by Avon Lake, Ohio – The Avon Lake Shoremen hosted the Amherst Steele Comets at Avon Lake Memorial Stadium for a conference matchup. The Shoremen went on to secure a 31-21 week five win over the Comets at home.
Amherst Steele started off the game with the ball on their own 33-yard line. The Comets offense was stopped on three plays and were forced to punt after a strong showing from the Shoremen defense. Avon Lake started their first drive on their own 35-yard line. The Shoremen offense wasted no time after quarterback Dawson TenBrink launched an 80-yard reception touchdown to wide receiver Aidan Stewart on the first play of the drive, giving Avon Lake a 7-0 lead with 10:35 remaining in the first quarter. Amherst Steele started their next drive on their own 29-yard line.
The Comets offense was once again stopped early on three plays, being forced to punt. Avon Lake began their next drive on the Comets’ 49-yard line. The Shoremen offense methodically drove down the field and scored a 20-yard touchdown strike to Aidan Stewart on five plays to give Avon Lake a 14-0 lead with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter. Amherst Steele began their next drive on their own 15-yard line. Wanting to break Avon Lake’s momentum, quarterback Cy Christensen decided to take a deep shot on the first play of the drive to wide receiver Peyton Leibacher for an 85-yard touchdown strike to get on the board down 14-7 with 7:18 remaining in the first quarter.
Avon Lake began their next drive on their own 41-yard line. The Shoremen were making progress but on the sixth play of the drive the Comet defense came up with an interception on a cross-route pass in the back of the endzone. Amherst Steele set up their offense on their own 1-yard line. The Shoremen defense brought heavy pressure and forced a three and out punt. The punt was blocked and set the Shoremen offense up on Amherst Steele’s 22-yard line. Avon Lake went to capitalize on the short field but was ultimately stuffed short on the Comets’ 2-yard line for a turnover on downs after five plays. Amherst Steele started their next drive on their own 2-yard line and took their current possession into the second quarter.
Amherst Steele were yet again faced with a strong blitzing Shoremen defense, resulting in another punt. The ball was blocked again and recovered by Avon Lake on the Comets’ 7-yard line. After four plays, Avon Lake capitalized on a 1-yard rushing touchdown by running back Caleb Smith to give the Shoremen a 21-7 lead with 9:10 remaining in the second quarter. Amherst Steele started their next drive on their own 16-yard line. Once again, the Shoremen defense brought the pressure and forced another Amherst Steele punt. The Shoremen began their next drive on the Comets’ 45-yard line. After a few plays, quarterback Dawson TenBrink took off for a speedy 25-yard rushing touchdown to give the Shoremen a 28-7 lead with 7:23 remaining in the first half. Amherst Steele began their next drive on their own 25-yard line.
The Comets offense had some success on this drive, ultimately marching down the field to score a 20-yard receiving touchdown by receiver David Dudziak to cut into the deficit, making it a 28-14 Avon Lake lead with 1:18 remaining in the first half. Avon Lake began their next drive on their own 20-yard line. Attempting to give the Shoremen a bigger lead going into halftime, Avon Lake attempted a deep throw on the first play that was intercepted and set the Comets up on the Sharemen’s 17-yard line. After two quick plays, Amherst Steele struck back for a 17-yard receiving touchdown by David Dudziak to make it a 28-21 Avon Lake lead with 0:34 remaining in the first half. Avon Lake started their next drive on their own 37-yard line and ran one play to run out the clock, going into the locker rooms with a 28-21 lead at halftime.
Avon Lake started their first drive of the second half on their own 39-yard line. The Shoremen offense marched down the field on a run-heavy offense. The Comets defense held firm once the Shoremen made it to the redzone. Avon Lake attempted a field goal, but it went just left, setting Amherst Steele up on their own 19-yard line. The Shoremen defense picked up where they left off in the first half and forced a three and out punt, setting up their offense on their own 44-yard line. Avon Lake went down the field again on a heavy run offense, this time setting up for a 26-yard field goal that was made by WR/K Aidan Stewart, giving the Shoremen a 31-21 lead with 0:03 remaining in the third quarter. Amherst Steele started their next drive on their own 20-yard line and kept possession heading into the fourth quarter down 31-21 on the road.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Comets offense was faced with heavy blitzes that resulted in two sacks and forcing a punt on 4th and 32. Avon Lake started their next drive on their own 41-yard line. The run game this drive was not as effective, and the Comets defense made a stand and forced a turnover on downs, setting the offense up on their own 21-yard line. Feeling the pressure being down two scores, the Amherst Steele offense decided to take a shot down midfield on the first play of the drive that resulted in a costly interception. Avon Lake began their next drive on their own 41-yard line.
Once again, the Comets defense stopped the Shoremen running game and forced another punt. Amherst Steele began their next drive on their own 33-yard line. The Avon Lake defense held firm, and forced a turnover on downs on four plays, setting the offense up on the Comets’ 30-yard line. The Shoremen offense ran a few plays before taking a knee to end the game with a final score of 31-21 for a fantastic conference showdown.
The Amherst Steele Comets (2-3) look to rebound from a hard-fought loss as they host conference rivals Olmsted Falls Bulldogs at Amherst Memorial Field; Kickoff at 7 PM on Friday, September 26th.
The Avon Lake Shoremen (2-3) are looking to stay hot as they host conference rivals Elyria Pioneers at Avon Lake Memorial Stadium; Kickoff at 7 PM on Friday, September 26th.
Player of the Game:
Ezra Jones (RB)- Avon Lake: 27 carries, 124 rush yards (5 yds/carry average)
Top Performers
Amherst Steele Comets
Peyton Leibacher: 1 receiving TD
David Dudziak: 2 receiving TDs
Avon Lake Shoremen
Ezra Jones: 27 carries, 124 rush yards
Aidan Stewart: 2 receiving TDs; 26-yard field goal
Caleb Smith: 2 carries, 1 rush TD
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Avon Lake 10:35 – Dawson TenBrink to Aidan Stewart, 80 yards (kick good) (7-0 Avon Lake)
Avon Lake 7:35 – Dawson TenBrink to Aidan Stewart, 20 yards (kick good) (14-0 Avon Lake)
Amherst Steele 7:18 – Cy Christensen to Peyton Leibacher, 85 yards (kick good) (14-7 Avon Lake)
2nd Quarter
Avon Lake 9:10 – Caleb Smith, 1-yard run (kick good) (21-7 Avon Lake)
Avon Lake 7:23 – Dawson TenBrink, 25-yard run (kick good) (28-7 Avon Lake)
Amherst Steele 1:18 – Cy Christensen to David Dudziak, 20 yards (kick good) (28-14 Avon Lake)
Amherst Steele 0:34 – Cy Christensen to David Dudziak, 17 yards (kick good) (28-21 Avon Lake)
3rd Quarter
Avon Lake 0:03 – Aidan Stewart, 26-yard field goal (kick good) (31-21 Avon Lake)
4th Quarter
No Score Changes (31-21 Avon Lake)
Re-watch the KEE On Sports Game of the Week here: Avon Lake Vs. Amherst Steele
