ROCKY RIVER, Ohio – The Pirates became the eighth team that has failed to contain Avon’s high-powered offense on Friday evening, as the Eagles rolled to a 56-41 victory over Rocky River.
Avon, ranked No. 6 in cleveland.com’s Top 25 poll, burst out to a 49-7 lead after only two quarters. Jake Sopko tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass Braeden Friss to open the scoring. Gerrett Choat then added to the lead with a nine-yard score on the ground. Tommy Glenn kept the Eagles flying with a 25-yard strike to Rhys Ratino, making the score 21-0.
Rocky River got on the board with a 46-yard Matt Lowry touchdown run to narrow the deficit to 14. Avon quickly retaliated, though, as Glenn and Ratino connected again for a touchdown pass, this time a 40-yarder.
Avon added three more touchdowns in the second quarter. Tyler Vaccarella scored on the ground from 18 yards out, Antonio Orr notched a 16-yard touchdown run and Friss hauled in his second score of the night, a 12-yard pass from Glenn.
The Pirates did not surrender in the second half. Rocky River recorded three touchdowns in the third quarter, beginning with a 6-yard Travis Smith touchdown run. Lowry then tossed deep touchdown passes of 42 and 73 yards to Patrick Connors.
Ratino and Glenn once again hooked up in the fourth quarter, this time for 20-yard touchdown through the air to make the score 56-27. Lowry threw two more touchdown passes, but the deficit was too great to overcome.