Avon QB Connor Lavore (9) finds running room tight in Friday niight’s season opening loss to Bloomfield in Avon.
AVON, Sept. 9, 2022 – The Bloomfield High football team overwhelmed Avon on opening day with a 40-0 decision Friday night in CCC Tier 3 action at Avon High.
The Warhawks, who went to the CIAC Class S championship game a year ago, were too quick and strong for the young Falcon team that is still learning how to operate the single wing offense that helped propel Avon into the Class M playoffs a year ago.
But a majority of last year’s Falcon team graduated. There are some starters returning on both sides of the ball for Avon but it wasn’t enough against the Warhawks.
“The main takeaway from tonight is that is the best team we’re going to face all year,” Avon’s first-year head coach Brendan Smith said. “That is a state championship caliber team over there. Boy, did they have some big boys up front.”
The Warhawks gave up just 88 yard of offense – all on the ground. The Falcons didn’t have a single yard passing the ball.
“I liked their hustle. I liked their grit. I like defense how they played,” Bloomfield High coach Ty Law said. “They worked hard all summer and it showed.”
Bloomfield, which has 11 straight wins over the Falcons dating back to 1982, took a quick 13-0 lead. Quarterback Darrien Foster threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Ja’den Jesurum with less than two minutes gone in the game for a 7-0 lead before Edwin Rodriguez scored on a four-yard TD run for a 13-point lead.
Davion Kerr made it 20-0 on a 55-yard punt return. Foster threw a 21-yard TD reception to Jose Feliciano before Davion Kerr had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 33-0 lead at the halftime break.
Davien Kerr got behind the defense early in the third quarter and scored on an 81-yard touchdown reception from Foster, The extra point made it 40-0 in favor of the Warhawks. Foster completed 5-of-7 passes for 130 yards and three TDs.
Avon had some moments – just not enough to consistently challenge Bloomfield.
“First of all, we competed,” Smith said. “They didn’t show any quit the entire game.”
Avon’s Tanner Cote recovered a fumble while Mason Eckerlin had three kickoff returns for 32 yards.
Avon returns to action next Friday night as they travel to Farmington (0-1) to take on the River Hawks, who has lost 12 games in a row dating back to the final game of the 2019 season.
B loomfield 40, Avon 0
At Avon
Bloomfield (1-0) 20 13 7 0 — 40
Avon (0-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
B: J’aden Jesurum 16 pass from Darrien Foster (Matthew Miller kick), 8:29
B: Edwin Rodriguez 4 run (kick wide), 4:46
B: Davion Kerr 55 punt return (Miller kick), 1:42
Second quarter
B: Jose Feliciano 21 pass from Foster (Miller kick), 4:47
B: Davion Kerr 38 interception return (kick wide), 4:41
Third quarter
B: Davien Kerr 81 pass from Foster (Miller kick), 10:55
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Bloomfield – Davien Kerr 1-10, D.J. Lewin 4-48, Edwin Rodriguez 7-39, Naziere Hightower 2-6, Ja’den Jesurum 1-minus 2, Jose Feliciano; Avon – Connor Lavore 17-47, Cole Milardo 4-8, Mason Eckerlin 5-15, Nik Meltser 5-15, Tanner Cote 5-3
PASSING: Bloomfield – Darrien Foster 5-7-0, 130
RECEIVING: Bloomfield – Jose Feliciano 2-25, Ja’den Jesurum 1-16, Davion Kerr 1-8, Davien Kerr 1-81
FUMBLE RECOVERY: Tanner Cote (A), Jayden Johnson (B) 1-10: INTERCEPTION: Davion Kerr (B) 1-38
RETURNS: Kickoff – Nik Meltser (A) 1-21, Mason Eckerlin (A) 3-32, Tanner Cote (A) 1-10, Jose Feliciano (B) 1-18; Punts – Davion Kerr (B) 3-65, Davien Kerr (B) 2-46
