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The Shoremen, their coaches, and their fans have lived the past year with the sour taste of  last year’s defeat at Elyria.  The memories of the taunting by the Elyria players and crowd after that game was over have finally been soothed, as Avon Lake delivered a thorough whacking to the Pioneers  by a 49-14 count.  The running game, led by Mike Haddad, accounted for 285 yards.  Nick Firment threw for 185 yards and 3 touchdowns.  The Shoremen front lines dominated the game on both offense and defense.

Avon Lake kicked off and held the Pioneers to a short return.  Starting from their own 23, Pioneer QB John Yeaples promptly threw an interception to linebacker Dave Henderson who returned it to the 24.  The Shoremen couldn’t convert the turnover into any points, as Firment’s 4th down pass went off Ryan Scherer’s fingertips.  Elyria quickly went three and out, punting the ball back to A.L.  The Shoremen moved to Elyria’s 34, and Firment hit Kevin Mansnerus with a gorgeous bomb for the first score of the night.  The PAT try was no good as Firment had to scramble after a bobbled snap.  Following another Elyria punt, the Shoremen took eight plays to go 58 yards for another TD, with Haddad carrying the final three yards.  Firment threw to Scherer for the two point conversion and Avon Lake was up 14-0. 

After the kickoff, Elyria went on an impressive, time consuming drive that ate up the rest of the first quarter and ended in a 22 yard Pioneer touchdown from Yeaples to Serryell Davis to make the score 14-7.  Tyler Almeida’s kickoff sailed deep into the end zone for a touchback.  But it took just 4 plays for the boys in Maroon & Gold  to cover the 80 yards, with Dan Weimer running a post pattern and  snagging another beautiful 39 yard pass from Firment.  The kick was wide so the score stood 20-7 with 9:15 to play in the second period.  The rest of the half was played deep in Elyria’s end of the field.  After Matt Mudry picked off a Yeaples pass, the Shoremen turned the ball over on downs at the 18. But the Pioneers punted it right back and Scherer’s 27 yard return put the ball on the Elyria 43 with 1:09 left before halftime.  Two Haddad runs and a 21 yard pass to Eric Cail moved the ball to the five and Haddad took it in from there.  Mike then caught a pass in the right flat for the two points and the score stood 28-7 at the half. 

The third quarter started with Avon Lake receiving the kickoff.  On 4th & 2 from their own 43, Haddad burst through for 15 yards.  Three plays later. Firment found Cail running open down the left hash.  Eric dodged a couple of tacklers after the catch and cruised in for a 31 yard touchdown.  Joe Prendergast’s kick made it 35-7.  Right after the kickoff, Yeaples was intercepted again, this time by Haddad at the 30.  Firment went right back to the air, hitting Peyton Armbrecht on a post to the three.  Jeff Tell ran it in from there and the kick was good again.

Elyria moved the ball down the field after the kickoff, but fumbled it back to the Shoremen at the Avon Lake 20.   Four runs sandwiched around another pass to Armbrecht moved the ball to Elyria’s 31.  Mike Mansnerus burst though the middle of the Pioneer defense and raced into the end zone.  The kick was good again to make it 49-7 as the third quarter ended.  Elyria’s starters added a fourth quarter score against the Shoremen second string to make the final 49-14

Notes: 

·       Senior wideout Eric Cail scored his first varsity touchdown.

·       Haddad topped the century mark for the third straight week, carrying 18 times for 155 yards.

·       Kevin Mansnerus was taken off the field by the EMS in the second quarter with a neck injury.  Kevin was alert, moving his arms and legs, and had a good strong grip.  Come back soon, Kevin!!

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Avon Lake

14

14

21

0

49

Elyria

0

7

0

7

14

 

 

 

E

 

A.L.

First downs

 

15

 

18

Rush Yds

 

159

 

285

Pass Yds

 

70

 

185

Passes att-comp-int

 

5-12-3

 

7-14-0

Fumbles-lost

 

2-2

 

1-1

Penalties

 

6-35

 

8-45


AL – Kevin Mansnerus 34 pass from Firment (pass failed)
AL – Haddad 3 run (Scherer pass from Firment)
E – Davis 22 pass from Yeaples (Almeida kick)
AL – Weimer 39 pass from Firment (kick failed)
AL – Haddad 5 run (Haddad pass from Firment)
AL –Cail 31 pass from Firment (Prendergast kick)
AL – Tell 3 run (Prendergast kick)
AL – Mike Mansnerus 31 run (Prendergast kick)
E – Robbins 24 run (Almeida kick)