Avon Lake two-way standout Luke Stuewe couldn’t have summarized the game any better. When players run to the ball, good things happen.
In a nonconference showdown between Avon Lake and Benedictine, the defense’s pressure forced the issue multiple times, which led to turnovers, great field position and points on the other end.
“All week in practice, coach was saying to fly to the ball. Good things happen when you fly to the ball. You saw it today, we had three takeaways in the first half,” Stuewe said.
Avon Lake forced three turnovers in the first half and another in the second half. It scored a combined 21 points on the first plays from scrimmage after two interceptions from Stuewe and linebacker Michael Pace and a strip sack from Derek McCrum inside Benedictine’s 20-yard line.
“I think any offense in the state would like to start on the 10-yard line and score on one play,” Avon Lake running back Jack Bova said.
Avon Lake Coach Matt Kostelnik credited the pressure in the trenches, especially without three starting defensive linemen.
"We were able to get pressure at key times. I think that was the big thing for us," he said. "We were able to keep that quarterback kind of guessing a little bit. Coming into this, we know that he likes to put the ball in his athlete's hands. For us, it was to keep him off-kilter; not letting him set up."
Avon Lake allowed 71 passing yards and 138 rushing yards. The defense pitched a first-half shutout to lead, 17-0.
The Shoremen's offense wasn't ideal to start the game. Kostelnik felt the offense left a lot on the field that will be needed in their next game, when they play at Chardon in Week 3. The Hilltoppers were a Division III, Region 9 finalist last season.
"We know what's coming next week. I have been telling the kids that this is going to be a physical game. This is a hostile environment against a team that's tough," Kostelnik said.
The Shoremen's offense leaned on the running game, even after highly touted lineman Maxwell Riley didn't play in the second half. Offensive guard Clay Broadhurst was switched to his spot and played on defense as well. Bova rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns and Wade Nelson had 56 yards on the ground for a touchdown.
"I think that we have one of the best offensive lines in the conference and maybe even the state," Bova said. "We have three running backs that can run the ball pretty well, in me Anthony Benedict and Wade Nelson. If you stop two of us, we have another one (has more power), which I would say that's me. (Benedict and Nelson) are a little bit more quicker."
Benedictine coach Joe Prevesk thought his defense was solid for most of the game. The key for his team will be to play complementary football after they experienced the opposite in a 49-26 loss to Walsh Jesuit in Week 1.
"Defensively, I thought we played really well. (Avon Lake) wore us down as the game went along. Offensively, we put our defense in bad situations, but defensively, I thought they played well," he said.
Benedictine dropped to 0-2 and extended its losing streak to 13 games. The Bengals will travel to Hamburg, N.Y., to play St. Francis on Sept. 2.
Avon Lake and Bengals matched up for the second time in the history of the two programs. Their last matchup was in the 1981 Division II, Region 5 final, in a state tournament bracket that allowed two teams per region. The Bengals won, 21-17, en route to winning the state championship.
