by Right now the world obsesses over “the numbers” everyday in the local news. They may be exaggerated, inaccurate or just slightly made up, who honestly knows. The numbers coming out of Avon this season however, are real and will lead to big things.
Avon has been soaring all season and has gotten better by the week. Each week they appear to reach a new level and have already shown that they can comeback from any deficit. They excel in all three areas of the game and have posted the stats to back that claim up.
Heading into the third round of the OHSAA Playoffs in Division II, the Eagles remain a top threat and pick to win it all. With all due respect to the Massillon Tigers, no one should be overlooking the Eagles who are primed and ready at a potential rematch along the lines with the Tigers.
Here are just a few stats that would support my point.
2 – 4th Quarter Comeback victories over top notch caliber teams. Week one once again proved the mental toughness and poise of this team as they came back on the road against a loaded Avon Lake team. The Eagles trailed 24-7 at one point and never blinked as Niko Pappas led a dramatic double overtime win against their rivals.
The following week, it was Pappas again leading a fourth quarter last minute drive on the road at Olmsted Falls to victory in an instant classic.
14 – A combined 14 senior starters on offense and defense, and 15 if you count (and you should) the punter Arilnd Bengu.
7 – The number of Kaya Yonkers, the senior leader of one of the best linebacking cores in the state. Yonkers has been on a tear this year with 42 combined tackles, 24 solo, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions.
Yonkers may be the only senior linebacker, but junior Jackson Blodgett plays well above his years, and Sophomore sensation Gavin Ehrhardt is stepping up big time. Ehrhardt leads the team with 26 solo tackles and 3.5 sacks while teammate Trevor Norman isn’t far behind with 23 solo tackles and a sack.
The Eagles are controlling the middle of the field. This defense showed against Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls that they can bend but never break. They have bounced back from the loss of Dom Vakos, and have not looked back since.
33 – The Avon Eagles have put up points at will this season. With 33 being their lowest point total. They have scored in the 30’s twice, in the 40’s four times, in the 50’s once, and in the 60’s once as well.
17 – The number of touchdown passes from Niko Pappas this season, next to only 4 interceptions and 1,171 yards in only 7 games, and on only 117 attempts. People can disagree with me if they like, and no disrespect to Ryan Maloy & Danny Zeh, both great players, but Pappas is the best Eagle quarterback since Jake Sopko.
Pappas can do it with his legs as well, he has run for 349 yards, on 46 carries while scoring 4 times as well. He stays calm in the pocket, and does not panic, that alone is a game changer.
4 – The number of wideouts with double digit catches this year. Kam Erskine has a team high 18 catches, for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns. Michael Ptacek isn’t far behind with 17 catches for 257 yards and 5 touchdowns. For Ptacek, 5 of those catches have been for 20 plus yards each. Aidan Hannah has 11 grabs for 122 yards and a touchdown. Tim Conwell also has 11 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Two of their deepest threats however are Mike Matlak and Ryan Ptacek. Matlak has caught 9 balls for 162 yards. That equates to an 18-yard average as he has 4 catches for 20 plus yards and 2 touchdowns. Ryan Ptacek has caught passes over 20 yards, for 8 catches total and 153 yards. He has 3 touchdowns and an average yard per catch of 19 yards. Punches in bunches fans!
43.15 – The average yards per punt of Arlind Bengu. The young man has had a cannon for a foot, totaling 561 yards on 13 punts, pinning the opposing team inside their ten twice.
100% – The percentage of placekicker Nathaniel Vakos on extra points. He has gone 35 for 35 and also had come clutch Field Goals against Avon Lake earlier this year.
943 – Combined rushing yards between Devon Hunter and Desmond Kelly. These two have been a force to deal with and no one has been able to figure out how to stop them. Hunter has piled up 551 rushing yards on 79 carries with 8 touchdowns. He also has 8 catches for 84 yards, including the game winner against Olmsted Falls.
Desmond Kelly has picked up quite a bit of yardage on almost half the attempts. Kelly, has 392 yards on just 43 carries for an incredible average of 9 yards a carry. 6 of his carries are for 15 plus yards each. He also has found the endzone as a rusher 7 times as well.
0 – The amount of losses on their record this season
1 – The amount of losses on their record the last two seasons combined, next to 20 wins.
These numbers don’t lie, and neither do the eyeballs and hearts. These Eagles are for real and with the playoffs well in motion, they do not appear to be taking their foot off the gas anytime soon.
Kaya a Yonkers number is 7 not 24. His grandpa Moses