by Avon Lake – The Midview Middies came into Avon Lake looking to get back in the win column and get to 4-1 while Avon Lake looked to avoid falling below .500. The Shoremen took home the win by a score of 24-17 led by Anthony Benedict and his near 30 carries on the night with over 100 yards on the ground.
The Shoremen started with the ball to begin the night and opened the game with 5 first downs and were marching the ball down the field behind strong offensive line play and #4 Anthony Benedict running hard in between the tackles. The drive took up 7 minutes and 11 seconds but was stalled out inside the 20 which led to a 35-yd FG put in by #18 Reese Polomsky to open the scoring, 3-0.
The Avon Lake drive might have lasted over 7 minutes, but Midview responded with a lightning quick score of their own when #22 Michael Passarello Jr. took the ensuing kickoff 89 yards up the right sideline to give them the lead just 12 seconds after the Avon Lake field goal.
Despite the quick score by the Middies, the Shoremen continued to stick to the run game. They got to a 3rd down in which the Shoremen elected to pass, and #10 Owen Fach had an open man up the seam that might have been a TD, but the pass was slightly behind the receiver and forced Avon Lake to punt.
Midview went 3 and out the next drive and would punt to end the first quarter. 7-3, Middies.
The Shoremen and Anthony Benedict continued the power run game and marched down the field. #17 Aidan Stewart took a jet sweep right side and went untouched into the end zone, but a holding call brought the play back and a crucial TD was taken off the board.
The ensuing Midview drive had a big chunk play to #17 Camden Scott to set up the Middies first and goal at the 3. They would punch the ball in the next play with #8 Dior Jones taking the direct snap right tackle for a 3-yd TD to extend the Middies lead to 14-3.
The Avon Lake ensuing drive ended in an INT which led to good Midview field position, but the Shoremen defense stood tall and held the Middies to a 25-yd FG.
A drive by each team to end the half both ended quickly. On the final play before hitting the locker room, Midview tried one more run play but it led to a fumble that was picked up by #77 O’Toole of Avon Lake and was almost returned for a TD, but he got tripped up 10 yards short of the goal line as time expired.
17-3 Midview at the Half.
Midview came out of the half with a 3 and out giving the ball back to the Shoremen. With Avon Lake having their best starting field position of the night, they did not disappoint and finally hit the end zone when #10 Fach found #9 Michael Summerfield for a 54-yd TD to make the game 17-10 mid-way through the 3rd quarter and began to swing the momentum in the favor of the Shoremen.
Taking everyone by surprise, Avon Lake decided to onside kick on the following kickoff to gain the ball right back and keep the Middies defense on their toes. The continued run attack by the Shoremen got stronger as the night went on and it led to Benedict running it in from 2 yards out to tie the game at the end of the 3rd.
Midview refused to go down without an answer as they would pick up a huge 3rd down conversion next drive but would have to punt and pin the Shoremen back deep. The Shoremen switched QBs to start the 4th and committed to the run game and attempted to get the playmakers on the edge.
Both team’s next couple of drives wouldn’t get a first down and ended in a punt.
With 2 minutes left and the game still tied at 17 a piece, Midview QB Shay Williams dropped back to pass and ended up finding #77 Jack O’Toole on the Avon Lake defense for the INT and his second forced Turnover of the game allowing for Avon Lake to start the ensuing drive at the Midview 5 yard-line. The drive paid off with another Anthony Benedict 6-yd TD the very next play making it 24-17, Shoremen late in the 4th.
Midview would gain 2 first downs to get down the field late and give themselves a shot, but the 4th down heave to the left corner of the end zone was well covered and would fall short, leaving Avon Lake with the 24-17 comeback win on Homecoming night and giving them momentum heading into the 2nd half of the season.
Players of the game:
Avon Lake RB Anthony Benedict- 27 Carries, 111 yards, 2 TD’s
Midview RB Michael Passarello Jr- 89-yd Kick Return TD
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