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For the first time in 20 years, the Shoremen fell to 0-2 to start the season, dropping a 24-7 decision to Brunswick.  Avon Lake matched up well physically with the Blue Devils as both the offensive and defensive lines controlled the trenches for a good part of the game.  But for the second week in a row, mistakes killed the Shoremen.  Fumbles, interceptions, and penalties thwarted drive after drive on offense.  The defense played well for the most part, but again allowed big plays that led to easy Brunswick scores.

Brunswick started the game on offense as a good return of a short kickoff gave them the ball at midfield.  After a  false start moved them back to their 45, Brunswick struck quickly.  Devils QB Jess  hit Lorenzo Pace in the right flat on a wide receiver screen.  Pace made the first defender miss and then streaked 55 yards to give Brunswick a 7-0 just 15 seconds into the game.  The Shoremen bobbled the kickoff and started deep in their end of the field at the 13.  A holding penalty moved the ball back to the six.  Trent Toy hit Mike Mansnerus with a pass in the right flat that was good for 16 yards.  The Shoremen converted the first down but then had to punt from their own 33.   Jake Janicek’s kick was good for 42 yards, rolling dead at  the 25.  Brunswick moved the ball down the field and had a first down at the Shoremen 34.  But the defense began to assert itself and stopped Smatana short on fourth down at the 26.  On second down, Toy found Kevin Morissette deep down the right side with a bomb that was good for 68 yards to the Blue Devil six.   A false start moved the ball out to the 11, but three runs moved it to the one,  Mansnerus dove in for the score and Logan Christ added the extra point to tie the game at 7.  The Shoremen stifled Brunswick’s offense for the rest of the half.  Dan Schneider picked off a Smatana pass in Brunswick territory and ran it back to the 25, but two plays later the Shoremen gave it right back on an interception. A punt into the end zone gave the Shoremen the ball at there own 20 late in the half, and they moved the ball quickly into Brunswick’s end of the field.  Morissette ran to the 10 on a jet sweep, but a clip brought the ball back out to the 47.   The Shoremen still kept moving but coughed it up again, this time on a fumble at the 26. The half ended in a 7-7 tie.

Avon Lake received the second half kickoff, and again moved the ball into Brunswick territory on a 37 yard toss sweep by Mansnerus.  A pass to Schneider gained nine, and Mansnerus carried to the 24 for a first down.  The drive stalled at the 21 and Brunswick took over on downs.   Austin Detzel sacked Smatana at the 18 on third down to force another punt.  Again the Shoremen moved into Brunswick territory, and again turned it over on downs at the 38.  Two plays later Pace took a handoff over the left side and burst up the middle for 61 yards to the one.  Three plays later Smatana scored to make it 14-7 Devils.  Things went downhill from there, as the next two Shoremen series ended with interceptions.  The first one gave Brunswick the ball at midfield and led to a 20 yard TD run by Pace. Brunswick ran the second pick back to the Shoremen 20, and settled for a 24 yard field goal and a final margin of 24-7.

 

Notes: 

·       The last time Avon Lake lost its first two games was in 1989.

·       Mansnerus had 145 yards rushing, giving him 291 so far this year.  Mike is now number eight on the Shoremen’s career rushing list.

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Avon Lake

7

0

0

0

7

Brunswick

7

0

7

10

27

 

 

 

B

 

A.L.

First downs

 

13

 

12

Rush Yds

 

179

 

149

Pass Yds

 

113

 

158

Passes att-comp-int

 

13-6-2

 

21-12-3

Fumbles-lost

 

1-0

 

2-1

Penalties

 

8-60

 

6-62

B – Pace 55 pass from Smatana (Kravetz kick)
AL – Mansnerus 1 run (Christ kick)
B – Smatana 2 run (Kravetz kick)
B – Pace 20 run (Kravetz kick)
B – Kravetz FG 30