• E-Edition
• Home
• News
• Sports
• AP
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Autos
• Homes
• Garage Sales
• Coupons
• Subscribe
• Services
• Contribute
• Blogs
• Photo Store
• MarketplaceOhio

Defensive slugfest goes to Avon

E-mail Story    |    Print Story    |    Comments    |   

By TIM McDONOUGH

mcdonough@crescent-news.com

AVON -- The Bulldogs of Defiance did everything they needed to do to beat the Eagles of Avon on Saturday night in Division III, Region 10 quarterfinal playoff action except one thing ... score points.

Defiance (8-3), held the high-flying offense of Avon (11-0, No. 2, D-III) to just 142 yards and seven points, but the Bulldogs couldn't muster enough offense of their own against a very fast Eagle defense in a 7-0 loss at Avon Stadium.

"Their defense played well tonight, especially in the second half ... they just shut us down," stated Defiance mentor Jerry Buti. "I thought both defenses played great, but they obviously played a little better because they held us off the scoreboard."

Avon mentor Mike Elder was also quick to credit his defense for Avon's first playoff victory since the 1996 season.

"Our defense in the first half was giving up yards, but they didn't give up a score," said Elder. "In the second half, they played with even more heart, they played tough and our kids certainly didn't break."

The Eagles came out fired up in the first quarter as Marquis Harrell took the opening kickoff and returned it 48 yards to the Defiance 40-yard line. Just five plays later, Harrell, who came into the game with over 1,000 yards rushing, finished off an Avon drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge.

That, however, turned out to be the only scoring in the game.

Defiance did everything it wanted to do in the first half, running 42 plays to Avon's 16, controlling the clock for 18:05 and it won the battle up front offensively, but it just couldn't get the ball into the end zone.

The best chance for the Bulldogs came early in the second quarter.

Starting a drive late in the first quarter at their own 20, the Bulldogs drove to the Avon 10 in 12 plays for a first-and-goal behind the running of Travis Spitnale. A false start penalty pushed Defiance back five, but a pass from Sean Murray to Alex Nofziger left DHS in a second-and-goal from the Avon 5-yard line.

But, a reverse to Craig Gutman was thrown for a five-yard loss by Avon linebacker Alex Tabar and a pass to Gutman from Murray in the end zone was broken up. A fake field goal attempt by the Bulldogs was stuffed by the Avon defense and Defiance's best scoring chance was turned away.

Said Buti: "Give them all the credit in the world, they stopped us when they had to there. Their speed on defense won the battle on the series and really the ballgame."

Avon had its chances most of the night, but the Eagles just couldn't penetrate the Defiance defense either. The Bulldogs stuffed Avon on a fourth-and-two at the DHS 11 in the second quarter, while also having the ball in Defiance territory for most of the second half. O'Rourke, who came in with 1,978 yards, 30 touchdowns and no interceptions, was just 7-of-17 for 69 yards in the contest.

Said Elder: "What they did was take Garrett Gronowski out of the ballgame by using bracket coverage which we expected, but to be honest on the backside we had some chances and we just overthrew them by a hair. That's the difference between us having seven points, or 21 or 28 which we could have scored.

"We didn't make those plays tonight, the good news is we have next week and hopefully we'll connect on them."

Defiance had four shots to try and tie the ballgame in the fourth quarter, but three times went three-and-out against the Avon defense. The last shot for the Bulldogs came with 1:36 to play after taking over at their own 38 following an Avon punt.

An 11-yard pass to Nofziger from Murray, followed by a 10-yard strike to Serge Mayeku put Defiance at the Avon 41 with 1:01 to play. It all unraveled, however for Defiance after that. Josh Pierce sacked Murray for a 10-yard loss, a pass to Nofziger was broken up and a Murray pass to Alex Ramos was ruled past the line of scrimmage, losing a precious down for the Bulldogs.

On fourth-and-long, the Avon defense rose to the occasion again when Patrick Fumas sacked Murray for a 4-yard loss, ending Defiance's season.

"Before the game coach told us that this was going to be a defensive game and that we had to come out and show them we were good," commented Tabar. "Defiance made some big plays, they drove deep into our territory at times ... we bent but we didn't break. We just made plays when we needed to."

Spitnale led Defiance with 136 yards on 34 carries, but was limited to just 36 yards in the second half. Murray was 11-of-18 for 85 yards. Harrell led Avon with 68 yards on 14 carries.

The loss ended a very good season for Defiance in which it captured a share of its first Western Buckeye League title since 2000 and earned a playoff berth for the first time in five seasons.

Buti couldn't fault the effort of his players, but it's still a loss in the end.

Concluded Buti: "It's disappointing, we came here to win. You really don't get anything out of a seven-to-nothing loss, we made a long trip here to win this football game. At halftime we thought we could, but give their defense all the credit in the world, that was the difference in the game."

DEFIANCE AVON

First Downs 17 6

Rushing Yards 55-121 22-73

Passing Yards 85 69

Total Yards 206 142

Passing 11-18-0 7-17-0

Fumbles 0 0

Fumbles Lost 0 0

Penalties 3-17 1-15

Defiance 0 0 0 0 - 0

Avon 7 0 0 0 - 7

Avon - Harrell 3-yard run (Galik kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Defiance - Spitnale 34-136; Sebring 7-33; Nofziger 5-13; Gutman 2-0; Murray 7(-61). Avon - Harrell 14-68; Gronowski 3-15; Wearsch 3-6; O'Rourke 2-(-16).

PASSING: Defiance - Murray 11-18-85-0. Avon - O'Rourke 7-17-69-0.

RECEIVING: Defiance - Nofziger 5-41; Gutman 4-32; Mayeku 2-12. Avon - Jenkins 1-27; Jensen 2-13; Harrell 2-15; Gronowski 1-11; Logan 3.