Avon’s Ryan Nolan (26) makes the tackle in Avon’s 34-0 win over Enfield on Friday night.
AVON – The Avon High football team took care of business quickly on Friday night. The Falcons scored twice in the first 2:07 of the game to win its fourth straight game with a 34-0 win over Enfield under portable lights at the high school.
Teddy Allmendinger scored two touchdowns and ran for more than 170 yards. Sean Del Gallo threw a pair of touchdown passes to freshman Jordan Williams and Luke Meaney.
“Our defense stepped up,” Avon coach Jim Caouette said. “They have some decent athletes and we played good assignment football. Offensively, we executed very well.”
It was the only night game of the year at home thanks to the Avon Booster Club, which provided lights for boys soccer, girls soccer and field hockey games on campus this week. “You get to play at home under the lights, it’s a little more exciting than playing on Saturday afternoon,” Caouette said.
Allmendinger put Avon on the board in less than a minute, scoring on a 60-yard run with just 47 seconds gone in the game. Alden Getz’s extra point made it 7-0. Avon got the ball back quickly and scored just as quickly. Williams scored on a 27-yard pass from Del Gallo with 2:07 gone in the game. Another extra point from Getz and it was 14-0.
Avon’s Luke Meaney scored on an 80-yard touchdown reception.
Enfield tried various options to get the ball to speedy Tyrik Henry but the Avon defense was up to the task. There were several pass completions for no yards or negative yardage. Henry had three touchdown receptions a week ago against Granby.
Allmendinger made it 21-0 when he broke through the line and raced down the left sideline on a 46-yard run with 10:52 gone in the second quarter. “He is just getting better and better every week,” Caouette said. “His vision as a running back is getting better and he is more patient. He seems to get stronger as the game goes on.”
Avon had a nice nine play, 87-yard scoring drive to take a 28-0 lead. Meaney began the drive with a 29-yard run to the Avon 42-yard line and Allmendinger added another 16 yards on a run. A few plays later on fourth and seven, Del Gallo completed a short pass to Meaney, who carried a defender two or three yards for a first down.
Del Gallo completed a 20-yard pass to Geoff Kirk to the Enfield 21 and then Del Gallo raced 12 yards to the Enfield nine. Andrew Blackmore scored from the nine-yard line with 1:00 left in the second quarter.
The second half was played under running time and the Falcons had just two possessions.
The first ended with an interception. On the second drive, Avon faced a third down and 26 play from its own 20 thanks to two earlier penalties. Del Gallo completed a 10-yard pass over the middle to Meaney, who moved to his right and got into open space, racing down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown reception with 4:05 left in the game.
Avon (4-1, 4-1 Pequot Uncas) has now won four in a row after dropping a 28-14 decision to Ellington/Somers on opening day. Caouette praised his coaches (offensive coordinator Dante Boffi, defensive coordinator Bill Woods and offensive line coach Clayton Hillyer) for their work in getting the Falcons to this point. “They don’t get enough credit for what they have done.”
The road gets tougher now. Five of Avon’s remaining six games are against teams with winning records at this point of the season.
Avon travels to North Branford (3-1) next Friday night to face the Thunderbirds. That will be followed with a game at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton (1-3) and home games against Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (3-1) and Valley Regional/Old Lyme (5-0). Avon travels to Canton (4-0) on Nov. 15 and closes out the year hosting Gilbert/Northwestern (4-1) on Thanksgiving morning.
“I feel good about where we are,” Caouette said. “We’re healthy and we’re beginning to click in all three phases of the game.”
The Avon High students enjoyed Friday night’s win over Enfield.
NOTES: The 80-yard touchdown reception by Meaney ties for the third longest in school history. The record is 92 yards. … It’s Avon’s sixth straight win over Enfield. … The Falcons improve to 16-5 at home under the lights. It is Avon’s ninth straight win at home at night. … Getz has been a solid addition to the team. He had played soccer before but came out for football this fall. He has converted on 18 of 21 extra points and had a 33-yard field goal against Granby.
Avon 34, Enfield 0
At Avon
Avon (4-1) 14 14 0 6 – 34
Enfield (1-4) 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
A: Teddy Allmendinger 60 run (Alden Getz kick), 11:13
A: Jordan Williams 27 pass from Sean Del Gallo (Getz kick), 9:53
Second quarter
A: Allmendinger 46 run (Getz kick), 10:52
A: Andrew Blackmore 9 run (Getz kick), 1:00
Fourth quarter
A: Luke Meaney 80 pass from Del Gallo (kick failed), 4:05
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