(Home) (Photos)

In the first truly Shoremen-like performance of the season, the guys in Maroon & Gold dominated on both sides of the ball for a 34-7 win over Olmsted Falls. Avon Lake’s lines completely controlled the trenches on offense and defense, leading to a 364-16 edge in rushing yards. Mike Mansnerus was back at tailback in his first appearance since early in the Dover game, running for 163 yards, tallying two TD’s, and throwing for another score. Steve Mares had 104 yards and Cody Bennington chipped in with some good tough running for 44 yards. The way the line blocked Thursday night, yours truly might have averaged three yard per carry.

The Shoremen kicked off and once again, scared the hell out of everyone with some less than stellar kick coverage. Brandon Russo returned the kick to the A.L. 45, where the kicker, fútbol star Dan Ohlemacher, had to make the tackle. Three plays later Falls QB John Atkinson dropped back to pass and was ambushed by Zach Murray from the back side. Zach knocked the ball loose and Joe Gaydosh scooped it up, racing 45 yards for an apparent touchdown. An illegal block brought the ball back out to O.F. 48 where the Shoremen offense went to work. Three plays netted no yardage, forcing a punt. The defense returned the favor, forcing Falls to go three and out. This time the punt pinned the Shoremen back at their own 12. They managed three first downs on the ground, moving to midfield before a couple of incomplete passes forced another punt, this one pinning the Bulldogs at their 12. Again the “D” allowed only 4 yards in three plays, and the ensuing punt was returned to the Bulldog 33 by Mares. After converting a fourth and 1 from the 24 to start the second quarter, the Shoremen covered the remaining 20 yards in four plays. Cody Bennington scored from two yards out and Ohlemacher converted to make the score 7-0. Yet again, Falls couldn’t make a first down and had to punt. Avon Lake moved from their own 43 to the Falls 29, but turned the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs finally made a first down out to their 40, but Atkinson was sacked two plays later leaving the Bulldogs in a 3^rd and 15. Atkinson threw a slip screen out to Rob Van Zandt, catching the Shoremen in a blitz. Van Zandt raced 65 yards to tie the score at 7.

Avon Lake got the ball to start the second half at their own 23. After a 6 yard gain on a toss sweep to the right, Mansnerus took another pitch around left end. But this time Mike pulled up and lobbed the ball to a wide-open Kevin Morissette, whose fake at blocking the safety left the Bulldog secondary pretty well bamboozled. Kevin ran up the left sideline, cut back inside, and sprinted to the end zone to put the Shoremen up 13-7. Yet again, the Bulldogs went three and out, with Morissette returning the punt to his own 41. With the offensive line really starting to take over, the Shoremen stayed on the ground this time. A Mansnerus run of 5 yards capped the 59 yard drive, and Adam Van Luit made a great shoestring grab of a pass from Hart for the two point conversion. Three plays later Falls punted again, a nice kick that pushed the Shoremen back to their own 25. Hart hit Mansnerus for 11 yards on third and nine to end the third quarter. Then on the first play of the final period, Mares took a handoff through a nice hole in the left side of the line and raced 62 yards untouched for a 27-7 Shoremen lead. After the teams exchanged punts, Mike Mansnerus capped the scoring with a 66 yard run on a toss sweep. Morissette picked off an Atkinson pass on the next possession, and both coaches emptied their benches as the reserves played the rest of the game. Gentry Rohn added some good tough runs for the Shoremen, and Trent Thompson picked up a first down on a keeper in his first varsity action at QB. Jeff Rau added an interception late in the game to keep the ball deep in the Bulldogs end of the field.

Notes:

· Kevin Morissette scored his first varsity TD on the 71 yard pass from Mansnerus. Kevin added an interception and a nice punt return, both setting up the offense in good field position.

· The defense held the Bulldogs without a first down on 9 of their 12 possessions.

(Home) (Photos)

Avon Lake	7	0	14	13	34
Olmsted Falls	0	7	0	0	7

	OF	A.L.
First downs	4	21
Rush Yds	16	364
Pass Yds	120	92
Passes att-comp-int	17-7-2	4-12-0
Fumbles-lost	2-1	1-0
Penalties	1-2	6-55

AL – Bennington 2 run (Ohlemacher kick)
OF – Van Zandt 65 pass from Atkinson (Ferster kick)
AL – Morissette 71 pass from Mansnerus (kick failed)
AL – Mansnerus 5 run (Van Luit pass from Hart)
AL – Mares 62 run (kick failed)
AL – Mansnerus 66 run (Ohlemacher kick)