by 2021 Edition
Once again, it was Black Friday, and once it again, it was snowy! Like 2020, the game was played at Byers Field in Parma. After each team had a promising drive stall to start the game, Avon quarterback Sam DeTillo and running back Jakorian Caffey dominated the drive with an impressive mix of passing and running. DeTillo capped off the drive with a 12-yard quarterback run that made the score 7–0 in favor of the Eagles.
Hoban wouldn’t shy away from the challenge. Lamar Sperling once again carried his team down the field with a 30-yard run to put them in the red zone with only 2 short yards to go. The Eagle defense was stout, stopping Sperling and the triple stack power two plays in a row. Jayvian Crable completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Shawn Parnell for a touchdown to even up the score, 7–7.
Avon’s offense sputtered out on three plays, giving the ball back to Hoban’s high-powered offense. Crable and Sperling dominate the ground as the quarterback and running back duo. Crable set up Sperling’s 2-yard touchdown with a 56-yard run. This gave the Knights the lead, 14–7.
Avon tried to gain momentum; their drive ended before it could really start. A fumble killed the drive on the second play. The Knights got the ball at midfield. Hoban struck on their first play with a 47-yard touchdown pass from Crable to Rickey Williams to increase their lead by 7. This gave Williams his first touchdown on the year and gave Hoban a 21–7 lead.
Avon got the ball with just about six minutes left in the first half. They controlled the ball for almost all of those six minutes. Another drive with a good mix of runs and passes led the Eagles right down the field. DeTillo took it himself as he pulled Avon within 7 to make the score 21–14 in favor of Hoban at the half. Avon was convinced that this year would be different.
Then things got really crazy, as Avon hoped to stop Hoban at half to keep the game within one score. Hoban drove down the field and got into field-goal range with about twenty seconds left in the half. A negative pass to Sperling took Hoban out of field-goal range as they spiked the ball with only three seconds left.
It appeared that the Eagles would get out of the first half down by only one score, then they promptly shot themselves in the foot. Avon was penalized for having too many men on the field, and this put them within field-goal range. Durkin hit the 39-yard field goal to give the Knights a 10-point lead at halftime, 24–14.
Hoban got the ball to start the half and drove down the field thanks to a 45-yard run by Sperling. A negative run and penalty set the Knights back as they attempted a field goal. A delay of game pushed the Knights back, causing Durkin to miss the field goal, keeping the game at 24–14.
Nathanial Vakos nailed a 41-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter, making it a one-score ball game for the first time since the first quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles got the ball back with all the energy they needed, as DeTillo continued his fantastic game on the ground, going for his 3rd rushing touchdown of the game. Vakos hit the extra point, tying the ball game at 24–24.
Hoban took their time and used their run attack that had been effective all game to drive down the field to set up Sperling for a 15-yard rushing touchdown. The Knights took the lead with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, 31–24. Hoban was able to hang on for the win. Once again, so close for Avon but so far.
Hoban moved on to the state title game in Canton for the fourth time in five years, where they faced Winton Woods and were defeated. That evening in Parma, however, against Avon, Lamar Sperling continued his fantastic playoff campaign with a stat line of 29 carries, 280 yards and 2 touchdowns as he was the man of the hour at Byers Field.
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