by Avon and Avon Lake both come into this week’s big matchup for the Silver Rail Trophy at 2-0 and playing terrific football. Avon Lake has been powered by the legs of standout running back Konnor Riggs who has compiled a tremendous 388 yards in just two games. Riggs has been almost impossible to take down as the Shoremen have rolled to victories over Elyria and North Olmsted.
Nick Perusek and the Avon Eagles have been every bit as impressive. Perusek has totaled 332 yards in his first two games of the season, scoring on rushes and receptions with ease. The Eagles have defeated Akron Buchtel in a tight 19-11 clash, as well as blowing out Olmsted Falls 52-14. Both of those games were at home however, so they will have to travel to the unfriendly confines of Avon Lake Stadium if they look to keep alive one of the states longest regular season winning streaks.
The Eagles have not lost a regular season game since midway through the 2015 season against the rocket armed Dustin Crum and Midview Middies’. Since then, they have dominated SWC regular season play. Including 3 straight seasons with convincing regular season wins over their rival Avon Lake.
The Shoremen hold perhaps the biggest win between the two in the recent years however. Back in the 2016 playoffs, the Eagles were un-beaten as they hosted Avon Lake in the opening round of the playoffs where the Shoremen knocked them off!
For Avon starting quarterback Ryan Maloy, this rivalry is nothing new. He has been a part of it since his sophomore year when he was splitting starting time and plenty of snaps with incumbent Matthew Kelly. For Maloy, it is his chance to go 2-0 as a starting quarterback in this rivalry, a stat not too many have been able to brag about over the years.
This matchup is tastier then the tremendous pulled pork sandwiches they serve up at Avon Lake stadium, so if you are headed down, make sure to pick up several of them.
