Avon Lake Shoremen Sink Maple Heights 38-6 In Total Team Effort

The Maple Heights Mustangs stampeded into chilly Avon Lake to take on the Shoremen in some OHSAA Opening Round Playoff action. As they have all season, the boys in Maroon and Yellow looked dominant in an impressive 38-6 victory.

With line play on both sides of the ball that continues to get better each week, this Shoremen squad is becoming must watch.  Jacob Sintic and Nick Marsh are in the opposing backfield almost every single play.  It is a thing of beauty to watch!  Tonight it was them again, but also Kadyn Viancourt stepping up with 3 huge sacks in a surprise start.

In a world of dynamic superstars and so much time invested in spotlighting individual attributes, Avon Lake is proving why it takes a team clicking on all cylinders and playing unselfish to win.

The Shoremen excelled in all three areas of the game, and it showed early and often as they blocked multiple punts, converted field goals and extra points with ease and just dominated the special team’s game.

The defense was their usual stout selves with nearly double-digit sacks and multiple turnovers caused. The offense did what they have done all season, ball control, smart play and steady points!

As it has been all year, the outstanding defense paved the wave for a red-hot offense. Leading the charge was running back Gage Duesler who finished with 119 yards on 17 carries, scoring twice. Ball control on a chilly night was crucial, and Duesler helped to control the clock by toting the rock very well.

Michael Corbo is a natural leader and it showed once again tonight with one smart decision after enough with the ball. Corbo didn’t show any big game nerves and looked true to form. He wasn’t asked to do too much in the passing game, only throwing the ball 7 times, with completions to Matt Oehlstrom on both completions, one of which a 26-yard touchdown.

What he did was not turnover the ball over, and pick up nice chunks of yards with the RPO when he needed it. Corbo finished with 52 yards on the ground.

Mason Wheeler was also tough to deal with tonight for the Mustangs, as he provided a great one two punch to go with Duesler. Wheeler picked up a touchdown as well, as he ran for 26 yards on 7 impactful carries.

As usual Corbo had plenty of time to pass, and the backs all day to run with holes the size of Texas because of the incredible play of Griffin Lidyard at fullback, and one of the best lines in the state. That Shoremen O-Line can take over a game anytime they choose.

The Mustangs have a ton to be proud of as well as they had to play without their starting quarterback Dawon King who was missing with an injury. Backup quarterback Delonte Hall played great before getting hurt in the closing seconds of the first half.

Hall looked very agile and sneaky quick as he piled up 57 yards and a 34-yard touchdown on the ground in the first half. He also threw for 147 yards and was beginning to really heat up and look brilliant before the devasting injury would end his season.

Also showing up and showing out for the Mustangs was wideout Keith Allen who looked sensational at times, with 6 catches for 95 yards and seemed to get open several more times. Had it not been for constant pressure on the quarterbacks, Allen could have broken 150 yards tonight.

The Shoremen got off to a slow start before a Jacob Sintic punt block recovered by Harry Hebert got them going. Taking advantage of the short field, Wheeler pounded it in from 2 yards out to get the scoring started late in the first at 7-0.

The Mustangs showed no fear when early into the second, Hall ran out of the pocket and turned a wild scramble into a beautiful 34-yard touchdown strike. His run was absolutely sensational, and it had to be because that touchdown was the first second quarter points the Shoremen had given up all season long.

The touchdown sparked a fire in the Shoremen as they woke up big time and began to catch fire. On the very next drive, it was Corbo matching Hall with a sensational QB run of his own that went for 40 yards. A few moments later, it was Duesler capping it off to make it 14-6.

The Shoremen weren’t done yet as they got the ball right back off a short field, following another tipped punt from the Mustangs.

This time, it was Corbo finding the sure handed, always open Matt Oehlstrom to increase the lead to 21-6 with 3:54 left in the second quarter. This is the second straight week Oehlstrom has come up huge in the clutch.

Any chance of Maple Heights pulling off a Cinderella story ended on the first play from scrimmage in the second half as Tanner Russell picked off a Bryshaun Haskin pass.

Haskin wasn’t going to throw it to the Kai Kuwalu side of the field, so he chose the other end. It didn’t matter, choosing between Kuwalu and Russell is liking choosing between the frying pan and the fire, either way you’re getting burned!

Yet again, the Shoremen would convert a turnover into points when Duesler scored from a few yards out to end all doubt at 28-6 with 8:23 to go in the third quarter. A promising Mustang drive would end shortly after that when Marquis Lane was stripped of the ball.

Harry Hebert would convert his 10^th field goal of the season from 28 yards out to open the fourth quarter, making the score 31-6. A few possessions later it was Avon Lake backup QB Jake DePaul rushing it in from 45 yards out, to end the scoring at 38-6 and start the running clock.

The Mustangs season ends at 7-4 with three straight losses, while the 10-1 Shoremen, (winners of 10 in a row) advance to the second round. Avon Lake will next collide with the very talented Wadsworth team. Good luck to all the boys as they carry on.