by Story by Brandon Miller
Avon Lake OH- The Avon Lake Shoremen honored the class of 2003 as they celebrated their 20 year anniversary of their undefeated and state championship year. Coach Matt Kostelnik and the Shoremen battled coach Brian Fox and the Elyria Pioneers in a Southwestern Conference clash. The Pioneers were coming off a 35 to 11 loss at the hands of the North Ridgeville Rangers last week and looking for their first win of the season. The Shoremen on the other hand headed into this SWC clash on a 3 game win streak as they were coming off close victory over the Amherst Comets by a score of 32 to 27 last Friday at home. The Shoremen continued their winning ways as they beat the pioneers 38 to 30.
The Pioneers started the game off with two straight offensive penalties but that did not deter them as they found the scoreboard when junior quarterback Justin Godbolt found his classmate BJ Todd from 33 yards out to put his team up 7 to 0 after a successful extra point by senior kicker Tim Rader. Things did not get better for the Shoremen as they had a bad snap on a punt that rolled out of the end zone for a safety to put the pioneers lead to 9-0. The defenses really took over from there as we ended the first quarter with the score 9-0 in favor of Elyria.
After teams swapped punts, junior quarterback Alex Affolter connected with his classmate Nathan Haven for 16 yards to put the Shoremen into striking distance. They then gave the ball to senior Jake Bova from 5 yards out to put the Shoremen on the board after a successful point after attempt by junior Reece Polomsky as the pioneers held a slim 9 to 7 lead. Things did not get better for the Pioneers as Godbolt was intercepted by senior Derek McCrum. The Shoremen capitalized on this turnover when Affolter found McCrum from 18 yards out to put the Shoremen into the lead 14 to 9 after a successful point after by Polomsky. This led us to halftime.
The Shoremen got the ball to start the second half a did not waste time finding paint. This time junior Anthony Benedict bolted down the sideline for a huge 39-yard touchdown run and Polomsky converted the extra point to put the Shoremen up 21 to 9. The Pioneers did not give up though as on their next drive, Godbolt found senior Xavier Church for a 72 touchdown and after a successful extra point by Rader to decrease the Shoremen lead to 21 to 16.
The Shoremen did not give up though as they returned the favor when Benedict rushed again down the sideline for 54 yards to the end zone to put the Shoremen up 28 to 16 after another successful kick by Polomsky. After both teams failed to convert on fourth down and a punt as this ended the third quarter with the Shoremen up 28 to 16.
The Shoremen got the ball to start the final quarter and capitalized quickly when Bova found paint from 2 yards out to increase the lead 35 to 16 after another Polomsky point after attempt. The Pioneers did not give up just yet as junior Kevin Jordan rushed 52 yards to the end zone and the pioneers went for a two point conversion. This conversion was converted by junior Braylon Riase and the score showed 35 to 24 in favor of the Shoremen.
On the ensuing Shoremen drive, Polomsky added to his successful night when he connected on a 27-yard field goal to increase the Shoremen lead 38 to 24. The Pioneers never gave up though as Jordan put the final points on the board when he rushed from 2 yards out but after a few penalties, the extra point was no good.
The Players of the game are junior Anthony Bennedict for the Shoremen as he rushed for 203 yards on 23 carries and as for the Pioneers the player of the game is junior Kevin Jordan who had 115 yards on 18 carries.
The Shoremen travel to take on the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs in a huge conference matchup next week and the Pioneers will look to find the win column at home against a tough Amherst Comet team next week.
