The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pappas hurls Shoremen over Amherst
Quarterback throws for 290 yards, often zeroes in on favorite wide receiver Toy
Avon Lake spoiled Amherst’s homecoming night with a 35-14 win on Sept. 30, displaying an offensive prowess to the tune of 469 total yards.
The victory puts the Shoremen at 5-1 overall, but coach Dave Dlugosz came out far from satisfied.
“Our defense and offense played well,” he said. “But I still didn’t feel like we played with a lot of emotion and intensity. We need to improve every week and have tough games coming down the stretch. We’ve got Berea-Midpark at homecoming and Olmsted Falls and Midview as well. There’s no doubt we’re going to compete with those guys, but we didn’t play well enough today to beat the top echelon of the conference, but we will by the time we get there.”
Quarterback Mark Pappas and wide receiver Carson Toy
further proved to be one of the best passing combos, as Pappas tossed for 290 yards on 22 of 37 attempts, while Toy racked up 151 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The duo were on the same page from start to finish.
“It’s to those kids’ credit,” Dlugosz added. “During the offseason they’re by themselves working on timing those outcuts and quick slants. You have to give those guys a lot of credit because they knew what we were going to do this year on offense. We’ve got receivers who are really skilled and a quarterback who can get them the ball, so we’re going to toss it. Those guys are benefiting from it.”
“Mark does a pretty good job with all of our receivers,” Toy added. “We let it fly in practice. He’s very familiar with all of
all of our receivers and knows everyone’s speed and height. He knows if he puts it out there a lot of us are going to go up and get it.”
Avon Lake wasted no time on its first drive. On a big thirdand-20, Pappas connected with Toy for a 21-yard gain to reach Amherst’s 12-yd line. That set up a oneyard rushing touchdown from running back Sandy Bishop for a 7-0 lead and capped a 75-yard drive.
Later in the quarter, Pappas made his only mistake of the night, throwing a pick to Amherst’s Alec Platz. But it didn’t cost them, as Avon Lake’s Hunter Bateman picked off Amherst quarterback Johnny Matakovich’s pass toward the end of the quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Pappas hit Bateman for a 10-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.
The Comets (1-5) responded on the ensuing drive with a 69-yard bomb from Matakovich to Evan Shawver with 9 minutes left in the half to get the homecoming crowd pumped up.
But midway through the second, the Pappas-Toy connection worked again for a 32-yard touchdown and a 20-7 lead.
And with just over two minutes in the half, Bateman showed his versatility on a 65-yard punt return that brought the Shoremen within the 5-yard line.
That set up a three-yard rushing touchdown by Tyler Nelson and Toy made a two-point conversion catch for a 28-7 lead.
The Comets made a big push right before halftime when Matakovich scrambled for an eight-yard rushing touchdown with 3.9 seconds left and a 2814 halftime deficit.
Amherst coach Bill Fishleigh hoped that would provide momentum for the second half.
“But we struggled to move the ball offensively,” he said.
“They stacked the box and they were making us play left-handed. I really felt our front seven was an advantage for us and we could put some pressure on them. I thought that was going to be the difference, but in the first two quarters they went to a quick passing game. We just couldn’t finish the play.”
Toy struck again early in the fourth quarter for a 35-yard touchdown reception and a 35-14 lead. The Shoremen also totaled 26 first downs.
“That’s a great combination right there and they’re going to win a lot of football games,” Fishleigh added about Pappas and Toy. “We tried everything we could to stop them.”
Bateman had eight catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, and Avon Lake totaled 179 rushing yards, led by Nelson’s 92. The offense wasn’t the only story of the night, as the defense held the Comets to just 170 yards.
“We haven’t reached our full potential and I think everyone knows that,” Toy said. “We’re 5-1 right now and looking pretty good but everyone knows we can be a lot better.”