(Home) (Photos)

The Shoremen watched Maumee race out to a 17-0 halftime lead, and then mounted a furious second half comeback on the ground and through the air. But in the end, they came up just short, dropping a 20-13 decision to the Panthers. The Avon Lake defense had no answer for Maumee’s scrambling quarterback Jake Schneider in the first two quarters, and the offense was completely stymied both on the ground and in the air. But after the intermission, the offense came to life, with Dontez Smith running for nice chunks of yardage and Ronnie Willoughby pulling in some key receptions. Maumee managed just three points in the second half, but it was enough as penalties and turnovers did in the last couple of Shoremen drives.

Brad Brill drilled the opening kickoff 8 yards deep in the end zone for a touchback. After picking up one first down, Maumee faced 3^rd & 18 at their 23. The Shoremen brought good pressure as Schneider dropped to pass, but the slippery QB scrambled away and picked up a first down at the 46. Another scramble moved the ball to the Shoremen 32, and a flanker screen was good for a first down at the eight. The Shoremen defense dug in and stopped a middle run on 3rd & goal at the two to force the Panthers to settle for a 19 yard field goal and a three point lead. Starting from their 25, the Shoremen couldn’t get anything going and punted back to Maumee. After one first down, Brian Mihalik pressured Schneider into throwing a jump ball that was intercepted by Trent Toy and returned to the Maumee 42. But again, the offense was out of sync and a punt into the end zone put Maumee in business at their 20. Maumee made one first down and punted to the A.L. 30, but the Shoremen went three and out, and punted back to the Panthers’ 37. An Avon Lake offsides penalty on 3^rd & 1 produced a first down, and three runs by Schneider moved the ball to the 24. A screen pass put the Panthers in first and goal, and three plays later Eric Long crashed in from the three to make it 10-0. Starting from their 33 after the kickoff, the Shoremen converted on 4^th & 1 for a first down at the 45, and a boot pass to Chris Jedlicka gave them another first down at the 42. But a couple of incomplete passes later, the Shoremen punted again, down to the Maumee 12. On 3^rd & 10, Schneider ran a keeper up the middle to the 26. An option pitch around left end was good for 22 yards to the 48, and then Schneider scrambled again, buying time to find a wide-open receiver at the 15. From there, a fade pattern in the right corner of the end zone was good for a touchdown with just six seconds to go in the half. The teams went to the locker rooms with Maumee up 17-0.

Alex Grunick returned the second half kickoff to the 27, and the Shoremen offense that showed up bore no resemblance to the team that started the game. Smith ran off right tackle for six yards, and then back off left tackle for twice for six yards each time. On 3^rd & 4 Smith took a pitch to the left, cut back, and again gained six yards. A pass to Willoughby picked up eight yards, followed by another Smith run good for seven and a first down at the thirty five. Toy to Willoughby was good for 13 yards and another first down, and on 4^th & 6 from the 18, they hooked up again for a touchdown and suddenly, it felt like a game again. After a holding call set the Panthers back to their 24, Schneider scrambled for 20, then pitched on the option for another 15 to the Shoremen 41. The Panthers managed two more first downs, but the drive stalled at the 17 and another field goal made the score 20-7. Starting this time at their 20, Avon Lake went right back to Smith, who carried twice for a first down at the 31. A pass to Willoughby was good for another nine yards, and Smith carried for a first down at the 44. On the next play, Dontez found a big hole over the left side and picked up 31 yards to the 25. Pass interference on Maumee put the ball at the 12, and five plays later Smith powered in from the one. The PAT kick drifted wide right, leaving the score at 20-13 less than a minute into the fourth period. After some nice coverage stopped the kickoff return at the fifteen, Maumee could only move five yards and punted to the 50. Smith picked up a first down on 4^th & 3, and it looked like the Shoremen were cooking when Alex Grunick pulled in a pass at the 13. But Grunick was called for offensive pass interference to force a punt. Maumee punted the ball back to the Shoremen 33 with three minutes to go in the game. A fourth down pass to Grunick was behind him, and Maumee had only to run the last couple minutes off the clock as they took over at the Shoremen 36. But incredibly, the Panthers fumbled and Brett Bass recovered for the Shoremen. Toy threw to Pete Lancione for a first down at the 42, but on the next play Toy was hit as he dropped to throw and fumbled the ball back to Maumee. The Panthers took a knee twice to end the game.

Notes:

· Toy and Willoughby end up as one of Avon Lake’s most prolific passing combinations ever. Trent finishes his career second in team history in completions (153) and yardage (2,555), and third in TD passes with 25. Ronnie is second in career receptions with 82, second in touchdown catches with 18, and second in yardage with 1,599. (all based on my preliminary numbers – official stats will be published later.)

· Dontez Smith finished with 118 yards in the game and 686 for the year. He’s a junior so he’ll be back next year.

(Home) (Photos)

Avon Lake	0	0	7	6	13
Maumee	3	14	3	0	20

	M	A.L.
First downs	20	14
Rush Yds	218	150
Pass Yds	162	65
Passes att-comp-int	30-13-1	20-7-0
Fumbles-lost	2-1	2-2
Penalties	5-34	5-32

M – Olman 19 FG
M – Long 3 run (Olman kick)
M – Lane 13 pass from Schneider (Olman kick)
AL – Willoughby 18 pass from Toy (Brill kick)
M – Olman 34 FG
AL – Smith 1 run (kick failed)