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The 2009 season got off to a rough start as a tough Maple Heights squad handed the Shoremen a 28-16 loss Friday night at Memorial Stadium.  Avon Lake fumbled 8 times, losing two, helping the Mustangs to keep the ball in the home team’s end of the field for much of the game.  The visitors’ offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and a few defensive breakdowns allowed the Mustangs to break some big plays.

The Shoremen offense started slowly, going three and out after receiving the opening kickoff.  Jake Janicek punted to the Mustang 39, and after picking up one first down, the Mustangs punted  the ball down to the Shoremen nine yard line.  Again failing to gain a first down, the Shoremen punted to their own 48.  On first down, T.J. Thompson picked off a pass over the middle at the 25 and ran it back to the 38.  Mike Mansnerus picked up 11 for a first down near midfield.  After three more Mansnerus runs moved the ball to the 39, Mike took a pitch, ran left, and heaved a strike to Kevin Morissette for a first down at the eight.  A false start moved the Shoremen back to the 13, and the drive stalled there.  A field goal try went wide left and Heights took over.  Again the Shoremen defense forced a punt, but this time the kick was muffed and the Mustangs recovered at the 50.  The teams exchanged punts again.  On 2nd and 8 from the Heights 42, QB Shaq Washington found a hole over right tackle, cut back all the way to the left sideline, and weaved his way to the 11 yard line.  On 4th down from the four yard line, Washington rolled right and hit Ernest Trammell for the touchdown. A botched PAT attempt left the score 6-0 with 4:15 left in the half  The Shoremen had a golden opportunity, driving to the five yard line with 18 seconds left.  But as Trent Toy dropped to pass, the wet ball slipped out of his hand for a fumble.  Toy recovered but the play resulted in a ten yard loss.  Again, the field goal attempt sailed wide left as time ran out in the first half.

Maple Heights started the second half with the football on their own 35.  After one first down a nice punt pinned the Avon Lake back at their own 15.  The Shoremen punted the ball back out to their 40, where the Mustang offensive line began to assert itself.  It took them eight plays to cover the 40 yards, with Washington carrying for both the four yard TD and the two point conversion.  Not to be outdone, the  Shoremen O-line took control on a 70 yard drive, all on the ground.  Mansnerus covered the final 28 yards on a bruising run, breaking away from a gaggle of tacklers at the 20 and racing in for six.  Toy made a nice catch as the PAT snap sailed high, and Trent sprinted around the right side for two points.  The Shoremen trailed 14-8 with less than a minute to play in the third period. The kick return was snuffed at the 21, and a first down run only netted one yard as the quarter ended. 

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Washington faked play action and hit a wide open Trammell on a post pattern for a 78 yard score.  Washington again ran for the two points to make it 22-8 just 10 seconds into the final period.  Things went from bad to worse as Avon Lake fumbled on the kickoff return and Maple Heights recovered at the 34.  Washington ran untouched around left end for a 27 yard TD to stretch  the lead to 28-8  with 7:55 to go.  The Shoremen came back with a 65 yard scoring drive, keyed by 28 yard pass from Toy to Brian Mihalik.  Mansnerus powered into the end zone from three yards out, and another botched snap on the PAT led to a pass from Toy to Dan Schneider, who made a great catch in traffic for two points.  Avon Lake had one more chance when the recovered a fumble after a failed onside kick.  But Toy’s pass was intercepted at the Maple Heights one, and the Mustangs ran out the clock.

 

Notes: 

·       The last time the Shoremen lost their opening game was in 1999 when they dropped a 13-12 decision at Revere.      

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Avon Lake

0

0

8

8

16

Maple Hts

0

6

8

14

28

 

 

 

MH

 

A.L.

First downs

 

10

 

15

Rush Yds

 

224

 

175

Pass Yds

 

135

 

97

Passes att-comp-int

 

11-8-1

 

11-5-1

Fumbles-lost

 

2-1

 

8-2

Penalties

 

13-115

 

25-4

MH – Trammell 4 pass from Washington (run failed)
MH – Washington 4 run (Washington run)
AL – Mansnerus 27 run (Toy run)
MH – Trammell 78 pass from Washington (Washington run)
MH – Washington 27 run (run failed)
AL – Mansnerus 3 run (Schneider pass from Toy)