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The Shoremen saw their dream season come to an end Friday night, falling to a talented Ashland squad by a final score of 21-14.   The combination of four turnovers and Ashland’s all-state quarterback Taylor Housewright was more than the boys in Maroon & Gold could overcome.  The Arrows’ also have a very quick defense made just enough plays to take away the continuity of Avon Lake’s offense. 

The game began on a high note for A.L. as the Shoremen kicked off and stopped the return at Ashland’s 27.  On the first play from scrimmage, Housewright threw long down the left side where Matt Mudry went up high for the interception at the Shoremen 48.  Three runs netted 15 yards and a first down at the Arrows’ 37.  Two plays later, on 3rd & 5, Ashland recovered a Shoremen fumble to stop what was a promising drive.  The Shoremen helped out the Arrows with a couple of personal foul penalties and Housewright hit a variety of receivers on slants and bubble screens to move the ball to the one.  The QB kept it himself for the TD and a 7-0 lead.  Scott Shaffer returned the kickoff to the 32 and the offense went back to work.  It took four plays to grind out a first down, then Nick Firment tried to throw a deep ball down the right sideline that was intercepted by Tyler McFarlin at the 24.   A couple of passes moved the ball to the Shoremen 38.  From there Housewright threw a perfect bomb to Shane Kipp for the touchdown the Shoremen trailed 14-0.  Starting from their 28, the Shoremen ran the ball five straight times to move to a first down at Ashland’s 34 as the quarter ended.

Taking up where they left off, the Shoremen ran the ball another five times.  A Haddad run on 4th & 3 came up inches short of the first down, and the Arrows started from their seven.  Zach Murray sacked Housewright at the two on 3rd & 8, forcing a punt.  Steve Mares made a gutsy catch around the 32 yard line and returned the ball to the 17.  Three plays later, Avon Lake again faced a fourth down, but this time Haddad easily converted for a first down at the five.  Tell carried to the one, and Haddad crashed into the end zone from there.  Joe Prendergast hit the PAT to cut the deficit to 14-7.   The next Ashland drive started at their 28.  Two passes fell incomplete, but on third down Housewright hit McFarlin on a slant and he dodged his way down to the 35 for a 47 yard gain.  Another pass to McFarlin moved the ball to the seven, and Housewright carried for six yards to the one.  But the Shoremen defense stuffed two more runs by the QB, and his fourth down pass was incomplete. Starting at the one with under a minute to play, the Shoremen used four runs to reach midfield as the half ended. 

Avon Lake received the third quarter kickoff and started from their 34.  On 3rd & 13, Firment hit Ryan Scherer for a first down at the 44.  On the next play Haddad broke though the middle of the line and raced 37 yards to the 19.  But two Tell sweep attempts resulted in a loss of two, and Firment’s third down pass was intercepted in the end zone to end the threat.  An exchange of punts put Ashland on their own 27, where Housewright threw up a wounded duck that Ryan Scherer picked off at midfield.  A pass to Peyton Armbrecht gained a first down at the 32, but three plays later it was 4th and 6 at the 27.  Firment’s toss was intercepted at the six, and it looked like the Arrows were pinned in a hole.  But Housewright ran up the middle, cut back to his right, and carried all the way out the Arrow 33.   Then on 3rd & 6 from his own 37, Housewright again converted, this time for 15 yards to Anthony Fairhurst.  The third period ended with the ball at the Shoremen 48.

Starting the fourth quarter, Housewright threw to a well covered Fairhurst down the right side.  The Arrow wideout made a superb diving catch as the ball barely cleared the defender’s hand.  Two incompletions led to 3rd & 10.  Zach Murray got good pressure on Housewright, but the big QB pulled away and completed a pass to the one.  A QB sneak on the next play was good for the TD, and the score was 21-7 with 11 minutes to play.   After a touchback on the kickoff, Ashland was called for chopping Haddad's knees as he was blocking for Tell.  Tell ran to a first down at the 36, then on 3rd & 12 Haddad carried for 19 yards to Ashland’s 45.  A pass to Scherer was good for 16 to the 29.  From there Tell and Haddad alternated carries to reach the one in five plays, and Firment snuck in to cut the lead to seven  with five and a half minutes left.  Great coverage limited the kick return to the 22, and two Housewright runs left Ashland facing 3rd & 8.  But again Housewright found McFarlin for the first down.  Three more Arrow first downs ran out the clock and an emotional Shoremen squad bid farewell to the 2007 season. 

Notes: 

·       Haddad carried 24 times for 175 yards on the night.  Mike finished the season with 1606 yards rushing and 25 TD’s. 

·       Jeff Tells 93 yards on 26 carries give him a total of 1316 for the season.

·       …and a personal note to the seniors from this old A.L. guy:  You guys were the first class I covered as freshmen when this site started up in 2004.  It has been a joy to watch you grow over the past four seasons.  Thanks to each and every one of you for all the hard work, playing through pain, and everything else you’ve been through.  I’ll sure miss seeing you on Friday nights.

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Avon Lake

0

7

0

7

14

Midview

14

0

0

7

21

 

 

 

A

 

A.L.

First downs

 

16

 

18

Rush Yds

 

101

 

266

Pass Yds

 

240

 

40

Passes att-comp-int

 

26-16-2

 

4-12-3

Fumbles-lost

 

0-0

 

3-1

Penalties

 

4-40

 

4-20


A – Housewright 1 run (Berkshire kick)
A – Kipp 39 pass from Housewright (Berkshire kick)
AL – Haddad 1 run (Prendergast kick)
A – Housewright 1 run (Berkshire kick)
AL – Firment 1 run (Prendergast kick)