Shoremen Grind Out Victory Over Berea

On a night fit for man nor beast, it was the beast--the --that earned and old-fashioned win in the trenches with a grind-me-out style of play that has epitomized the team for years.

Through driving rains and wind and bitter temperatures, Dontez Smith (206 yards) led an Avon Lake ground game that had 243 yards en route to a 20-18 win over Berea High School. The Shoremen (4-2, 3-0 SWC) not only picked up valuable computer points with the win, but also stay undefeated in the SWC. 

It didn't come easy for the Shoremen either, as Berea wasn't the pushover they have been in the past. Prior to losing to Avon Lake, the Braves two losses were by a total of four points, meaning so much for an easy homecoming win. 

"It was Shoremen football, especially at the end coming at them," Avon Lake Coach Dave Dlugosz said. "It was a real nice time consuming drive. It was nothing fancy. They gave us their best shot, put all their strong defenders on our best side of the ball, and it was our good guys against their good guys, may the best man win. Give Berea a lot fo credit, they gave us a very good football game.

"We just put together one of those old fashioned Shoremen drives." 

That time consuming drive Dlugosz talks about was the game changer late in the fourth quarter. Avon Lake not only took over six minutes off the clock, but went 13 plays in doing so.

It wasn't Smith who punched the ball through either, instead, it was sophomore Collin Lucas from eight yards out. He carried two Berea players into the end zone with him as he rushed  for the score. 

“Our offense line was great and they really stepped it up toward the end of the game," Smith said as he stood talking to reporters in a driving rain. "I’m really happy for Collin for scoring that touchdown. It was huge. That’s why we call him 'truck stick.'” 

What made the drive even more impressive was the fact Berea essentially went to a nine man front, bringing their backers and safety to the line of scrimmage. 

"For that matter, our offensive line and fullback did a pretty good job in a critical situation," Dlugosz said. "They go enough pieces of the guy so we could gain positive yardage. When it really mattered they put together a good drive."

Berea jumped out to an early six point lead, but the Shoremen got on the board twice before half, once on the legs of Smith and the other on a punt return by Brett Bass that looked like Gayle Sayers. Smith, who racked up his third 200 yard game of the year, put the Shoremen up 7-6 with his 12 yard run. Then it was Bass's turn. Weaving and bobbing throughout defenders, Bass fielded a Berea punt at the 30 yard line and scampered 70-yards for a score to give the Shoremen a 14-6 

"He's been a real pain in the butt for people on special teams," Dlugosz said. "They started kicking out of bounds and away from him so that says a lot. He's got three of them half way through the season right now."

Berea seemed on pace to ruin the night for the die hards who braved the elements during the homecoming game, when they scored the next two touchdowns. Nick Washington's run from eight yards out early in the fourth quarter seemed to dampen things more. That's when it became gut check time for the Shoremen. Not only did they utilize a strong run game to manage the clock and score, but on the next series it was its defense' turn to close things out.

Avon Lake clinched the victory when Nick Skuggen picked off QB Trevon Sawyer on the second play of Berea's final drive. The Shoremen once again did what they do best, ran the ball and clock down to eke out the win. 

"I don't want to take anything away from Berea, they came after us, they had a very good game plan," Dlugosz said. "But we've been there before and sometimes that is what it takes to get over the top in those close ballgames." 

Avon Lake's next test comes Friday night against Westlake, who is having one of their better season's in years. In the much improved SWC,  Dlugosz says they will be prepared. 

"We have things we have to work on, we have to do things right and there is not as much margin for error as in the past," Dlugosz said of the game. "They are going to be ready for us since they haven't beat us in awhile."