Avon rally falls short in loss to Berlin in state playoff debut

BRISTOL, Dec. 1, 2009 –  In the span of a few minutes, it all slipped away.

The Berlin High football team had taken an early 14-point lead over Avon in Tuesday’s Class M semifinal with touchdowns on its first two drives, including a long 42-yard scamper down the far sideline from junior back Max DeLorenzo.

But after a rough first quarter, the Falcons were finally moving and the excitement was building on the Avon sideline. Junior Ross McDonald took an option pitch for 29 yards. However, two plays later, McDonald fumbled the ball and Berlin’s Zach Parsons picked it up on a bounce and ran 50 yards for the score and a 21-point lead.

On Avon’s next offensive play, quarterback Andrew Livingstone gained eight yards and had the ball stripped from him by Berlin’s Zach Zulkiewicz and recovered by Geoff Dansro. Two turnovers in 24 seconds.

Ten plays later, Berlin took a 28-0 lead when QB Dan Hackett found DeLorenzo wide open in the end zone on fourth down and goal from the eight yard line with 6:02 remaining.

That was the difference in a 35-28 loss to Berlin at Muzzy Field. The Falcons scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter and had the ball on the Berlin 44 yard line with 1:30 remaining with a chance to tie the game.

Fans that remembered Avon’s win over Cromwell in October with two touchdowns in the final 1:15 including a game-winning run from McDonald as time expired were hoping for another thrilling come-from-behind victory.

But Berlin’s Sean Roche’s diving interception with 1:17 sealed the victory for the Redcoats (9-2), who advance to Saturday’s Class M championship game against Bethel.

While the turnovers hurt, the performance of Berlin junior back Max DeLorenzo was a constant ache for the Falcons. He rushed for a game-high 265 yards on 36 carries and scored three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air. When there was a big play to be made, he was there.

On Berlin’s first drive of the game, he converted twice on fourth down – once running for five yards and one catching a 17-yard pass. When Avon gained a little momentum with their first touchdown of the game with 1:52 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to 28-7, he responded. DeLorenzo used his speed to get outside for a 67-yard touchdown run on Berlin’s next play and push the lead back to 28 points.

“It was ugly,” Avon coach Brett Quinion said about the first half. “I was just worried about them folding the tents, clock-watching and wanting to get back on the bus. But we fought back one play at a time, one score at a time. That’s been their MO.”

Unable to muster much consistent success running the ball, Avon began throwing the ball in the second half.

On a key third and 10 late in the third quarter, he completed a 17-yard pass to TylerD’Onofrio, who leaped into the air, grabbed the ball away from a Berlin defender and scampered down the sideline. McDonald scored on an eight-yard run seven plays later with 10:35 left in the game to cut the lead to 35-21.

Avon made a big stop on third down to force Berlin to punt and drove 74 yards on 11 plays to pull within seven points, 35-28, on McDonald’s two-yard run with 3:57 left in the game. Livingstone completed 5-of-6 passes on the drive for 50 yards on the drive.

Berlin took over with 3:52 remaining and gained one first down. But the Falcon defense stiffened and on fourth down and two from the Berlin 43, the Redcoats took a chance. DeLorenzo was stopped for a one-yard gain thanks to a big hit from Tyler D’Onofrio.

Avon had the ball back with 1:30 remaining on the Berlin 44. Livingstone’s first pass was incomplete as the officials missed a potential pass interference call. On the next play, Berlin’s Sean Roche dove for the ball and intercepted it with 1:17 remaining to seal the victory for the Redcoats.

“If we made the first down the game is over,” Berlin coach John Capodice said. “Worst-case scenario, if they score we go to overtime. You know, you’ve got to play to win. This is the playoffs and sometimes you’ve got to roll the dice and take a shot.”

Berlin led 28-0 before Avon was able to get on the board. Vince Savarese had a 61-yard kickoff return to the Berlin 32. Savarese caught a 17-yard pass on the drive that was capped off by McDonald’s one-yard run with 1:52 left.

After DeLorenzo extended the lead to 28 with his 67-yard run, Avon cut the lead again on a sharply-executed hook and ladder play. Livingstone completed a short pass to D’Onofrio, who pitched it to McDonald, who zipped down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown with 1:23 left in the second quarter and a 35-14 halftime lead for Berlin.

“Life isn’t measured by the amount of breathes that you take but by the number of moments that take your breath away and they did that today,” Quinion said.

Berlin 35, Avon 28
At Bristol
Berlin (9-2)        14  21  0    0 – 35
Avon (10-1)          0  14  0  14 – 28
First quarter
B: Dan Hackett 1 run (Devin Silverman kick), 6:44
B: Max DeLorenzo 42 run (Silverman kick), 4:38
Second quarter
B: Zach Parsons 50 fumble return (Silverman kick), 10:40
B: DeLorenzo 8 pass from Hackett (Silverman kick), 6:02
A: Ross McDonald 1 run (Austin Kick kick), 1:52
B: DeLorenzo 67 run (Silverman kick), 1:43
A: McDonald 66 run (Kick kick), 1:09
Fourth quarter
A: McDonald 3 run (Kick kick), 10:35
A: McDonald 2 run (Kick kick), 3:57
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Avon – Ross McDonald 24-149, Colin Pavano 4-8, Andrew Livingstone 4-13, Vince Savarese 1-6, Berlin – Max DeLorenzo 36-265, Dan Hackett 6-minus 12, Matt Padykula 2-7, David Campagna 5-10
PASSING: Avon – Andrew Livingstone 11-19-2, 113, Ross McDonald 0-2; Berlin – Dan Hackett 3-4-0, 27
RECEIVING: Avon – Vince Savarese 5-41, Tyler D’Onofrio 2-35, Ross McDonald 2-24, Mick Hailu 1-4, David Doebler 1-9; Berlin — Brian Malloy 1-2, Max DeLorenzo 2-25

This story first appeared at Avon Football Online