours that can go on to define 30 years. It’s more than a game, it’s a way of life and here is the breakdown of what we can expect to see Friday night.
Coaching
You look at the pedigree of Matt Kostelnik as a player at Avon Lake (State Champion) & player at Mount Union (National Champion) and you know this man gets it. He is headed for big things and has a great way of teaching, caring about the young student athletes and getting his message across.
The first time I met Matt was a few days before his youngest child was born in 2017 and I just instantly liked him. He was humble, he was down to Earth but you knew he wanted to win and would be a success soon enough.
In 2018, he took the Shoremen on a 10-2 run that many didn’t see coming. That was also the year the Shoremen defeated the Eagles in week three of the regular season and ended a multi-year regular season winning streak. They haven’t beaten them since however, and this week’s game may be the biggest of his young coaching career that will go on to see several decades.
His mantra is 11 playing as 1, and that is exactly what this team does on both sides of the ball quite frankly. They are a team, they play as a team, they care about each other as a team and they win as a team. A direct reflection of their coach.
I’ve said it once before, but it bears repeating, while we hear about the greatness of Tiger Laverde, Chuck Kyle, and Tom Lombardo, (all rightfully so), coach Mike Elder is every bit on that level. You cannot always measure a coach’s success on the number of State Championships his team has won, but rather his impact on the players and community.
He has a way of motivating his team like no one I have ever seen before. He gets the best out of his players and has this incredible passion for what he does. He also finds a way to take away what the other team does best.
I told him this last week pregame because it’s so true. Look back to last years playoff game against Avon Lake. With third stringers they put up 20 points on the states best defense. He found a way, they found a way, and they won!
Bottom Line – Coach Elder and the Avon Eagles are 4-1 against Avon Lake since Matthew Kostelnik took over Avon Lake. You cannot take that away from the man or the team. If Avon Lake wants to change that narrative then this weekends game is a must win. 4-2 looks a heck of a lot different than 5-1.
Offense
You have four of the best backs in the SWC playing for these two teams. There is not a doubt in my mind that had Mason Wheeler and Gage Duesler played in all 9 of their games for Avon Lake, they would each have well over 1,000 yards by now. Duesler already does, but I’m positive that Wheeler would as well. When you have two backs that talented, you use both of them and Kostelnik has done so brilliantly.
The Avon Eagles running attack reminds me of the football I grew up with in the early 80’s and 90’s before the game turned pass happy. They can run on you at will. They can tell you the run is coming and they are still going to get yards.
Devon Hunter reminds me of a cross between Roger Craig and Barry Sanders. He is dynamic! As I had said earlier this season, Desmond Kelly is a genetic freak in his own right. You get him an open lane, and is off to the races.
Bottom Line – Neither team uses gimmicks, they run the ball right at you, and right through you!
The QB’s
Speaking of rushing the ball, both QB’s do it extremely well. Michael Corbo has blossomed into the five-tool quarterback the Shoremen needed after Jack Mikolich graduated. He is a very mature young man who his teammates respect. He takes care of the ball and makes sharp passes on the money on timing routes. He also keeps plays alive with his feet.
Corbo does a great job on those timing patterns, but he also has some sure handed receivers as well. The Shoremen graduated quite a few good wideouts last year, but Ryan Kemer, Aidan Grabowski, Nate Cikalo and Sam Mikolich have really stepped up to have good seasons and reliable threats for Corbo.
If you are waiting for that hot take, bulletin board material, then here it is. Niko Pappas was the best quarterback in the SWC this season, and he would have been no matter what team he was playing for. This young man is incredible.
With all due respect to Jake Sopko, who was also the real deal, I firmly believe that had Pappas been starting since he was a junior or even sophomore, he would have broken every passing record in Eagles history. It is a shame we only got to see him start for one season. He is that good!
Last week with all eyes on Joey Labas, the Iowa commit for Brecksville, it was Niko stealing the show. He does it all, I’ll say it again. He is more than just mobile; he can take a broken play and turn it into a 58-yard touchdown run.
Not every QB run has to be called or designed for him to take off with it and score. I’ve personally seen him bounce back from early mistakes to have giant games. Niko is a game changer and someone who can get everyone involved.
Bottom Line – When the chips are down or a big drive is needed, I believe both of these young men have what it takes to get it done. Niko and the Eagles have played from behind in the fourth quarter three times this season and he always steps up.
Corbo hasn’t had to, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t however. I’ve interviewed them both and they’re respectful young men and great leaders, win or lose, that trait will get them both far on and off the field!
Defense – The Avon Eagle defense boasts an incredible set of linebackers with Kaya Yonkers, Trevor Norman, Jackson Blodgett and sophomore sensation Gavin Ehrhardt. Their secondary led by Mike Matlak, Johnny Love and Mitchell Dupras proved last week they can take the best player out of the passing game if they have too, as they shut down Jeremy Jonozzo in the second half of that game for the most part. They scheme well and can get takeaways when they need them as well.
Avon Lake has one of the best defenses not only in Division II, but all of Ohio High School Football this season and last for that matter. They graduated key seniors from that defense last year and didn’t take a step back in 2020. Sean Summers has now had nine games since their opening week matchup to transform from Linebacker to DB, he has done it very well.
Billy Simpson and Jacob Sintic will be heavily involved this time as well. Mix in that dominant line and Kadyn Viancourt with Hunter McHugh lurking in the opposing backfield, and this team is extremely hard to score on.
Griffin Lidyard and Mason Wheeler always seem to be near the ball, and Michael Stuewe. Mitchell Fedders and Nathan Cikalo are just waiting for that next big pick!
Bottom Line – You want a dream matchup? You have one with this Avon Lake defense against Niko Pappas and the duel attack of Avon. The Eagles got the best of them week one as Niko and his wideouts caught fire, can it happen again? With Kam Erskine, Ryan & Mike Ptacek, Mike Matlak and now the emerging Tim Conwell, I’d pay to see this matchup!
Kicking
My goodness has it been a pleasure to watch Owen Wiley of Avon Lake and Nathaniel Vakos of Avon kick this year. They each proved the first week of the season that they can make a pressure packed kick.
Nathaniel showed it again last week by blasting a long field goal in a howling wind to get the Eagles on the board. He told me on the podcast of how he dreams about making a game winning kick, he may get his chance this weekend.
While some may focus on the kick Wiley missed week one, they need to focus on the simple fact that the young man showed nerves of steel by nailing both in the overtimes that night. It takes serious composure to bounce back and do that.
God forbid the young man ever gets hurt, or misses the team bus or something crazy happens, backup placekicker Julia Hurd has already proven she too can make big kicks with the lights on bright as well!
Bottom line – They’re both really good.
History – The last time Avon lost a game at home; it was the 2016 postseason. It was an election year and it was against the Avon Lake Shoremen. The other way to look at it is this, Avon Lake is 1-4 against them since, including a painful playoff loss last season when it seemed like they couldn’t be beat.
Bottom line – Get your popcorn ready!
Great Preview! Cmon Friday!!!