Mistakes take a toll again on Academy Park in loss to Avon Grove

WEST GROVE — In front of a packed Homecoming crowd at Red Devil Stadium on Saturday, the Avon Grove football team used a ravenous defensive effort to down Academy Park, 25-6. The Red Devils intercepted quarterback KJ Moore three times and recovered a fumble as the defense keyed the win over the Knights (1-5).

Moore started things in the Knights’ favor early in the first period when he threw a perfect 12-yard touchdown pass to Camir Jones to take a 6-0 lead. However, it would be the last points Academy Park would score despite Moore throwing for 171 yards.

“They punched us in the mouth to start the game,” Avon Grove linebacker Cole Walsh said. “But our coaches changed some things up and gave us a great plan and we went out and executed it. We wanted the QB (Moore) to throw on the run and move his feet and let the guys in the secondary to pick off the passes. We got three of them today, so it was a good day for the defense.”

Avon Grove (4-2) came back to score 10 second-period points on a 47-yard field goal from Adam Okonowicz and a 25-yard pass from Frank Hoogerwerff to Moses T-Toe to take a 10-6 lead at halftime.

AJ LeClerc pieced off Moore in Knights’ territory to set up the touchdown.

The Avon Grove defense only allowed 37 yards rushing and seven first downs on the day and kept Moore under duress most of the game. Walsh led the defensive charge, while Trevor Dosenbach picked off two of Moore’s passes.

Early in the fourth quarter, Academy Park made a huge mistake that led to points.

Backed up deep in their own territory on fourth down, the snap was high over the punter’s head. The ball rolled all the way down to the 3, where the Red Devils took over.

One play later, Harrison Watson bulled his way in from three-yards out for the score. Watson then added a successful two-point conversion run. With 6:52 to play, Avon Grove had a 18-6 advantage. One of the leading rushers in the Ches-Mont League, Watson was held to just 32 yards on 17 carries.

“They were playing very hard and filing the gaps,” Watson said. “In the second half, I feel our O-line started to move them and I think their front four got a little tired. They definitely were not moving off the ball as fast as they were in the first half.”

The Knights fought hard the entire 48 minutes, but now have dropped five games in a row after a season-opening win against Unionville.

“Well, mistakes cost us the game today,” said coach Jason Vosheski. “And they have cost us games all season. Little things that add up to a loss has been plaguing us all season.”