AVON LAKE, Ohio — A clear playoff picture is still yet to emerge with three teams in Division II, Region 6 ending Week 10 with a perfect 10-0 record, but one thing is for certain in Avon: the Eagles are once again Southwestern Conference champions thanks to a dominating 42-10 win over archival Avon Lake.
The last time the Eagles (10-0) lost an SWC game was all the way back on Sept. 10, 2021, and Friday night’s win over the Shoremen (6-4) represented their 30th straight conference win as well as maintaining the Silver Rail rivalry trophy.
“Senior year, I couldn’t ask for much more,” quarterback Nolan Good said while clutching the Silver Rail trophy close to him. “We accomplished two of our three goals, which is beating our rivals and winning the Southwestern Conference.
“We’ve got one more to take care of and I think you guys are going to see it’s real. What we’ve got going on here is real and we’re going to do everything we can to get there.”
Good, a Kent State commit, was on top of his game all night long, passing for four touchdowns to four different receivers behind an offensive line that kept his jersey clean.
“Someone asked me earlier, they said ‘I heard you say you think (Nolan Good) is the best player in the state of Ohio, do you really believe that?’ And I absolutely believe that,” Avon head coach Mike Elder said. “Nolan Good is the best football player in the state of Ohio and he’s wearing purple and gold and we’re really excited about that.
“He’s not the best player in this county – he’s the best player in this state and as long as we have him on our team we have a great chance.”
Good got his night started with a touchdown pass to junior Grant Barr from 8-yards out to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead after the Shoremen fumbled on the game’s opening drive.
The Shoremen answered with a 37-yard field goal from senior Reece Polomsky, who hit four field goals in a win over North Ridgeville last week, to cut the lead to 7-3 with plenty of time left in the first quarter.
Letting his receivers get loose in open space, the very next offensive play for the Eagles was a 71-yard screen to senior Ty Beerbohm that set up a short score by junior Quiante’ Smith to give the Eagles some breathing room.
Showcasing the chemistry he has built-up over the last two seasons with his receiving core, Good found his favorite target, senior Matt Maxey, on another quick screen for a 30-yard score to bring the lead up to 21-3.
Avon Lake wouldn‘t go down without a fight with still a lot to play for this season. The Shoremen forced a fumble on the Eagles’ next possession and finally got some momentum moving in Avon territory.
Senior quarterback Alex Affolter ripped a quick pass to his favorite target in traffic and junior Aidan Stewart made a tough grab to find six points and close the lead to 21-10, with just under five minutes left in the first half.
The final four minutes of the first half were crucial for both sides, but it was Good and the Eagles that rose up for a pair of scores to close out the first half to all but bury the Shoremen with a 35-10 lead at the half. His third touchdown pass of the first half went to senior Cole Kepner to add an exclamation point.
Good wasted little time out of the half to turn on the running clock with a pinpoint pass to junior Jakob Weatherspoon, who holds an offer to Ohio State as well as several other schools, on the third play of the third quarter to put a nail in the contest.
It was clear the Eagles came in with a mission to win and improve, and even more clear that Good and the offense had accomplished just that.
“Coach Elder always says the best teams are at their best week 10, you get better and better every single week,” Good said. “There’s a difference between week five good and week eight good – I think tonight we’re Week 10 good. We’re not state championship good yet, we’re getting there, but we’re not yet and we’re going to keep striving and working to get to.”
“I feel like our team is playing their best football Week 10 and that’s always the goal,” Elder said. “Has double meaning when you’re trying to get ready for the playoffs and you play your rival Week 10. I think the Shoremen are a good football team, but I think we’re really good and showed that tonight as we were able to get separation in this game.”
The Shoremen will have some waiting and anticipation with a playoff spot clinched, but an opponent still up in the air.
Avon Lake head coach Matt Kostelnik said after that game that his team has no time to feel sorry for themselves and a whole new season begins tomorrow morning with lifting and film.
“We played a really tough schedule and the kids know that, I think (Drew Pasteur’s fantastic 50) has us ranked fourth or fifth or something in Division II,” Kostelnik said. “So, the kids know what the competition is, it’s now we have to make sure we clean up the little tiny errors, the tiny details and make sure we’re putting ourselves in a position to be successful.”