by For the first week of the Ohio State Athletic Association playoffs, St John’s Titans from the Toledo area came to Avon Lake to battle the Shoremen. Conditions were rainy, and seasonably cool for the last weekend of October. The conditions would matter because it makes the passing game more difficult and ball handling slippery, both came into play in this game.
Each team had three series in the first quarter that all came up empty, most of them were three-and-outs. The score after the end of the first quarter was 0 to 0.
Into the second quarter both teams continued to struggle offensively. The Titans finally got things going on their fifth drive of the game with some nice running plays and a beautiful pass from Lichtenberg to WR Daylen Glaze for 23 yards to the back of the end zone for a Touchdown with 6:54 left in the second quarter.
The Shoremen immediately scored on their next possession when DePaul hit Senior Tight End Nathan Schillinger who is 6’4″ and 247 pounds. Schillinger caught the pass in the left flat and rumbled up the sideline for a 43 yard touchdown. With 5:26 to go in the quarter. Titans 7, Shoremen 7.
On the Avon Lake kickoff Titan’s speedy WR took the ball to the house for an 88-yard touchdown up the left sideline. After a missed extra point the score had the Titans up 13-7. The Shoremen had a nice drive on their next possession, but the drive stalled at the 7 yard line and Senior Standout kicker Owen Wiley nailed a 24 yard chip shot getting the Shoremen closer as the halftime score was 13 to 10 Titans.
With only 3 yards of rushing in the first half the Titans were determined to establish some running in the third quarter. A costly fumble by the Shoremen led to Snapp running the ball off right tackle for an 8 yard touchdown, increasing the Titans lead 20-10.
Another decent drive for Avon Lake, was led this time by Junior QB Jeremy Dzik. Once again this drive stalled and Wiley kicked a beautiful 40 yard Field Goal into a very strong wind. Titans 20 to 13 and it would be all the points the Shoremen would muster.
Then with just three seconds left in the third quarter, Lichtenberg hit Junior Wideout Tommy Gallagher for a TD in the back right corner of the end zone, and the quarter ended. Titans now lead 27 to 13 and momentum and confidence were on the side of the St. John’s Titans!
In the fourth quarter Shoremen QB Dzik was now throwing to DePaul who moved to receiver. The Shoremen made some plays at times, but the desperation was setting in and the Shoremen just couldn’t get it done.
Lichtenberg put the exclamation point on the game with an 11 yard RPO keeper for an 11 yard TD. The score was 34 to 13 and that was how the game ended. St Johns scored 5 touchdowns to Avon Lake’s one.
