By Travis Miller
Hendricks County Flyer
INDIANAPOLIS —
Just about the only person who didn't get to see Domonique Blackmon's huge day at Lucas Oil Stadium was Blackmon himself.
"I tried to (watch myself on one of the big screens) once, but I didn't want to get in trouble with my coach," said Blackmon.
Blackmon later called playing at the home of the Colts a once in a lifetime opportunity. He made the most of it too, rushing for 312 yards and five touchdowns on 16 carries. For good measure, he also had two catches for 22 yards and intercepted a pass on defense late in the game to help seal Avon's 51-37 Horseshoe Classic win over Hoosier Crossroads Conference foe Westfield.
"Domonique just made plays," said Avon coach Mark Bless. "The offensive line did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage and getting off the ball. Jordan Shirrell also did a good job of blocking and running when we had him in there."
Avon made a statement early on when Blackmon took the first play from scrimmage 61 yards down inside the Shamrocks' 10 yard line. He would score from three yards out two plays later as Avon held a 7-0 lead little more than a minute into the game.
From there, Avon went into a funk and Westfield was able to take advantage. The Shamrocks marched 60 yards in 12 plays and tied the game on an 11 yard pass from Wade Burtron to Brady White. Avon's Dhane Thomas also suffered an injury on the drive and had to be immobilized and removed from the field on a cart.
The Shamrocks added a field goal later in the first quarter to lead 10-7 after one, and pushed it to 16-7 midway through the second quarter. With 3:05 left in the half Jordan Shirrell scored on a 40-yard run to make it 16-14, but the Orioles quickly gave up a two play, 65 yard drive by Westfield. Quarterback Wade Burtron completed 11 of 12 passes in the first half for 207 yards and two scores for the Shamrocks, including a 44 yard pass to Brandon Gray with 2:33 left.
Avon answered with a long pass of its own. Logan Haston found Kendall Griffin from 37 yards out just before halftime to make it 23-21, Westfield. That provided the Orioles the momentum they would need to dominate the second half.
"Defensively we still have a lot to work on," said Bless. "We made some nice adjustments in the second half and executed well, but we have some errors to clean up."
Burtron finished with a huge game for Westfield, throwing for 392 yards and three touchdowns, but the Orioles picked him off twice in the second half to end key drives.
Most of the second half was all Blackmon. He put Avon in front for good with a 13-yard scoring run at the 9:24 mark of the third quarter.
The Orioles then forced a punt and responded by going 80 yards in seven plays before Blackmon scored for a third time from two yards out. The two-point conversion failed, but the Orioles were in front 34-23.
An interception by Keaton Holsinger then gave Avon the ball at the Westfield 25 yard line.
The Orioles only managed a field goal off of the turnover, but a questionable fumble call went against Westfield as it was driving and the Orioles recovered on their own 18.
Blackmon then put the game away with an 82-yard dash. He would later score from 53 yards away to end the scoring for Avon, racking up 214 yards and four touchdowns in the second half.
Griffin also had a solid game receiving for the Orioles, who are now 1-1 in league play. Griffin finished with five catches for 88 yards and a score.
