Eagles fly past Raptors, capture second consecutive Division II state championship
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.com
CANTON--Mike Elder has to be feeling as giddy as Michael Jordan when he won his second straight NBA championship.
The same could be said for the Avon Eagles.
Avon set the tone for the rematch on their second possession following an Anderson turnover when senior quarterback Blake Elder shredded the middle of the Raptors secondary with a 16-yard scoring pass to Fin Jerdonek that handed the Eagles an early 7-0 advantage that eventually ballooned to a 21-0 advantage and it was all that the Eagles needed as they repelled multiple challenges from Cincinnati Anderson to come away with a 37-20 victory and their second straight Division II state championship.
For many years the Eagles were always on the doorstep of a state finals appearance but were unable to knock down the brick wall in front of them known as Akron Hoban. Having finally knocked down that wall last year en route to their first state title, this title was even more emotional as the team was also competing in honor of offensive lineman Jeremiah Kelly, who was a part of last year's championship team who unexpectedly transitioned from this life earlier this year while attending the University of Cincinnati as a freshman. Avon is now the first school since the 2018 Knights to win consecutive Division II state championships.
Avon's fortunes got even greater as the game wore on. Following a 41-yard catch and run by Cam Wendell, the Eagles used another diet of runs by hard charging running back Quiante Smith and the drive concluded with Elder again shredding a porous Anderson secondary, this time locating Caden Clapham in the left corner and the Eagles had the Raptors in a two touchdown ditch with most of the first quarter remaining.
It became very cumbersome for the Raptors as the Avon defense registered a fourth down sack and the Eagles were seeing blood in the water and going for the carotid artery. Elder threw his third scoring aerial, this one to Caeden Bennett who was wide open in thr middle of the end zone and the Eagles were in total command with a 21-0 advantage.
The Raptors were self destructing after Scalf was sacked, ending another potential scoring drive.
But on their next possession they finally showed some roar when Scalf delivered a strike to Cooper Kathman, who scampered all the way to the Avon one yard line and two plays after, Scalf's one yard keeper finally got the Raptors on the scoreboard as they reduced Avon's lead to 21-7 with 5:14 before the band show.
The momentum Anderson had was squandered in just eight plays as Elder led another scoring drive and punctuated it with a 37 yard touchdown pass, his fourth of the game to Grant Barr. The extra point was no good but Avon was back up 27-7, which was the halftime score.
Anderson departed the locker room with aggressive urgency as several first down passes from Scalf immediately had the Raptors in Eagles territory. On fourth-and-1, Scalf completed a safe pass to Brayden Moore, who got three key blocks and found the end zone getting the Raptors a much needed score. The extra point was blocked but the game was within their reach as they were only down 27-13.
After the Anderson defense held on downs, their high powered offense took the field again with a chance to put some real concern into the defending state champions. But their possession was immediately truncated when Scalf's pass was intercepted by Jairel Fenton and six plays later, Avon made Anderson regret the turnover when Smith scored from six yards out on the ground and Avon extended their advantage back to three scores at 34-13.
Anderson wasn't going to give up easily. A 56 yard return by Mark Madden traversed them to Avon territory again. Scalf would deliver his second touchdown pass, this on to Tysin Weaver and the Raptors were now within two touchdowns of the Eagles early into the fourth quarter.
But an insurance field goal that spanned 30 yards put the defending state champions back up by three scores at 37-20 at 7:16 of the fourth quarter.
But like pesky gnats, the Raptors stubbornly refused to abdicate. Scalf led another drive that reached the six yard line but Scalf's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell harmlessly to the turf, ending the final threat of the Raptors.
The Eagles eventually ran out the clock and secured their 14th victory of the season while Anderson for the second straight year saw their undefeated season come up short in the state final as they concluded the year 15-1.
Avon was led by senior quarterback Blake Elder's 216 passing yards and four touchdowns on the evening while his counterpart Owen Scalf finished with a state final record 376 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.
For the Raptors, they were trying to join the 2007 team that won a Division II state championship. The last three years have seen them advance from the state semifinals to two state title game appearances. Ninth-year Anderson head coach Evan Dreyer put that in perspective.
"We have really good players who make a really good head coach. We have a really special group of guys who propelled us forward and that's one of those things that we in the last 45 games, we are 42-3 and our losses have been to teams from Northeast Ohio (Massillon and Avon) and understand what we are trying to do and how we are trying to get to being an elite program," he said. "This is just the beginning and I love that about the program is going to keep growing and the players have laid a foundation that in the form of what our expectations are going to be in the offseason and what our commitment level has to be in the summer. We are right there and we are on the cusp of something special and I can't wait to showcase these guys next year."
For the Eagles, after having many seasons end in the state semifinals, they are enjoying the benefits of two straight titles. Avon is now 2-1 in state championship games, all with Elder in control. When asked if he saw his team as the Bulls teams of 1991 and 1992 who won consecutive NBA titles after finally eliminating their nemesis Pistons, Elder remembered the question in reference to last year's team.
"We like to treat them individually around here and it's a different team and it's unique. But the Bulls are an organization and I gues we're an organization too. This is a unique season and last year's team were the first to win one and that will never ever be taken away from them and these seniors are one of the winningest groups in the history of Avon football," Elder said. "This is a special honor for them."
Mike Elder was as giddy as Michael Jordan when the Bulls after many failures against the rival Detroit Pistons. Now the Avon Eagles finally have a dynasty that isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
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