Eagles erase 17 point halftime deficit, capped by Erskine TD
By Michael Kelly
AVON LAKE – Some people circle important dates on a calendar to mark goals, or as an important reminder. Southwestern Conference Rivals Avon and Avon Lake take that right down to the :00 mark on the game clock – and then some.
This time the Eagles walked away with a 33-30 win in double-overtime.
“Beat ‘Lake Week” was off to a tumultuous start for Avon (1-0, 1-0), as the Shoremen (0-1, 0-1) staked themselves to a 24-7 halftime lead. Senior return man Jared Krukowski helped silence the Eagles faithful with a 71-yard punt return for touchdown and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
The Avon defense wrestled early with the Shoremen run game, as QB Michael Corbo and RB Mason Wheeler (2 touchdowns) both eclipsed the century mark.
An injury to Wheeler in the second overtime was glaring as Avon Lake was forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal, one of three on the day for junior kicker Owen Wiley.
That was the last window Avon would need, before climbing thru with a game-winning 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Niko Pappas to WR Kam Erskine.
Pappas lofted three touchdown strikes in the game and finished with 229 yards in the air (118 to senior WR Michael Ptacek with a TD). He tacked on another 83-yards on the ground, complete with a 3-yard run to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Kickers for both squads had a notable night. Wiley sent his team into halftime with a 25-yard field goal and a 33-yarder in the first overtime, plus three extra points. He nearly converted a disrupted FG attempt as time expired in regulation.
Avon junior Nathanial Vakos converted on distances of 22 and 30 yards, along with a trio of extra points.
