New group of players to get opportunity to carry on the Falcons legacy

Avon’s Dan Quick makes a stop in a recent scrimmage against Farmington.

AVON – The Avon High football team has enjoyed the longest stretch of success in the program’s 57-year history – nine straight winning seasons, three CIAC tournament berths and six divisional championships.

The Falcons hope to continue that winning tradition this fall but they will have to do it with a new core of players. Gone are 17 seniors that helped make Avon’s long-talked about debut in the Central Connecticut Conference a successful one.

The Falcons went 8-2 a year ago, won the CCC Division III East title, beat Berlin for the first time since 1983 and thumped Simsbury for the first time since 1967 to win the inaugural Valley Gridiron Classic, 55-24. Avon narrowly missed the eight-team Class L playoffs, finishing ninth. Eight seniors earned All-Conference honors and four will be playing collegiate football this fall.

Veteran coach Sal Cintorino takes over for Jim Caouette, who left after three seasons. Cintorino was the head coach at Central Connecticut State for nine years and was the head coach at Newington and Bristol Central for five years each.

“We’re doing it one day at a time,” Cintorino said. “The kids are certainly working hard. We’re trying to take one step each day. We’re making progress and I’m happy to see the progress we’re making.”

Avon’s Zac Tilsch looks for running room in a recent scrimmage.

A year ago, quarterback Ian McDonald ran for over 1,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. He passed for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Teddy Allmendinger was an All-State linebacker for the Falcons. Sean Del Gallo caught 17 passes for 385 yards while Geoff Kirk pulled in 20 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns. They were dynamic, game-changing players.

“That was a great group of seniors and they played very well,” Cintorino said. “Now, we have a new group of young men. The more reps we get the better we will get.”

Most of the starters this fall got little playing time a year ago. Senior lineman Max Kritikos, an All-Conference selection, broke a bone in his leg during preseason workouts. He’ll miss most of the season.

“We need to take it one play at a time and stay focused,” Cintorino said. “Know your job and do your job.”

QB Dylan Burgos hands the ball off to teammate Leon Asberry in a recent scrimmage against Farmington.

The Falcons will led by junior quarterback Dylan Burgos with seniors Jack Jones and Leon Asberry in the backfield. Asberry ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. Seniors Tommy Donovan and Peter Gerosa have the early jump on time at receiver.

Senior linebacker Nick Schuster, junior linebacker Ryan Ollestad and senior lineman George Pavalkis have looked good in training camp along with defensive end Tucker Gill.

Many will play on both sides of the ball. There are just 55 kids in the program including about 17 freshmen – not enough to form a freshman football team. Cintorino would like more players in the program and that is a long-term goal to increase the number of participants.

“The kids have to get acclimated and transition from being a backup role to a starting role,” Cintorino said. “It’s really about being able to believe and rely on each other.”

Avon starts out the season with two challenging games against Rocky Hill on Saturday and on the road at East Catholic on Sept. 17. Avon travels to Bloomfield for a night game on Saturday, Oct. 8, to face the defending Class S champion Warhawks.

Avon has back-to-back home games on Oct. 22 and Oct. 28 against Berlin and Northwest Catholic, respectively. It will be interesting to see how Berlin bounces back. The Redcoats had to forfeit eight wins for illegal recruiting a year ago and former head coach John Capodice was released at the end of the season.

Northwest Catholic is led by former Avon High mentor Brett Quinion but the Indians are scrambling. They only have 25 players in their program. The Falcons close the season with two challenging games. Plainville is stronger this year as is Simsbury.

NOTES: Avon has just four home games this fall, including the second annual Valley Gridiron Classic against Simsbury on Tuesday, Nov. 22, under portable lights at Avon. … The Falcons will play five games under the lights. …. Andrew Blackmore (Assumption), Dean Zacchio (Western Connecticut State), Teddy Allmendinger (UConn) and Ian McDonald (Trinity) are on the four players from last year’s team playing collegiate football this fall. … Avon is paired with Berlin, RHAM, Tolland and Rockville in the CCC Division III East Division. RHAM dropped from Division II while Fermi merged with Enfield High. Enfield took Fermi’s place in the CCC and was moved to Division I Eastern Division. Enfield is now the fourth largest school in the league. … Avon is the second largest school among the Division III schools, trailing RHAM.

AVON
Coach: Sal Cintorino, 1st year (0-0, 49-52-1 career)
Last year: 8-2, 5-0 CCC Div. 3 East champions
Home field: Avon High School
Last championship: 2015 CCC Division III East
Last playoff berth: 2013, Class L quarterfinals
Last winning season: 2015, 8-2

Avon 2016 schedule
Saturday, Sept. 10: ROCKY HILL, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 17: at East Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23: at Tolland*, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 1: at RHAM*, 1 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8: at Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
Bye week
Saturday, Oct. 22: BERLIN*, 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 28: NW CATHOLIC, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 4: at Rockville*, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 11: at Plainville, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 22: SIMSBURY, 6:30 p.m. (Valley Gridiron Classic)
*CCC Division III East contest