AKRON, Ohio — Avon’s opening drive set the tone Friday night for its first win vs. Archbishop Hoban in six tries of meeting the Knights in the state semifinals.
Tyler Kaufmann reached the end zone on the Eagles’ 12th play to start their OHSAA Division II football clash at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium, a 1-yard run to finish off an 87-yard series. Teammate Cam Wendell added another score in the second quarter, and Avon’s defense did the rest for a 35-10 win.
The Eagles (15-0) will meet Cincinnati Anderson (15-0) on Thursday night next week at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for a state championship.
To get there, Avon rushed for 162 yards as a team with five touchdowns on the ground. Junior Quiante’ Smith scored three times in the second half, finishing with 106 yards on 13 carries to pace Avon. Senior quarterback Nolan Good, a Mr. Football finalist and Kent State commit, ran for 36 yards. He threw for 184 yards on 14-of-24 passing, finding tight end Ty Beerbohm three times for 59 yards, moving the markers for first down with each connection.
Junior Grant Barr added 60 yards on six receptions, while senior Matt Maxey — Avon’s all-time receiving leader — added 49 -yards on four receptions.
The defense slowed sophomore running Brayton Feister, who ran for 552 yards and eight TDs the last two weeks in the playoffs. By halftime, with Avon up 14-3, he had just 52 yards on 11 carries. While Feister paced the Knights (12-3) with 147 yards on 23 carries and their lone touchdown, all but 55 of those yards came in the fourth quarter.
Hoban gained 75 yards on 9-of-20 passing by Trent Hayden, while junior standout Elbert “Rock” Hill IV attempted one pass and ran three times out of the backfield. The measure came with senior Tylan “Juice” Boykin out with an injury and Payton Cook lost to an injury in the first half.
Thirteen penalties also doomed Hoban, which lost 85 yards on those plays.
See how it all unfolded in the video above and hear from Good, Kaufmann, Smith and senior defensive tackle Jason Gillespie from Avon with coach Mike Elder.
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X (@mgoul), Threads (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).