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2000s: A decade of memorable games for Avon High football

Before the debut of the Collinsville Press in 2009, Avon Football Online covered Avon High School football. This story recapped the first decade of the 21st century of Falcon football. It was originally published at Avon Football Online. 

The 2000s was a memorable decade for the Avon High football team with three Pequot Uncas Division titles and two CIAC playoff berths. Relive some memories with our top 10 list of games. We’ll count them down in the final week of this decade. Leave your comments on our Facebook page.
The decade’s most memorable games

No. 1
2009: Avon 37, Cromwell 31
The greatest game of the decade may be one of the greatest in team history. Facing the defending Class S champions, Avon scored two touchdownss in the final 1:15, including the game-winning score with no time left on the clock – a 57-yard run from Ross McDonald (26-208, 3 TDs). Avon never led until the final gun.
Game story

Students from the high school join in the Falcons’ post-game huddle on the field following Avon’s thrilling 37-31 win over Cromwell. “The fans were a wonderful 12th man for us,” Avon coach Brett Quinion said.


No. 2
2007: Avon 21, Tolland 14
Kyle Livingstone scores on a 28-yard TD pass from David Wyrick with nine seconds left as Avon rallies from a 14-point deficit to beat a Tolland team that shared the Pequot Conference Uncas Division title and played in the CIAC’s Class SS playoffs in the previous season (2006).
Game story


No. 3
2007: Avon 13, Ellington 6
Avon clinches its first championship of any kind in 14 years (1993) with a hard-fought win over Ellington to claim the Pequot Conference Uncas Division title. Four times, Ellington drove inside the Avon 20-yard line and didn’t score. Falcons finish 9-1 but miss the CIAC playoffs.
Game story


No. 4
2008: Brookfield 36, Avon 19
In its first-ever CIAC playoff appearance, the Falcons forced six Brookfield turnovers and had a five-point lead at halftime. Avon trailed by eight and had the ball near midfield with three minutes left. But Brookfield scored nine points in the final two minutes to secure the win. Four days later, Brookfield won the Class M title.
Game story


No. 5
2003: Avon 25, Farmington 14
In the final game of Brett Quinion’s first season as head coach at Avon, the Falcons used about 16 players and stunned favored Farmington, 25-14. The Indians came into the game with a 7-3 record while Avon was just 3-6. Avon’s Tom Canty rushed for a game-high 142 yards and a touchdown while Chris Prudhomme intercepted two passes. The Falcons forced four FHS turnovers. Avon QB Tony Casorio had his best effort of the season, throwing for 172 yards, 3 TD passes and no interceptions.
Game story


No. 6
2005: Avon 21, Farmington 20
In Avon’s final game in the Nutmeg Conference, the Falcons prevailed in a thriller. Farmington QB Steve Harrington completed 22-of-41 passes for 317 yards – all career-highs and probably school records. Farmington scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead. Ben Ewbank scored with 11:55 left and scored on a two-point conversion to put Avon ahead, 21-20. Farmington had two more drives deep into Avon territory but a receiver dropped a pass in the end zone and a field goal was too short. It was the final game between the long-time rivals who haven’t played since because they are in different leagues.
Game story


No. 7
2009: Berlin 35, Avon 28
After an undefeated regular season, the Falcons (10-0) hosted Berlin in a Class M semifinal at Muzzy Field in Bristol. But led by junior back Max DeLorenzo (36-265 rushing, 3 TDs), the Redcoats built a 28-0 lead and held on for the victory. Avon scored a pair of TDs in the fourth quarter and had the ball on the Berlin 44 with 1:30 remaining with a chance to tie the game.
Game story

Avon’s Austin Kick (87) and Tyler D’Onofrio finish off a tackle of Berlin’s Mason Powers (18) in the Class M semifinals at Muzzy Field. (Photo courtesy Paul Tortland)


No. 8
2008: Avon 21, Tolland 13
A year after Avon had won its first title in 14 years, the two teams met determined to prove who was the top team in the Uncas Division. With a dominant ground game led by Ross McDonald (48 yards and 3 TDs), the Falcons prevailed. McDonald scored a 6-yard TD with 3:37 remaining to extend Avon’s lead from one to eight points. Avon eventually won the Uncas Division title for the second straight year. At the conclusion of the season, Tolland announced they were leaving the Pequot Conference to join the Central Connecticut Conference.
Game story


9. 2008 – Avon 48, Ellington 20. Falcons take charge in Uncas race.


