by AVON, OH – If anyone had even the slightest worry about how Avon would respond to their first regular season loss in 3 plus years, wonder no longer as they will be quite fine. The Eagles soared over the Glenville Tarblooders 55-18 to earn Coach Mike Elder his 200th career win.
Quarterback Sam DeTillio had a night he won’t soon forget as the threw for 208 yards on 11 of 15 passing with 4 touchdown passes all coming in the first half.
His main weapon was Tim Conwell who hauled in 8 catches for 114 yards and 3 touchdown catches. A highlight night for the young man. Ethan Holbrook caught two balls for 63 yards and a touchdown of his own.
Out of the backfield, Jakorian Caffey had 114 yards on just 7 carries with 2 touchdowns. Gavin Ehrhardt went for 22 yards on 5 carries but did have several big hits at linebacker while playing defense. The lone big game for Glenville came from Da’Shaun Watley who had 88 yards on just 4 first half carries.
The Eagles took over from their own 29 after an early Glenville drive stalled. They wasted no time racing down the field with Detillio connections of 14 to Tim Conwell and then 45 to Ethan Holbrook. Once inside the 10, the gave it to Ehrhardt a few times before going back to the air for a 5-yard Conwell touchdown catch from DeTillio. Sure thing Nathanial Vakos made it 7-0 with 5:44 left to go in the opening quarter.
After a Glenville drive stalled again, a short punt allowed Holbrook of Avon to return it to the Tarblooder 29-yard line to set up shop. It didn’t take long for Sam DeTillo to hook up with Ethan Holbrook again, this time from 18 yards to pay dirt to extend the lead to 14-0. The first quarter would end by that same score.
After another punt, the Avon Eagles would begin the second quarter from their own 49-yard line. The Eagles continued to make it look easy by soaring into the red zone within a few plays. Eventually Jakorian Caffey would take it in from 5 yards out and extend the lead. A Vakos extra point that landed somewhere near Sandusky, made it 21-0 with 10:05 still to go in the second quarter.
One play later, the Glenville Tarblooders would get their licks in as the speedy DaShaun Watley sped from his own 25-yard line on a 75-yard bolt down the center of the field to score. No one without a jet pack on his back was going to catch Watley as he cut the lead to 21-6. Glenville would miss the extra point.
The Eagles wasted no time answering the long touchdown run with one of their own. This time it was Caffey ripping off a 77-yard jaunt down the center of the field on only the third play of the Avon drive. The Caffey blitzkrieg made it 28-6 with still 8:40 to go in the second quarter.
After a punt resulted in the Eagles getting the ball back at midfield with 5 to play in the second, they went right back to work. Yet again, the Eagles wasted no time carving up the defense as they marched 50 yards in a handful of plays with several throws to Tim Conwell. Mixed in was a nice 15 yard run by Gavin Ehrhardt to set up a 11 yard touchdown toss to Conwell. The lead was then 35-6 with 3:38 to go in the second quarter.
Up 35-6, the Eagles did not let their foot off the gas as coach Mike Elder called for an onside kick which was converted perfectly by Vakos, as he recovered his own kick for the third time in his career. The first play of the drive was a 31-yard pitch and catch to Ptacek. The very next play was a 1-yard touchdown run by Sam DeTillio to make it 42-6 Avon with 3:19 to go.
The Eagles would get the ball back again with another chance to score. This time from the 39 with 1:10 left to play. It was DeTillio finding Conwell yet again to score, this time on a strike over the middle from 26 yards out. His third touchdown catch of the half made it 49-6 as he headed to the half.
As we approached the end of the half, Vakos stat line was 7 touchbacks, 7 of 7 on XP’s and an onside kick recovery. I just thought I’d mention that because on a team this good, a talented kicker is so important and Vakos remains one of the best.
The Eagles would open up the second half with another long drive as the clock kept running. They would cap it off with a Tommy Ptacek 39-yard touchdown run to make it 55-6. The game would end 55-18.
Players of the Game
Avon QB Sam DeTillio 208 yards on 11 of 15 passing with 4 touchdown passes and a TD run.
Avon WR Tom Conwell with 8 catches for 114 yards and 3 td’s
Avon always a power house!
Thanks Bince for the great article.