Seniors take a bow as Avon races past Plainville for seventh win

Avon senior Ian McDonald ran for four TDs and threw for a fifth in the Falcons’ 35-14 win over Plainville Saturday. Plainville’s Tariq Waite tries to slow down McDonald.

AVON, Nov. 14 – It was the last time this group of seniors on the Avon High football team would play on the green grass at the high school. They wanted to go out with a bang.

For the third time this season, senior Ian McDonald ran for four touchdowns in a game. He also threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Burgos and ran for a game-high 141 yards on 19 carries.

Senior running back and linebacker Teddy Allmendinger ran for a season-high 74 yards on four carries and was stellar on defense with several tackles and at least four tackles for a loss. Seniors Geoff Kirk and Sean Del Gallo each recovered Plainville fumbles and Kirk had at least three tackles for a loss.

Avon (7-2) won its fourth straight game with a strong 35-14 CCC Division III triumph over Plainville Saturday under windy conditions. The win also keeps alive Avon’s hopes to qualify for the CIAC’s Class L tournament. Avon will have to beat Simsbury on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and get some help to qualify.

“This was about the seniors today,” Avon coach Jim Caouette said. “They’ve battled through so much adversity. They’ve lost so many of their senior teammates to season-ending injuries. They’re a great group of kids. I don’t know if I have coached a senior group with this much talent before.”

Sean Del Gallo (4) works hard to clear the path for teammate Teddy Allmendinger (34). (Photo courtesy Mark Zacchio)

The Falcons just do what they have to. Senior Dean Zacchio moved from center to guard two weeks ago to help solidify the offensive line. Allmendinger ran for 1,300 yards a year ago but this year, Caouette and his staff asked him to block more and play more defensively.

A year ago, Del Gallo began the year as a receiver. After injuries to two quarterbacks, Del Gallo was thrust into the starting quarterback job where he played for most of the season. But when he came back this year, he was back at receiver and defensive back.

“We had a long talk in the locker room at halftime about this being the last time we could ever play on this field,” Allmendinger said. “I think that got us motivated to take care of business.”

Avon had a 14-point lead in the second quarter before Plainville running back Corey McKisson broke through the center and raced downfield on a 66-yard touchdown run with 2:05 left in the second quarter to cut the lead to seven, 21-14.

But in the second half, McDonald got around the end twice on touchdown runs of 46 yards and 23 yards to help boost the Falcons.

”We played hard defense. We played physical defense,” Allmendinger said. “This was one of those team efforts – the blocking, the tacking, the defensive line, the offensive line. Everyone played to their ability and it showed on the scoreboard.”

Avon’s Geoff Kirk (12) and Sean Del Gallo (4) make sure Plainville’s Abass Bell (2) doesn’t get too far in Saturday’s game in Avon. (Photo courtesy Mark Zacchio)

Plainville (3-6) marched down the field on its opening drive of the game, going 55 yards on seven plays with McKisson scoring from the four-yard line for a 7-0 lead. Avon gained just two yards on its first possession and punted.

But on Plainville’s next drive, Kirk forced a fumble that Del Gallo recovered on the Plainville 43-yard line. Del Gallo ran for 11 yards on first down and a play later, Allmendinger had a 29-yard run to the one-yard line. Two plays later, McDonald scored to tie the game at 7-7 with Alden Getz’s successful extra point.

On its next drive, Allmendinger ran for 14 yards on a third down and one play on the Plainville 44-yard line. Two plays later, McDonald hit Dylan Burgos between two defenders for a 25-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead.

Avon held and Plainville’s punt went just 17 yards into a stiff wind. Two plays later, McDonald ran around the end on an 18-yard run for a 21-7 lead.

In the third quarter, Plainville’s first drive stalled the Blue Devils had to punt – into the wind. It went just 13 yards to the Plainville 46-yard line. On Avon’s first play of the drive, McDonald got outside to his right and scampered down the field for a 46-yard touchdown and a 28-14 lead.

Avon linebacker Teddy Allemendinger (34) has Plainville running back Corey McKisson (4) off his feet while tackling him Saturday.

Plainville tried to get back into the game and drove to the Avon 24-yard line but the drive stalled when Allmendinger nailed McKisson for a four-yard loss and ended three plays later when Kirk recovered a Blue Devil fumble.

McDonald completed a 31-yard pass to Del Gallo on the next drive to put Avon into Plainville territory. McDonald ended the drive with a 23-yard touchdown run and a 35-14 lead.

NOTES: It’s the ninth consecutive year that Avon has won at least seven games – the longest such streak in team history. … It was the first game between the two old rivals since 2005 when the two teams were in the Nutmeg Football Conference and it was Avon’s first win over Plainville since 2003. The Blue Devils lead the series, 18-9. …

Avon 35, Plainville 14
At Avon
Plainville (3-6)     7    7  0  0  — 14
Avon (7-2)           7  14  7  7  — 35
First quarter
P: Corey McKisson 8 run (Ryan Gorham kick), 9:20
A: Ian McDonald 1 run (Alden Getz kick), 3:44
Second quarter
A: Dylan Burgos 25 pass from McDonald (Getz kick), 8:37
A: McDonald 18 run (Getz kick), 5:55
P: McKisson 66 run (Gorham kick), 2:05
Third quarter
A: McDonald 46 run (Getz kick), 6:13
Fourth quarter
A: McDonald 23 run (Getz kick), 10:26
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Avon – Ian McDonald 19-141, Leon Asberry 1-0, Ryan Nolan 3-2, Teddy Allmendinger 4-74, Sean Del Gallo 1-11; Plainville – Corey McKisson 26-138, Jon Lindgren 23-115, Abass Bell 2-3
PASSING: Avon – McDonald 2-7-0, 56; Plainville – Lindgren 1-4-0, minus 2
RECEIVING: Avon – Dylan Burgos 1-25, Sean Del Gallo 1-31; Plainville – Jon Olson 1-minus 2
RETURNS: Avon – Del Gallo 2-23 (kickoffs), Ryan Ollstead 1-0 (kickoff); Plainville – Mikal Salmon 1-30 (kickoff), Bell 2-33 (kickoff); FUMBLE RECOVERY: Geoff Kirk (A), Sean Del Gallo (A)