by Avon Lake – Both teams came into the game tonight 1-0 and looking to continue the winning ways but the Benedictine Bengals offense showed up in a big way as they dominated the ground game leading to a final score of 40-16. The Bengals were led early by Senior RB Chris Maloney as he ran for over 200 yards on the night and 2 long TD’s.
The game itself started off fast with an opening 75-yard TD scamper by Benedictine’s own, Chris Maloney, who took the pitch left side and went untouched down the sideline for an easy score.
Avon Lake took over the following drive at their own 18 and started with a bang on a big 71-yard play to the running back, #4 Anthony Benedict, which would lead to a TD a couple plays later by QB Alex Affolter running right tackle, making it a 7-6 game early in the first quarter. The PAT was blocked.
The Bengals opened their next drive the same way they did their first with a one play, 75-yard TD again, this time through the air as Matthew Furst hit JJ Baldwin on a seam route and went untouched into the endzone making it 13-6 after a blocked PAT.
The Shoremen weren’t able to get much going on their next drive and punted it away.
The Bengals seemed to be moving the ball again until Furst dropped back to pass, couldn’t find anyone and was hit by #77 Jack O’Toole leading to him coughing up the ball to give Avon Lake good field position but would give it right back a couple plays later on another QB fumble when trying to extend the play and getting stripped handing the ball back over to the Bengals in their own territory.
Maloney continued a monster first quarter when he took the handoff next drive, broke two tackles, and went 80 yards for another Bengals TD making it 20-6 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Avon Lake would go 3 and out with 2 sacks the next possession and led to a quick punt that would set the Bengals back up in good field position near mid field. The running attack was still banging on all cylinders and would march down the field to be topped off by a Jamere Church 1 yard TD. 27-6 in favor of the Bengals.
The Shoremen tried to find a spark with a solid looking drive both throwing and passing the ball effectively and ended up getting three more on the board with a 37-yard FG to trim into the lead. The Avon Lake defense got a key stop and made the Bengals punt for the first time in the game at the 2:45 mark in the half.
Avon Lake went to the backup QB, #10 Owen Fach, and he immediately scampered for 7 yards which would be followed up by Anthony Benedict running for 20 more yards. The Shoremen eventually got into a 4th and inches situation which led to a controversial conversion that boiled over to a couple sideline penalties by Benedictine which led to a 1st and goal.
Looking to punch it in, Avon Lake elected to pass. Fach rolled out left and tried to throw to an open receiver in the corner of the endzone, but it would fall short and be picked off at the 1-yard line as the Benedictine Bengals escaped a late half scare and would keep a 27-9 lead going into the break.
The defense from the Bengals continued to stay tenacious and flew around the field in the 2nd half as they would pick off Avon Lake and run it back 45 yards for another touchdown in the first minute of the 3rd quarter.
The Shoremen’s offensive struggles continued the next drive with a 3 and out ending with a punt.
The Bengals got into the Avon Lake redzone but were stopped on 4th down and gave the Shoremen the ball back. A couple of plays later the Shoremen suffered another turnover in their own territory and fumbled the ball killing the momentum and gave the ball back over to the Bengals.
The following drive by Benedictine was methodical with a 4th down conversion and more effective run game leading to an eventual 5-yard TD from Furst to Spikes in the back of the endzone and that made the game 40-9 after yet another blocked PAT.
Entering the 4th quarter the Shoremen started their drive in amazing field position at the Bengals 37 yardline. The Shoremen led their best drive all night to walk in for a 10-yard score early in the 4th quarter to bring the score to 40-16.
The rest of the game consisted of running the ball by both sides and chewing the rest of the clock out on the night.
The Bengals will look to continue their success next week as Avon Lake looks to regroup going into Week 3.
Players of the game:
Benedictine RB Chris Maloney- 12 Carries, 210 yds, 2 TD’s
Avon Lake WR Aidan Stewart- 3 Rec, 32 Rec yds, 5 Carries, 1 Rush TD
