The Silver Rail Rivalry

Little did I know at the time, but this rivalry would be the catalyst to launch Kee On Sports Media Group and pretty much define my High School sports writing career. I got a taste the year before when Jake Sopko and the Eagles destroyed the Shoremen at home.  But Sopko was gone and legendary head coach Mike Elder had a serious choice on his hands.

Ryan Maloy wouldn’t get the start that night but he too would go on to become a player I covered on a regular basis as the years went on.  When it comes to football, who doesn’t love a quarterback controversy.  It was my first taste of one at that level and I loved it!

I remember thinking when Avon Lake got up early, that perhaps the tide was turning back in favor of the Shoremen, but that proved to be false for several years to come.   I also remember thinking that Matt Kelley may have gotten the job done that night, but it would soon be Maloys gig.

The Avon Lake stadium was so loud that night too, it felt like I was at a pro stadium.  It was just an amazing atmosphere and my love of the rivalry was taking it first steps and beginning to grow. The game turned into a blowout but in a rivalry game like that, it was still electric until the final snap.

Two months later, the two teams would meet again, but this time everything was on the line as the Avon Lake Shoremen traveled to “The Nest” to take on the Avon Eagles in first round playoff action.  It was hard to fathom that this game would be close after the earlier blowout, but Avon Lake was on a mission and had fate on their side.

In a game that would be talked about nonstop afterwards, The Avon Lake Shoremen stunned the Avon Eagles 27-26, ending their perfect season with a wild finish in a first-round playoff game in Avon at the Nest. It was the first ever postseason scrap between the two squads since the inception of the rivalry and it didn’t disappoint.

Avon Lake raced out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, as Mark Pappas connected with Jason Sullivan for a 9-yard touchdown.  The Eagles were unfazed in front of their home fans and answered back quickly.  It was now firmly planted senior starter Matt Kelly finding Mitch Cooper with a 44-yard touchdown pass. The Shoremen would catch their first major break of the game however as Cooper missed the extra point and kept the Shoremen in the lead 7-6.

It wasn’t a good night for Cooper as a little bit later on, the Eagles had a chance for a 40-yard field goal but the kick was blocked.  These crazy plays would set the stage for what was still to come.

Avon took control of the game, scoring 17 unanswered points to lead 23-7 with just under 11 minutes to play in the third quarter.  It looked as though they had finally broken through and were starting to once again show their dominance.  Just as they did when the two teams hooked up in Week 2 when the Eagles won 31-7.  Both of the Eagles touchdowns came on the legs of tailback Mason McLemore.

Avon Lake refused to go away without a fight.  Yes, it was a playoff game, but at the same time and even more of a motivation, it was their rivals dammit! The comeback began midway through the third, when Pappas connected with Denny Burns on a 9-yard passing touchdown to make it 23-13.

The mojo in the air was slowly but surely turning Maroon and Gold as Avon fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, setting up the Shoremen at the Eagles’ 34-yard line.  From there it didn’t take Pappas long to find Carson Toy for a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 23-20 with 6:38 left in the third.

Still up 3, the Eagles were driving near the Avon Lake 35-yard line when Kelly got knocked out of the game with an injury.  Suddenly, like the Browns in 02 with Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch, the Avon Eagles would have to go to their popular backup in playoff game versus their main rival.

The young and hot handed Ryan Maloy entered the game and led the Eagles into field goal range, setting up Cooper for a 43-yarder to make it 26-20 with still three minutes to go in the third quarter.  The Eagles were leading by 6, but clinging to that lead with still a ton of time to play.

Avon Lake’s offense continued to roll, as Tyler Nelson punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give the Shoremen a 27-26 lead.  What seemed improbable at halftime, was sudden reality as most fans sat there stunned in their frozen seats as Avon Lake now led.

The Eagles took their time but then moved into scoring position with a chance to take the lead with 6:45 to play, but rather than kick what would have been a 37-yarder, the Eagles opted to go for it on 4th and short, and were denied at the line of scrimmage by the Shoremen defense.  The Eagles passed up on a kick from Cooper who had been struggling that night.  This decision by Elder would prove to be an omen for the rest of the game.

The Avon Eagles are so well coached you just knew they would get another crack at it and that’s exactly what happened as their defense held the Shoremen and got the ball back got the ball back with 4:30 to play. They started at their own 30, moving slowly but very effectively down the field into the red-zone.

The Eagles only needed a field goal to win the game, it almost seemed like a sure thing as Avon had the ball at the Shoremen 9-yard line with 1:03 remaining. The Eagles could run down the clock if they chose to and then kick a 25-yard field goal to win it.  Instead, with a kicking game that was shaky that night, Elder and the Eagles went for the touchdown.

At first glance it wasn’t a bad idea until they decided to throw the ball.  The Shoremen broke through the line and forced a scrambling Maloy to throw an interception in the end zone as the ball sailed into the hands of safety Andrew Butrey to seal the Shoremen victory.

Looking back at it in the winter of 2023, it took stones for Elder not only to pass up on the field goal but to take it one step further and have his sophomore backup quarterback throw the ball. Elder is a great coach for a reason, he leaves nothing to chance and trusts his players, 1 to 51.  Given the situation, I wouldn’t put it past him to do it again.  It didn’t work out that time, but there is always a next time.

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