AVON, Ohio — Avon's season of perfection came to an end Friday night.
The culprits were a horrific second quarter and a determined underdog Sandusky team that put together the winning drive at the most
opportune time. The visiting Blue Streaks, the No. 8 seed in the Division II, Region 6 ranking with a 6-4 record, prevailed against the Eagles, 42-35, to send the home team packing at 10-1.
Not even rallying from a 35-14 halftime deficit could save the Eagles once the persistent running of Sandusky senior Cordney Strickland came into play. Carrying on 13 of 16 plays, Strickland provided 74 yards on the Blue Streaks' game-winning 78-yard drive.
Strickland's 1-yard run with 1:50 to play provided the winning points.
"I told my line to push, and I would do the rest," said Strickland, who had second-quarter scoring runs of 7 and 9 yards. "I knew we could get it."
The Eagles appeared ready to pull off an amazing comeback.
In the second half, they scored on three fourth-down touchdown passes from quarterback Cody Schroeder to wide receiver Kevin Krakora to tie it. Krakora caught scoring passes of 19, 24 and 5 yards, the latter tying it with 8:16 to play.
But Strickland's determined running ruined those hopes.
The second quarter saw Sandusky score 28 points as Avon threw three interceptions, fumbled away a punt return and had one punt blocked.
In fact, the Eagles found themselves trailing after two plays in the game.
On a reverse, Avon senior wide receiver Connor Friss lost control of the ball, and Sandusky junior defensive back Dameyion Smith gathered it in on the bounce and raced 40 untouched yards to the end zone with the game 50 seconds old.
Avon answered with a six-play, 62-yard drive to tie matters. Senior quarterback Cody Schroeder found tight end Lance Tyler in the left flat, and the junior ran 18 yards for the score with 8:05 left in the first quarter.
But the horrible second quarter was looming.
Sandusky took the lead on a 6-yard run by Smith, who was in motion from his wide receiver spot and took a handoff from quarterback Lucas Poggiali.
After thwarting a Sandusky drive at its 4 on an interception by senior safety Chris Zeh, Avon returned the favor on the next play when senior Mike Drake intercepted Schroeder and returned the ball 20 yards to the Avon 7.
Strickland covered those 7 yards on the next play to make it 21-7.
After blocking an Avon punt at the Eagles' 16, Strickland needed two carries to get in the end zone and make it 28-7 with 4:26 to go.
The Eagles responded with a 59-yard drive, sophomore running back Mark Kvach going 10 yards for the score on fourth down. Key on the drive was a 40-yard pass play from Schroeder to Krakora.
But the Eagles self-destructed once again when Matt Eckhardt fumbled a punt, Sandusky taking over at the Avon 29 with a minute left in the half. On second down, Poggiali found junior Tristen Jeffries in the middle of the end zone from 23 yards out.
Region 6
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