Matt Anderson
CNHI
AVON — In its third game of the year, Avon came out with a slightly different look in the backfield, and after a couple of failed drives to begin the game, they regrouped, got in a rhythm and defeated the Harrison Raiders, 34-12.
Senior running back Domonique Blackmon had gotten the bulk of the carries through the first two games for Avon; in the last game alone, he accumulated 312 rushing yards with five touchdowns in Avon’s 51-37 victory against Westfield.
Yet, he took a back seat tonight as junior running back Charles Davis made his season debut. Davis compiled 124 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns.
“I just thought about coming out and making some plays for the team and try to get a win,” Davis said.
Blackmon, on the other hand, did have his share of playing time and electrifying moments. Aside from playing safety, he did the most he could with his limited amount of carries, rushing for a first half touchdown and putting up 29 yards on just four carries.
“We want to be able to platoon as much as possible,” said Avon head coach Mark Bless. “We felt like the first two weeks we used Domonique an awful lot, so, we wanted to be able to use fresh legs and bring Domonique in on key situations.”
I think the combination of those two works pretty well.”
Blackmon, also the team’s punt returner, shut the door for any chance of a comeback when he danced his way around Harrison defenders for a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown. The final score for Avon put them up by 34 with 5:19 to go in the third quarter; all of Avon’s points were put up in the second and third quarters.
On the defensive side, the Orioles allowed their first 1st down of the game in the third quarter. The only touchdown they allowed occurred when the offense botched a snap at the 14-yard line and Harrison senior wide receiever Tyler Port scored the following play from a beautiful pass from junior Nick Bartolone.
Harrison’s only other touchdown came when Avon sophomore Jordan Sherrill fumbled inside the 10-yard line and Harrison’s Vince Schmidt walked it in for an easy score. Two failed two-point conversions put the score at its final, 34-12.
“I thought defensively we came out on fire, and I think this is the best we played,” coach Bless said. “Offensively, it took us a few series to get our feet under us; they did a nice job sticking nine guys in the box and plugging up some holes. I think once we started passing, it loosened up the running game a bit.”
