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The Shoremen looked like a completely different team this week, as the pass defense and kickoff coverage looked more like what we have come to expect over the years.  But the offense had trouble moving the ball against a very quick and physical Brecksville-Broadview Heights defense, while the Bees used their inside running game to control the ball and score just enough points for an 11-6 victory.   Avon Lake could muster just 113 yards rushing, and the pass game just couldn’t connect on big plays when they were open. 

Brecksville received the opening kickoff and returned it to their own 30.   A first down pass was broken up by Cody Bennington, who nearly came up with an interception.  On the next play, Bees QB Joe Youngs faked to the fullback over right guard, then spun back to the left and found himself all alone running up the left hash for a 34 yard gain.  Seven runs produced two more first downs and moved the ball to the 11.  Two more runs and a short pass completion left the Bees with 4th and 2 at the three, and Nate Anton converted a 20 yard field goal.  Ryan Kirkpatrick returned the kickoff to the A.L. 30.  Two runs netted two yards and a pass from Pete Hart to Adam Van Luit was short of the first down.  A short punt gave the ball back to Brecksville at their 42.  Running mostly right up the gut between the guards, the Bees marched the 58 yards on 12 plays, aided by a couple of Shoremen offsides penalties.  Nick Venditti carried the last four yards for the TD.  Youngs waltzed in untouched for the two points as the Shoremen seemed  baffled on the old “swinging gate” play.  So, with 8:19 left in the half, The Shoremen trailed 11-0.  At that point, Brecksville had run 25 plays to the Shoremen’s 3 and I felt a little depressed.  The ensuing kickoff was a low knuckleball that hit one of Avon Lake’s front line blockers, and Brecksville recovered.  (Now I felt real depressed.)  But the on 3rd and 7, Youngs was sacked and Brecksville had to punt.  The kick rolled out of bounds at the Shoremen 4 yard line and the pressure was really on the offense.   On 2nd and 6, Hart threw a strike to Steve Mares, who had snuck out of the backfield and was wide open at the 25.  Steve was unable hold on, but made up for it on 3rd & 6 as he bulled his way up the middle for eight yards and a first down.  The Shoremen added one more first down before they had to punt, moving the ball out of the shadow of their own goal line.  A holding penalty left the Bees in 2nd and 20, and Ryan Kirkpatrick latched on to a tipped pass to make it Shoremen ball at midfield.  A nice third down completion to Dan Schneider moved the ball to the 35.  Mares ran for 9, then Hart hit Schneider again for another first down.  The Shoremen took their last timeout with three seconds left, and Dan Ohlemacher drilled a 29 yard field goal to make it 11-3 at the half. 

James Lekan returned a squib kick to the A.L. 36 to start the second half, but he offense went three and out, punting to Brecksville’s 26.  The Bees couldn’t make  a first down either, and punted back to the Shoremen 41.  Hart pitched to Mares on an option on 3rd and five, good for nine yards and a fresh set of downs.  On 4th and two, Hart optioned left again, keeping the ball himself and zig-zagging for 29  yards to the Bees’ eight yard line.  The drive stalled at there, and on fourth down Ohlemacher booted his second three pointer of the game, this one from 26 yards out to put the Shoremen in striking distance of the Bees  with 3:47 left in the third period.  But the rest of the game was played between the thirties, as the two defenses dominated.  Neither team came close to scoring again, leaving the final score at 11-6. 

Notes: 

·       Dan Ohlemacher raised his field goal record to 3 of 4 on the season.

·       The last time the Shoremen were 2-2 after four games was in 1996.

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Avon Lake

0

3

3

0

6

Brecksville

3

8

0

0

0

 

 

 

B

 

A.L.

First downs

 

12

 

8

Rush Yds

 

177

 

113

Pass Yds

 

19

 

50

Passes att-comp-int

 

6-2-1

 

14-7-0

Fumbles-lost

 

4-0

 

0-0

Penalties

 

5-23

 

1-10

B – Anton 20 FG
B – Venditti 3 run (Youngs run)
AL – Ohlemacher 29 FG
AL – Ohlemacher 29 FG