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It was a warm evening on August 30th as Joe Firment Stadium in Avon was packed for the annual Battle for The Silver Rail Trophy. It struck me as odd that the biggest matchup on the SWC calendar would be week one.
I didn’t agree with the placement of the game that early on the schedule, but it didn’t matter what I thought as the game would go on regardless of what anyone thought.
Both teams were starting new quarterbacks and several new starters at key positions. Ryan Maloy, the famed signal caller from Avon was gone, making way for Danny Zeh.
Meanwhile, for Avon Lake, several big names from their 2018 high powered offensive attack were gone. This included rocket armed quarterback Jack Mikolich, tailback Konnor Riggs and wideouts Luke Fedders and Cole Schraff.
To say that no one knew what to expect would be an understatement. But what quickly developed was a tightly contested grudge match. Avon Lake did their best to utilize a duel threat combo at quarterback between Harry Hebert and Michael Corbo. They also had first year starting running back Gage Duesler toting the rock.
For Avon, quarterback Danny Zeh was smart with the ball and showed poise. The best player in the game and in the conference was the speedy tailback from Avon Nick Perusek. The Eagles only lost twice in 2018 and Perusek was hurt for both of those games.
Again, it was Perusek making the difference scoring both Avon Touchdowns in the 13-12 win. Perusek scored on a dump off pass to make it 7-0 early, and then ran for a 12-yard touchdown late to give the Eagles a 13-12 victory. Perusek finished with 85 yards on 18 carries, with two touchdowns.
And now, Friday night in North Ridgeville they rematch for a trip to the Final Four in the state!
Avon Lake had several key injuries on both sides of the line. One of those would cause a change that would greatly change the rest of the season for the Shoremen. The injury to the defense forced Hebert to give up his spot at QB and step in on the defense at linebacker.
That one move and excellent play from Nick Marsh, Kadyn Viancourt, Jacob Sintic, Jack McCrum, Zak Kovacs and several others would lead to one of the greatest defenses in SWC history.
The secondary of the Shoremen led by Billy Simpson, Kai Kuwalu, Nathan Cikalo, Tanner Russell and others has also been extremely impressive. In 12 games, Avon Lake has six shutouts. They allowed points the first two weeks of the season, and only 4 times in the next 10 weeks.
North Ridgeville scored against the 3rd string team. Olmsted Falls scored once and never again threatened. Maple Heights only scored once against them as well. The Shoremen defense isn’t good, they aren’t great, they are legendary. They forced five turnovers last week against a good Wadsworth team.
The Shoremen offensive attack is every bit as good. They have an exciting combo out of the backfield that is nothing to turn your head at. Gage Duesler has stepped up big this season in the footsteps of Konnor Riggs. Blocking for him is one of the most versatile players you will find in Griffin Lidyard.
Matt Oehlstrom has proven to be a difference maker when called on and had several huge catches against Olmsted Falls and Maple Heights recently that were difference makers! Backup tailback Mason Wheeler would start for most teams in the SWC, he is quick and powerful.
Running the show on offense is first year starter Michael Corbo. This young man runs one of the best RPO’s you will find. Corbo has proven to be a leader as he shows intelligence and poise. Nothing shakes the young man and Corbo will be Avon Lakes X factor in this game. The last time they played, he ran for 78 yards on only 5 carries in his first game. That will only get better.
The weather may be cold for this one, but that doesn’t take away from the arsenal he has to throw it to. Creed Bolognia & Nathan Sidloski are second-year starters that make one big catch after another. Bolognia has caught touchdown passes in 3 of the last 4 games. Mitchell Fedders has been a nice addition to the mix.
As mentioned earlier, Matt Oehlstrom is sneaky quick and has a way of getting open. I didn’t even mention receiving threats Nick Marsh, Aidan Grabowski, Michael Stuewe, Jared Krukowski and others.
As for special teams, Harry Hebert has a leg that just makes one big kick after another. He is no stranger to touchbacks, long field goals and coffin corner punts. Hebert can do it all and will be humble about it as well. It was Heberts unselfish move to linebacker that set the tone for this Shoremen season. In Avon Lake, it truly is 11 playing as one.
For Avon, this may be the greatest coaching job in the rich history of Mike Elders career. Avon has become a football factory and the absolute best year in and year out in the SWC. Elder preaches the next man up mentality and no season has proven that quite like this one.
When the talent is even, heart can win a game and this Eagle bunch has plenty of it. Danny Zeh did a masterful job this season stepping up at QB before getting hurt in round one of the playoffs.
This past weekend the Eagles beat the Benedictine Bengals with a masterful performance by new starting quarterback Niko Pappas. Only for Pappas to leave the game with what appears to be a season ending injury.
The ball is now in the hands of Chase Meyers, but with Elder running the show, you would have to believe that young man will be ready willing and able to go. Elder teams have proven time and time again that a backup QB is ready to go at a moment notice.
Before anyone is quick to say, “he is only a sophomore”. Need I remind you that Hoban quarterback Shane Hamm won state titles as a freshman and a sophomore! The state is about to find out just how good Meyers is. I wouldn’t bet against him or the Eagles, except maybe this week against that defense. Only time will tell?
For the Eagles however, it will be more then just quarterback play that will help them in this game. They have a tremendous tailback in Devon Hunter who has stepped in smoothly for the injured Nick Perusek.
Hunter scored five times against Benny last week and this 200-pound 5 foot 11 tailback looks to be the early favorite for SWC player of the year next season. Hunter appears to be the real deal and may even eclipse some of the numbers Perusek put up. Again, only time will tell.
The X Factor for Avon will be Joey Lance. When he isn’t pounding half price sushi at Heinens, this young man is carving up defenses like a Thanksgiving Day turkey. He is fast, he is strong and he is fearless.
Lance was the best player on the field last season in the season ending state semifinal loss to Hoban. Perusek was hurt coming into that game and Lance proved to be the only one who could move the ball that night against the stoic Knight defense.
Lance with Noah Mangan and a healthy Tommy Purcell are the best trio of receiving threats in the SWC. If Meyers has time to pass, those will be his three most reliable targets. Last week against Benny it was Hunter getting the call on almost every play in the second half. Against the Shoremen, the Eagles will need to find a passing game if they want to soar.
This is far from their first playoff clash; in fact, it was recently (2016) that they had one in the postseason. In 2016, after an unbeaten season, it was Avon getting upset by their crosstown rivals in the opening week of the playoffs.
Then in 2017 Avon once again went unbeaten in the regular season and stormed through the playoffs before getting knocked off by powerhouse Hoban in the state semifinals.
In 2018, It was 2-0 Avon Lake vs 2-0 Avon when they clashed in Avon Lake. The Shoremen used a dramatic last second drive to stop the regular season winning streak of Avon in climatic fashion. Avon would again be knocked off by Hoban in the state semis later that year.
Look at it this way, Avon has only lost 4 times since 2016. Twice to Avon Lake (2016,2018) and twice to Hoban (2017, 2018). If that doesn’t tell you how dominant the Avon Eagles are, then I don’t know what would.
But before you can make a pick as to who will win, you must look back at the seasons they both just had. KEE On Sports was there to cover a good chunk of the 12-0 Avon Eagles and 11-1 Avon Lake Shoremen. This includes their opening week clash.
We have covered their games in written print, we have broadcasted their games and we have had several players and coaches from each school on the acclaimed Player Spotlight Series.
Simply turn to the next few pages and take a gander and listen for yourself. Enjoy and thank you!