10. 2006 — Avon 21, Stafford/East Windsor 14, OT. Only OT game in program history.


Other notable games from the first decade of the 21st century.

2009: Avon 47, Canton 20: Falcons finish 10-0 for the first time and ever and compete undefeated regular season for first time since 1967.

2002: Avon 18, Middletown 13: Avon forces five turnovers to beat Middletown for its only victory of the season. The Dragons go 6-4 and lose to the Falcons (1-9) for the first time since 1983.

2006: Avon 19, Ellington 12: Avon blocks two kicks and scores 2 TDs in fourth quarter to earn the victory.

2001: Avon 12, Farmington 7: Joe Rheaume scores 2 TDs in the final 8:28 as Avon beats Farmington for the first time since 1994. FHS had won five of its previous six games entering the game.


Decade’s best (2000-09)

The decade’s best — rushing, passing, receiving for Avon High football

RUSHING (single season)
Ross McDonald, 1,974  ’09
Mike D’Onofrio   1,201  ’08
John Rowley       1,133  ’06
John Rowley       1,060  ’05
Mike D’Onofrio   1,042  ’07
Tom Canty          1,011  ’03

RUSHING TDs (season)
Ross McDonald    35   2009
Mike D’Onofrio     22   2007
Mike D’Onofrio     20   2008
Ross McDonald    13   2008
John Rowley        12   2006

RECEPTIONS (season)
Vince Savarese   34   2009
Andy Roell          32   2007
Tyler D’Onofrio  29   2009
Max Martinez      26   2003
Matt Friedhoff     23   2003
Brad Seaman      21   2004

RECEIVING YDS (season)
Vince Savarese    670   2009
Andy Roell           603   2007
Andy Roell           462   2006
Tyler D’Onofrio   389   2009
Brad Seaman       388   2004
Max Martinez     334   2003

POINTS (season)
Ross McDonald   214   2009
Mike D’Onofrio    144   2008
Mike D’Onofrio    142   2007
Ross McDonald     78   2008
John Rowley         80   2006
David Wyrick         71   2008

RUSHING (game)
Ross McDonald  275  Can ’09
Ross McDonald  269  Enf ’09
Mike D’Onofrio  269  Staf ’09
Ross McDonald  233  Cov ’09
Mike D’Onofrio  238  Staff ’07

RECEIVING (game)
Andy Roell      7  WLocks ’07
Matt Friedhoff  7 Enfield ’03
Matt Friedhoff  7 St Paul ’02
Andy Roell      6 Tolland ’07

RECEIVING YDS (game)
Vince Savarese132  WT ’09
T. D’Onofrio    128 Crom ’09
Andy Roell     120 Cov ’07
V. Saverese    115 Can ’09
Andy Roell     109  Vinal ’07

PASSING YDS (game)
David Wyrick    196    HK ’07
Tony Casario   176 Farm ’03
David Wyrick    174 Cov ’08
P. Anderson     171 EC ’04
David Wyrick    162 Cov ’07

PASSING comp (game)
Tony Casario     15   Enf ’03
Tony Casario     15   SP ’02
David Wyrick      13   WL ’06
David Wyrick      12   HK ’07

TOUCHDOWNS (game)
Mike D’Onofrio    5   Hous ’07
Mike D’Onofrio    5   Staff ’07
MIke D’Onofrio    5   Cant ’07
R. McDonald         5   Enf ’09


League champions

Champions of the leagues Avon played in 2000s
2009: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell, Hyde, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug (7-1 Sassacus)
2008: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell, North Branford, Hyde (7-1 Sassacus)
2007: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell (7-0 Sassacus),
2006: Cromwell (9-1)
Nutmeg Football League
2005: N.W. Catholic (9-0)
2004: Berlin & East Catholic/CT (8-1)
2003: East Catholic/CT (9-0)
2002: Berlin (10-0)
2001: Berlin (9-0)
2000: Berlin (9-0)

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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