Senior Rocky River wide receiver Pauly Ferguson set the pace in the Pirates' win over Avon Friday. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Pirates overwhelm Eagles
By Matt Thornicroft
Sports
Published Sept. 20, 2006

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The Rocky River Pirates began West Shore Conference play last Friday with authority.

Engaged in a battle against an Avon team hungry for its first win of the season, the Pirates went to the big guns early. Junior quarterback Andy Breidigam’s two first quarter touchdown passes to receivers Sean Belanger and Pauly Ferguson set the pace. Continued big plays on both sides of the ball sustained it as Rocky River rolled on to a 29-15 win over Avon.

“As a staff, we wanted to jump on them early,” Pirates head coach Ron Lewis said. “We wanted to get an early lead and make them do stuff they don’t want to do.”

Breidigam threw for 167 yards and four touchdowns. When the Pirates, now 3-1 overall, 1-1 in West Shore Conference play, weren’t throwing, junior Jon Gipson and sophomore Zach Youseff were churning out yards on the ground. The two backs combined for 111 yards behind a solid effort by the offensive line.

“I have a lot of confidence in our offensive line, our backs and receivers,” Breidigam said. “I know that if I get into trouble I can count on them.”

Avon’s lead rusher Bobby LaRosa gained 126 yards and scored a late touchdown for the Eagles. Though good numbers, the Pirates defense prevented him from hurting them with a big play outside of a 60-yard run. Of his 19 carries, only four were over 5 yards. Forced to go to the air, Avon quarterback Ryan O’Rourke to nine completions for 66 yards.

The Pirates got on the board first when Breidigam connected with Belanger on fourth-and-11 for an 18-yard touchdown with 3:35 left in the first quarter. Steve Gall’s extra point made it 7-0 Rocky River. Avon fumbled away the ensuing kickoff to the Pirates. David Dunne scooped up the ball at the Eagles 20. Facing third-and-6 at the Eagles 16, Breidigam faked two handoffs and fired a strike to a wide-open Ferguson for the score. Gall’s missed extra point left the score at 13-0 Pirates.

“Sean’s touchdown was on a seam route,” Lewis said. “Andy did a great job. He looked the safety down and drilled it in there. On the second touchdown, we were just looking to get a first down. Pauly made a great play.”

A 15-yard pass from O’Rourke to Kyle Gregory was followed by a 60-yard run by La Rosa to the Pirate 13. A 4-yard O’Rourke run and an 8-yard run by LaRosa set up first and goal at the 1. Long put it in the end zone on the very next play. Tyler Irwin’s extra point cut the Rocky River lead to 13-7.

The Pirates snuck in a final punch before halftime. Facing fourth-and-11 at the Pirate 27, Rocky River punted the ball. Avon botched the fair catch and Pirate Casey Clark recovered at the Eagles 39. River moved the ball to the Avon 15, but couldn’t get any closer than that. With 15 seconds left on the clock, Gall extended the Pirates’ lead to 16-7 with a 32-yard field goal.

Breidigam hooked up with Steve Custenborder for an 8-yard touchdown pass for Rocky River’s first points of the second half. Another failed extra point attempt left the lead 22-7 in favor of the Pirates.

The Eagles had some chances, but couldn’t convert them into points until early in the fourth quarter. Kyle Gregory set up the scoring drive with a 20-yard punt return to the Pirates 40. LaRosa moved the chains with three carries for 17 yards. Gregory and O’Rouke connected for a 20-yard pass that brought the ball to the River 3. LaRosa scored on the next play. O’Rourke ran in the two-point conversion to pull Avon to within a touchdown, 22-15, with 9:37 left in the game.

Rocky River killed off any Avon hopes of a comeback on their very next drive. Gipson’s 11-yard run from the Pirate 41 kicked off a 10-play, 59-yard drive that ate over five minutes off the clock. Youseff toted the ball six times for 23 yards. Breidigam’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Ferguson with 4:16 left ended it.

Avon turned the ball back over to the Pirates four downs later. The offense ran out the clock seven plays after that.

Done in by some key mistakes, Avon head coach Lee Powell said his team needs to battle back after making errors.

“We’re all human,” Powell said. “Fumbles are going to happens. We have to respond after they happen. What also hurt was that whenever (Rocky River) needed one, they got the first down.”

The Pirates will get back to business this Friday night against the Midview Middies. Midview (2-2 overall) are 1-0 in the conference after a 35-7 win over Vermilion. Midview rushers gained 375 yards on the ground.

Avon falls to 0-4 on the season.