The Silver Rail Rivalry

But fate is a crazy thing, and both teams would then go on massive winning streaks yet again until they faced each other in the Regional Championship for the second straight year.  This time both teams were healthy and it would be the very best versus the very best.  Because of COVID, they did away with the neutral sites and this game would take place at Avon on November 6, 2020.

With four seconds on the clock and the game all knotted up at 17, the Junior Sensation Nathanial Vakos blasted one though from 30 yards that would have been good from 45 and advanced the Avon Eagles into the State Semi’s against Hoban.  It was another dramatic Avon vs Avon Lake clash, and another walk off winner for the Eagles to end the Shoremen’s season for the second straight year.

After a promising opening drive by the Avon Lake Shoremen was cut short from penalties and a botched snap, they were forced to punt.  The Eagles wasted no time responding and it was Niko Pappas finding the suddenly red-hot Tim Conwell from 81 yards out to draw first blood for the Eagles in dramatic fashion.  It was far from the only drama the night would bring.

It was the Shoremen driving yet again the next time they had the ball and it looked promising.  This time it was a Michael Corbo fumble that gave the ball back to the Eagles and cost them a chance at scoring. I’ll say this, the officials made some bad calls that went against both teams.  This time it went against the Shoremen as I was looking directly at that play and the fumble was caused by the ground.

Ironically enough, it was another interesting call that would help the Shoremen at the goal line a few minutes later when they got the ball back.  Still down 7-0, they went for it on 4rth and 1 from the Eagles 2-yard line.  Corbo snuck it with a great push from Griffin Lidyard and appeared to get in.  However, as he was reaching over the ball got swatted away.

The refs could have called it either way, but awarded Corbo and the Shoremen the touchdown, making it 7-7. Had they given it to the Eagles, it would have been a fumble in the endzone, resulting in a touchback.  They didn’t, and it was 7-7 halfway through the first quarter.

After touchdown runs by Gage Duesler and Niko Pappas made it 14 all with 6 minutes left in the first half, it looked as though it would be a shootout.  It was then that both defenses stepped up and started locking down the opposition.  Pappas was a magician on his run, faking out everyone on the field and half the people in the crowd.  Duesler just steamrolled through on his, and wouldn’t be denied.

Both teams would pick off the opposing quarterback before the half was over.  Corbo was picked off on a third and two trying to throw down field, while Pappas got picked off by Sean Summers at the goal line with 18 seconds to go.  The first half would end tied at 14.

The third quarter flew by with little progress on the scoreboard, in fact neither team scored.  The Eagles appeared to have a great drive going but it would be slowed and then ended on back-to-back stops by Nathan Schillinger of Avon Lake.  Schillinger spent a lot of time in the Eagle backfield that evening and had one of the best games I have ever seen him play.

As I predicted in my pre-game article, the game would come down to the kickers once again. Vakos made a field goal from 27 yards out to make it 17-14 Eagles with 9:55 to go.  It was Owen Wiley answering his field goal with a 27 yarder of his own less than 5 minutes later at the 5:40 remaining mark.

It was on that Shoremen drive that perhaps a touchdown catch in the corner of the endzone by Jared Krukowski was mistakenly called incomplete?  We may never know as several angles of the play show his foot being in, however, if the referees reason is that he didn’t have control of the ball as he was coming down, then the referee did in fact make the correct call. However, again, go back and look at it and it looks like a catch through and through.

Again, I will make this as clear as I can, his foot was in, and I don’t think anyone is disputing that, my educated guess is that the official believed he didn’t have possession of the ball.  If the ref is saying otherwise and that his foot wasn’t in, then he blew the call.  It’s just that simple, his feet were in.

Would that same official make that call again?  Who knows, and you hate to see a game this big have a play like that occur, you really do.  But that is sports as we know it, sometimes you get the breaks, and sometimes you don’t.

The play wound up all over social media and shown from several different angles.  As I go back and watch it a few years later, there is no denying it was a catch.  Perhaps the funniest part of the video is some random kid standing there by the pilon screaming at the referee, “you stink!”.   Despite all that, the Shoremen still had the chance to tie the game, and they did with 5:40 left to be played.

Coach Kostelnik reflects back on that moment, “This was one of those moments that I felt for the kids and especially Corbo. He had only lost to one team as a QB and here he was again leading a drive to put us in a situation to be successful and that something happened that was out of our control. Sure, it was a bad call but the kick off after that field goal decided the game by field position. Both teams had enough time and time outs to make a run and ultimately, they finished and we didn’t. “

Controversial plays aside, both teams still had chances to win the game late. Avon had a remarkable kickoff return to set up shop on the Shoremen 33-yard line.  They instantly shot themselves in the foot with a clipping call on Jake Frye that resulted in a personal foul and Griffin Lidyard on the turf.

I’m happy to report that the big man got up and would return to the game.  The next two plays would result in back-to-back sacks by Jacob Sintic and Lewis Miller that would ultimately result in the Eagle punt.

The Shoremen would start their drive with 3:11 left on their own 19-yard line but only went backwards and would eventually have to punt.  The Eagles took over at the Shoremen 42 with 1:28 to go and worked themselves into field goal range for Vakos to seal the deal.

Niko Papass once again did it all for the Eagles behind center and in their secondary.  The young man is a champion and a leader.  Pappas would finish with 209 yards passing with a touchdown and a pick.  He also ran for a touchdown and 112 yards on 15 carries.  For the second straight week his main target was Tim Conwell who pulled in 4 catches for 107 yards and the games first score from 81 yards out.

I should point out as well that Andrew Smith who is a great run blocking tight end, also has a great set of hands as he hauled in a 38-yard pass from Pappas.

Gage Duesler of Avon Lake had a huge first half with 92 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown.  Coach Elder made the adjustment and held Duesler to 11 yards in the second half on only 5 carries.  Corbo finished with 53 yards rushing on 13 carries with a touchdown.  He threw for 123 yards on 6 of 14 passing as well.

Coach Kostelnik reflects back on the emotion he had for his seniors that night following the loss, “They are a special group of players as ten of them would go on to play college football. They had an incredible work ethic and fantastic leadership. I am excited to see all of their next steps in life and hopefully I had a positive impact on getting them there. “

As for me, looking back at it now, a little over a two years later, I can honestly admit I think about that game once a day.  It was nearly 65 degrees in late fall, just beautiful out.  With as crazy as 2020 was, that may have been the craziest part but at the same time, everything was pushed up several weeks with only a 6 week long regular season. It was the only game I’ve ever covered from outside of a press box, actually sitting at a table that put in the stands.  The press box was maxed out of room because of so many outlets being there and the restrictions of COVID.

I remember hugging Avon Lake players postgame and wishing the seniors the best of luck as they cried their eyes out with the realization that was it for them.  That was such a special group of young men on both teams.  Many of them were on my show that season as well, in fact, over 50 combined players from both schools appeared on my podcast. My heart went out to Avon Lake in the loss, and at the same time I was proud of the Avon kids.  It’s tough being a reporter with a heart.  Games like that bring out all of the emotions.

I also think that a lot of fans snuck in after kickoff somehow, because by the time the second half started, the place was packed and very loud. It was COVID rules and the stadium wasn’t supposed to have more than 25% capacity, but it sure seemed packed. Or maybe it was just the parents screaming their heads off (more than likely the case), but in my mind, I like to imagine it was packed.

I’ll say it again, great kids, great parents, great coaches, great schools!  That school and that entire season will live on in our memories forever. The win would send Avon on to play Hoban yet again for a trip to states, but we will cover those battles a little later in the book.

more on the next page