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AVON, OH – Just like that, week two of Friday night high school football here in northeast Ohio is in the books. It will be a week remembered by Avon Eagles supporters. The Medina Battling Bees traveled to Avon to take on the Eagles in a battle between two Ohio powerhouses. Medina came into tonight’s contest fresh off of a 33-10 week one win against Warren Harding, where their fast paced and high powered offense prevailed, along with their composed and stingy defense.
Avon also came into tonight 1-0, however their week one game was quite different from the Battling Bees of Medina. They won their first game of the season 7-0 over Stratford (S.C.) in Orlando Florida due to forfeit via the poor Florida weather last Friday night. The rain and thunderstorms came in during the first quarter where the Eagles led 7-0. This led to the game being delayed for many hours and ultimately canceled on Friday night. After the thunderstorms cleared the next morning Stratford elected not to play, giving Avon the victory. Both teams came into tonight’s game hungry for their second win.
The two offenses shined tonight as there were many players over 100 yards on both teams. For Medina, junior quarterback Dan Stoddard gave his best Drew Allar impression as he filled the shoes and beyond of former 4-star Medina quarterback. Stoddard finished the game 39-53 for 618 yards, as well as 6 touchdown passes. This broke Drew Allar’s 525 yard record from last year.
Three Medina receivers finished the game with 100+ yards. Standout receiver Brennen Schramm finished the night with 14 catches for 293 yards and 3 touchdowns. Junior receiver Austin Knowles finished the night with 12 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jack Wojciak, the junior receiver finished with 8 catches for 123 yards and 1 score.
Avon’s offense was led by star junior running back Jakorion Caffey as he ran the ball 24 times for 284 yards and 3 scores. Senior running back Gavin Ehrhardt played a great complementary role as he rushed 11 times for 96 yards and 3 touchdowns. Both running backs led the Eagles offense in pursuit to the team’s 43-42 victory.
In the first quarter, Avon would receive the opening kickoff, and they made it very clear from the first snap that they were going to rely heavily on star junior running back Jakorion Caffey. Caffey bounced his first rush on the very first play for scrimmage for 14 yards. After a 16-yard pass from senior quarterback Sam Detillio to senior receiver Ethan Holbrook, Caffey would get his next carry and this time he was gone! Caffey split the defense after hitting a massive hole on the right side of the Avon line. He was gone for a 38-yard touchdown run, putting Avon up 7-0 after the PAT by Seth Warrick on their opening drive.
Medina would get the ball for their first drive and respond quickly to the Eagles. The Bees air raid style offense was on full display in the first series as on third down and long from their own five yard line, junior quarterback Dan Stoddard found stud receiver Brennan Schramm for a 95- yard touchdown. This would tie the ball game at seven a piece after the extra point. This would only be the beginning of a huge night for Schramm.
The second quarter would provide the same intensity and fast pace style of play from both teams. On the very first snap of the second quarter, Medina’s long drive would stall out on the 5 yard line after a masterpiece of a defense play by Matt Fischer as he would pick off Stoddard’s pass intended for Brennen Schramm in the end zone.
Avon would go three and out on their ensuing drive, and they were unable to capitalize off of the interception from Fischer. Medina got the ball back and started to move quickly once again. With less than eight minutes left in the half, Brennen Schramm would beat his defender over the middle and catch a 20-yard touchdown from Stoddard once again.
At the half Medina was up 16-14 over Avon, but that would just be the start to an all time classic high school football game.
In the third quarter Avon opened with the ball and their offense came out slow as they were stood up by the Medina defense. The Battling Bees would get the ball back and in just two plays score again. Dan Stoddard would find his favorite target, Schramm. This time, for a 90-yard pass in which he would straight up out run every Avon defender that stood in his way. That made the score 22-14 putting Medina up by eight, and in control of the game.
As the game went to the 4th quarter, Medina would be faced with a fourth and four and they would ultimately be stuffed by the Avon defensive line, forcing a turnover on downs. Avon then got the ball back in great field position and in just two plays the junior running back, Caffey would find the end zone yet again, this time from 25 yards out. This made it 36-30 and Avon would take its first lead of the ball game with less than eight minutes left in the game.
Medina received the ball back and went straight to work. After a long drive by the Battling Bees, quarterback Dan Stoddard would find Austin Knowles from 5 yards out and the score. That score tied the game with 4:18 left after a missed Medina extra point.
A game for the ages was coming down to the wire. With just 1:57 left in the ball game Avon would get the ball back and they would go back to their unbelievable junior running back, Jakorion Caffey. He found the endzone for the third time tonight and capped off an all time great performance by putting Avon up 43-36 after a two-point conversion.
Medina would get the ball back with just 57 seconds left in regulation. Stoddard made yet another huge play for Medina as he found Jack Wojciak for a 61-yard TD! That made it 43-42 and Medina would leave it all out on the field as they attempted a two-point conversion to try and seal the deal. Stoddard took the snap, rolled to his left and missed receiver Austin Knowles in the endzone, silencing the entire Medina side of the field. That would give the ball back to Avon as they ran out the clock and took down the mighty Battling Bees of Medina 43-42 in an all-time great thriller.
Tonight’s player of the game is Avon running back Jakorion Caffey. Caffey rushed 24 times for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was without a doubt the difference maker in tonight’s ball game. The junior running back definitely turned heads tonight as he continued his dominant high school career with almost 12 yards per carry.
Both teams will be back in action next Friday at 7 p.m. for week three as Avon hosts Glenville in a non-conference game. A game that should be another great test for the Eagles. On the other hand, the Battling Bees of Medina look to bounce back as they will travel to Wadsworth, to play the Grizzlies in a pivotal non-conference game.
How about those O-Linemen? Over 400 yards rushing and no mention.
What a great write-up. I read the whole thing and felt like I was there! Way to go!!