CLEVELAND, Ohio — Seniors of the Avon Eagles took part in their last home game Friday evening, and capped off the celebration with a 42-7 win over Amherst.
However, Avon understands that’s not enough.
The Eagles, ranked first in this week’s cleveland.com Top 25, move to 9-0 (6-0 SWC). Amherst falls to 6-3.
This isn’t the first time they’ve started the season with a 9-0 record. The most recent time was the 2023 season, where they finished 14-1 after a Division II state semifinal loss to Archbishop Hoban, who’d lose in the state final to Massillon.
That was the sixth time in seven years Avon reached the state semifinal round, but those two squads, along with Toledo Central Catholic have kept Avon from reaching the state final.
This season, Avon doesn’t want to end it in that matter.
Amherst chewed up most of the clock in the first quarter, and by the time Avon had possession, there was 4:11 left in the first period.
It didn’t matter.
Nearly two and a half minutes later, the Eagles were on the board first with a 7-0 lead. Quarterback and Kent State commit Nolan Good spun his way into the end zone for the 8-yard score.
Later on in the second period, on the first play of their second series, Good found his top target in Matt Maxey running across the Eagle logo, who took it downfield for the 78-yard touchdown.
Good accounted for 149 of his 301 total passing yards in the first half alone for three touchdowns; two rushing and one passing.
The only first-half touchdown Good didn’t solely account for was on a trick play during Avon’s last series of the half. On the first play of their fourth offensive series, Good threw to Maxey, who then threw it deep downfield to Grant Barr for the 68-yard score, further extending their eventual 28-0 lead going into halftime.
On Amherst’s side, the majority of their offense derived from quarterback draws for Cole Norris, who ran for nearly 80 yards in the first half. The gains would add up and push the offense forward, but only so far before Avon’s defense interrupted their movement.
Especially in the sacks department with three on Norris during that period.
Avon will close the regular season on the road versus Avon Lake (5-3), while Amherst will play coming up to close the regular season versus North Ridgeville.
This story will be updated.
