Avon’s Cole Milardo (10, left) and Andrew Sielski (7, right) close in on RHAM’s Max Nylen in Monday night’s CCC Tier III contest. More game photos
AVON, Nov. 14, 2022 – The CIAC’s football players don’t begin for another two weeks on Nov. 29. But it was front and center in Monday night’s CCC Tier III contest with Avon and RHAM.
A win would keep either team in the hunt for one of eight playoff berths in Class M with a loss probably dropping the team out of the running.
The Falcons, who went to the playoffs a year ago, made too many mistakes and RHAM played with hustle and determination in a 28-14 victory in chilly conditions on the turf field. RHAM, which improved to 6-3, moved up to No. 6 in the CIAC rankings and looks headed to the playoffs for the first time ever if they can beat Bacon Academy on Thanksgiving morning.
Avon (4-5, 2-5 CCC Tier III) turned the ball over three times on fumbles, which made keeping up with the Raptors a challenge.
“That’s kind of been our MO this year,” Avon head coach Brendan Smith said. “When we’ve gotten hurt, it is due to mistakes. Give credit to them. They’re a good team. They did a decent job of stopping us offensive. We had a few sustained drives that we lost (the ball) and that was a killer.”
The most disheartening turnover came with RHAM leading by 14 points in the fourth quarter. The Raptors scored on a 48-yard halfback option pass from Michael Marques to all-purpose star Max Nylan with 6:35 remaining.
Yet, Avon was still fighting.
Falcon QB Connor Lavore broke through the line and took off for the end zone that was 59-yards away. Lavore nearly made it but he was chased down by RHAM’s Brady Hullard, who popped the ball out of Lavore’s hands from behind resulting in Luke Auteri recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
“That was a sight to see,” Marques said. “Everyone is giving everything they got. For your quarterback to run 60 yards down the field to make those kind of plays, that is something special.”
Avon’s Connor Lavore ((, right) tries to find an opening in Monday night’s CCC Tier III game. RHAM won, 28-21.
Hullard, who completed 6-of-10 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, plays cornerback on defense for RHAM (6-3, 4-3 CCC Tier III).
“We preach hard-nosed football,” RHAM head coach Dakota Fleming said. “They did a fantastic job. They went out and played hard. They didn’t give up for a second and they played as hard as they possibly could.”
Avon fumbled the ball away on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter. Lavore gained seven yards but lost the ball when he was tackled on the Avon 23-yard line. The Falcon defense forced a RHAM punt, thanks in part to a 13-yard sack of Hullard by Avon’s Christian Wilson.
But Avon lost the ball again when Nik Meltser fumbled after a 12-yard gain to the Avon 26-yard line.
RHAM had to convert twice on third down to keep the drive alive but Nylan scored on a nine-yard run with 3:26 left in the first half. With an extra point from Ben Zigmund, it was 7-0.
Meltser helped Avon get back in the game with an 81-yard kickoff return, up the far sideline. It was his second kickoff return for a TD of the season. He had 85-yard return against Northwest Catholic. The run failed and RHAM led 7-6.
RHAM took a 14-6 lead when Mulland completed a 63-yard TD pass to Nylan with 2:06 left in the half. It was just his second TD pass of the season.
Avon came out in the third quarter and marched 55 yards on seven plays with Lavore scoring on a 20-yard run. Lavore’s two-point conversion run tied the game at 14-14.
RHAM grinded out a nine-play, 49-yard drive with Marques scoring from the one-yard line to take a 21-14 lead. Avon nearly stopped it. The Raptors had first down and goal on the one-yard line. They lost two yards thanks to a bad snap on first down before Marques gained two yards back to the one.
On third down, the Falcons stopped Nylan for no gain before Marques got in on fourth down thanks to a second effort.
“We had to be physical,” Marques said. “(Avon’s) kids, size-wise, may have been bigger than us but everyone fought. Everyone fought to the end. I am proud of them.” The Raptors blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt by Toby Klafter at the end of the second quarter and also partially blocked a Falcon punt in the second quarter.
It was the first game between the two programs since 2018.
Avon closes out the regular season by hosting Lewis Mills next Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the turf field.
Lavore led all rushers with 145 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Nylen, RHAM’s leading scorer, had three touchdowns – two on the ground and one in the air.
RHAM 28, Avon 14
At Avon
RHAM (6-3) 0 14 0 14 — 28
Avon (4-5) 0 6 8 0 — 14
Second quarter
R: Max Nylen 8 run (Ben Zigmund kick), 3:26
A: Nik Meltser 81 kickoff return (run fails), 3:10
R: Nylen 63 pass from Brady Hullard (Zigmund kick), 2:06
Third quarter
A: Connor Lavore 20 run (Lavore run), 8:26
Fourth quarter
R: Michael Marques 1 run (Zigmund kick), 10:05
R: Nylen 48 pass from Marques (Zigmund kick), 6:35
Individual statistics
RUSHING: RHAM – Michael Marques 16-39, Brady Hullard 6-2, Max Nylen 16-48; Avon – Connor Lavore 18-145, Cole Milardo 5-13, Toby Klafter 1-7, Mason Eckerlin 2-7, Nik Meltser 3-18, Tanner Cote 1-8, David Minami 1-3
PASSING: RHAM – Brady Hullard 6-10-0, 129, Marques 1-1-0, 48; Avon – Connor Lavore 0-3-0
RECEIVING: RHAM – Michael Marques 3-9, Tommy Puetzer 1-14, Max Nylen 4-154
