by AVON LAKE, Ohio — The Avon Lake Shoremen made a statement in their playoff opener Friday night, dominating the Waite Indians 44-0 in a Division II, Region 6 matchup. Avon Lake controlled the game from the opening possession, using a combination of defensive takeaways, explosive special teams plays and an efficient offense to build a commanding lead.
The No. 8-seeded Shoremen entered the postseason with a 5-5 record and a 5-2 mark in the Southwestern Conference under head coach Matt Kostelnik. They welcomed the No. 9-seeded Waite Indians, who arrived with a 6-4 overall record and a 5-1 record in the Toledo City League under head coach Russ Jennings. Both teams were looking to make an impression in their first postseason appearance, but Avon Lake quickly established control.
The Shoremen got an early break on the opening possession when a swing pass intended for wide receiver Malikiah Hopkins resulted in a fumble after the receiver made a football move. Avon Lake recovered the loose ball, giving its offense possession at the Waite 17-yard line. Two plays later, running back Drake Rudnicki punched the ball into the end zone from 7 yards out, giving the Shoremen an early 7-0 advantage.
Waite struggled to find its footing on its next possession, as quarterback Shayne Curns fumbled the ball, allowing Avon Lake to recover at the Indians’ 38-yard line. The Shoremen quickly took advantage of the favorable field position. Quarterback Dawson Tenbrink connected with wide receiver Chris Gualding for gains of 16 and 5 yards, helping move the offense inside the 5-yard line. Tight end Thomas Rodkey finished the drive with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown. A blocked extra point left Avon Lake with a 13-0 lead.
Avon Lake’s offense continued to make plays as the second quarter got underway. The Shoremen appeared to be putting together a promising possession before defensive back Marquez Walker came up with an interception to halt the drive. However, the Shoremen answered with a defensive takeaway of their own on the very next play. Defensive back Jacob Perry intercepted the ball and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown, extending Avon Lake’s lead to 20-0 with 7:24 remaining in the first half.
Special teams continued to create opportunities for the Shoremen. Wide receiver Luke Gliha delivered a 30-yard punt return, setting Avon Lake up at the Waite 5-yard line. Quarterback Dawson Tennbrink took advantage of the excellent field position, connecting with wide receiver Jacob Perry on a quick inside slant for a 5-yard touchdown pass. The score pushed the Shoremen’s advantage to 27-0.
Avon Lake’s defense wasn’t finished creating turnovers. Defensive back Andrew Good intercepted another pass near midfield, giving the Shoremen possession at the 50-yard line. Quarterback Dawson Tenbrink then took a shot downfield, connecting with wide receiver Luke Giliha for a 29-yard gain to move the offense inside the 5-yard line. Tight end Thomas Rodkey once again finished the possession with a quarterback sneak, recording his second rushing touchdown of the night and extending the lead to 34-0.
The Shoremen saved another special teams highlight for their final scoring play before halftime. After forcing Waite to punt, wide receiver Mason Ambrose broke through the protection and blocked the kick. Wide receiver Andrew Good recovered the loose ball and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, giving Avon Lake a commanding 41-0 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Shoremen picked up right where they left off after halftime. Kicker Kyle Anderson connected on an impressive 55-yard field goal, a kick that appeared to have enough distance to be good from even farther away. The field goal extended Avon Lake’s lead to 44-0.
Avon Lake’s first-half performance demonstrated just how dominant the Shoremen were on both sides of the ball. Their defense consistently created turnovers, while the special teams unit repeatedly provided excellent field position and even contributed a touchdown of its own. The offense capitalized on those opportunities, turning short fields into points throughout the opening half.
The Shoremen’s ability to control all three phases of the game made it an extremely difficult night for Waite. Avon Lake established its dominance early and carried that momentum into the second half, opening its playoff run with an impressive shutout victory.
Players of the Game
Avon Lake WR/DB Jacob Perry: Perry delivered a memorable performance, recording three receptions for 31 yards while also contributing a defensive touchdown on an interception return. His impact on both sides of the ball helped fuel the Shoremen’s dominant performance.
Waite RB Carl Ford: Ford led the Indians’ individual rushing production, finishing with eight carries for 45 yards while adding one reception for 3 yards. Despite the difficult night for Waite’s offense, he continued to contribute on the ground and through the air.
