Avon Lake honors 2003 state title team with win over Elyria

With the 2003 Avon Lake state championship football team present to be honored at the Shoremen’s Sept. 29 game against Elyria, the team reminded the fans of what it took to win the Division II state championship 20 years ago.

Avon Lake had to hold on in the fourth quarter to win, but the running game paved the way for a 38-30 victory.

It might not have been recently inducted Avon Lake Hall of Fame running backs Jon Schroeder or Bobby Doyle from 2003 with the ball, but Anthony Benedict did his best impersonation to rush for 209 yards and two touchdowns.

“(Benedict) was patient and he was hitting the hole when he needed to,” Avon Lake Coach Matt Kostelnik said. “With the offensive line and how we do our running game, we have to have a little bit of patience, but when you hit that hole, you have to burst through it. He was able to do that. Our offensive line has been blocking great.”

Elyria’s last win over Avon Lake was in 2015, but nearly every matchup since was decided by one possession.

“I don’t give a (crap) if (Elyria) is 0-6. I talked to Coach Fox before the game and they went through a gauntlet,” Kostelnik said. “Everyone they’ve played has four or five wins on it coming into the night. They are big, they play hard at times. I told the kids that you have to come out swinging or else things are not going to go our way and (Elyria) came out swinging.”

The Pioneers jumped to a 9-0 lead on a Justin Godbolt touchdown to B.J. Todd and a safety in the first quarter.

Avon Lake dominated to go on a 28-7 run to lead, 2816. Elyria showed a valiant effort, but Avon Lake’s lead was too much in the end.

“Our goal was to wear (Elyria) down and unleash in the second half a little bit. We executed that goal, we just gave up some big plays that kept them around,” Kostelnik said.

The Shoremen improved to 6-1, (4-0 in SWC), as they will take on Olmsted Falls (5-2, 2-2 in SWC) on Oct. 6.

In the final three weeks, Avon Lake’s gantlet also includes North Ridgeville and rival school Avon.

Though the team is undefeated in the SWC, injuries have made the journey harder than it appeared, as they lost Nelson, wide receiver Luke Stuewe and a number of other impact players.

Kostelnik was Avon Lake’s safety for the team’s 2003 championship season and he was happy to see his former teammates.

“It was one of those things where I had to dial in, but it was great to see those guys that are back,” he said.