The Silver Rail Rivalry

Over the next 11 weeks, Avon Lake would go on to have an amazing run on both sides of the ball. While the offense put up points in bunches, the defense was lights out and shut out 6 opponents over the next 11 weeks.  Harry Hebert was switched to defense full time because of injuries to players such as Sean Summers and a few others, and that meant Corbo took over at quarterback full time as well. It all worked out for Avon Lake and things seemed to be heading in their direction as the two teams got set to face off again in the Regional Championship game from North Ridgeville High School.

Coach Kostelnik touches on why they were able to go on such a run, “Seizing the moment. Like I said you have so many moments to make an impact in the game and you have to make the most of them. We had so many great players on that team and each one of them were finding their way in those next 11 games. They took pride what they were doing and as a coach that’s all I can ask for. Coach Brickley and our staff did a great job prepping those defenses to be successful.”

Avon on the other hand, while also won their next 11 games, dealt with one injury after another to every key position on the roster.  Amongst the casualties were starting quarterback Danny Zeh, starting all state caliber running back Nick Perusek and then eventually backup quarterback Niko Pappas. The Eagles couldn’t catch a break, however with the colorful play calling of Elder and the dynamic ability of do it all player Joey Lance, continued to find ways to win heading into the regional championship game on November 22, 2019.

The Shoremen had a perfect opportunity, one of the top defenses in the state, they were primed to go to the State Finals for the first time since 2005. Authors of 6 shutouts that season, they felt they had the upper hand this time over their arch rivals, but it was not meant to be.

The night belonged to both defenses. Avon showed theirs was every bit as good. Notwithstanding, Shoremen star running back Gage Duesler who ran for 116 yards on 14 first half carries, out gaining the entire Avon team, but the Eagle defense made the big stops when they had to.

The only Avon Lake points came on their first possession. After an Avon punt, the Shoremen went 47 yards, mostly on Duesler runs and settled for a Harry Hebert 36 yard field goal.

Avon knotted the score after a flurry of punts by both teams when defensive back Mitchell Dupras intercepted a pass and set the Eagles up at the Avon Lake 38. The Eagles could get no closer than the Shoremen 15 and settled for a 31-yard FG by Nathanial Vakos.  With 2:30 left in the half, Avon Lake drove to the Avon 16 and the usually automatic Hebert missed a 33-yard attempt that gave Avon momentum going into the locker room tied at three.

The second half was an example of what this game was, which defense cracked first. The two teams traded punts and at the five-minute mark Avon took over at their own 5.  Avon methodically moved down field behind Joey Lance and Devon Hunter.

On a second and four from their own 42, Lance optioned to the right broke containment and scampered 58 yards with the go ahead score just before the end of the third, and Avon took a 10-3 lead into the final quarter.

That is when the Avon defense knew this one was theirs. After a three and out, they marched to the Avon Lake 9 where Vakos kicked a 25 yarder to extend the lead to 13-3. The back breaker happened on the ensuing drive when Mike Matlak picked off Michael Corbo and raced 67 yards untouched, for the game’s final score.

In a losing effort, Duesler racked up 137 yards on 18 carries but only 21 in the second half. Corbo added 56 on the ground and 107 through the air. The biggest problem for the Shoremen not only this night but in the first encounter versus the Eagles were the total amount of penalty yards which became a larger stat that any  other number put p that night.

After the game Shoremen Head Coach Matt Kostelnik reiterated that in the two games against Avon, they had 250 yards in penalties. He stressed you have no chance to beat a team of Avon’s caliber giving them all those opportunities.

Hunter ground out 100 yards rushing for Avon on 25 tough carries, Lance rushed for 120 yards on 15 carries. Avon quarterback Chase Myers, a sophomore, was limited and only attempted 5 passes, completing two for 21 yards.

Coach Kostelnik talks about the emotions of the night and what went wrong, “We broke our record of penalties that we set in week one. We had 100-yard rusher in Duesler in the first half and that was virtually erased by 100+ yards in penalties.

That night we never seemed to sustain momentum to finish a drive. It is a rare occasion that South is going to beat themselves and in that game we continued to take ourselves out of favorable situations to be successful, and their kids made plays in the moment. Both teams fought hard and I am proud to have coached our boys in that game.

We all make mistakes in any given game including coaching, but it is how you finish. I felt we laid it all out there that night and I am proud of those kids. Mistakes are only mistakes as long as we learn from them. “

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