LE ROY - Heading into last Friday night's showdown with Le Roy, Avon hadn't beaten the Knights in 20 years. That streak is now officially over and they can thank Richie Welch for putting an end to it.

The Avon senior running back pounded out 253 yards on 21 carries with 2 TDs, while also returning a kickoff 88 yards for another score as visiting Avon (2-0) earned the thrilling 38-28 victory over Le Roy (1-1) Friday night at LeRoy's Hartwood Park.

"I am so proud of this entire group," said coach Englert, whose team rallied from deficits five different times. "I am also very proud of my coaching staff. They did a great job of preparing our kids for this game. This is as special a win as I've ever been involved in."

Avon got going first thanks to a fumble scooped up by Austin Mazurowski at the Le Roy 46-yard line. After a James Stanton 11-yard run, and a Richie Welch 18-yard rumble, the Braves would finish off the 5-play, 56-yard scoring drive when Stanton's timing pass to the right corner of the end zone was hauled in with one hand by junior wideout Brandon Fuentes for the 21-yard TD catch to put the Braves up 7-0 with 3:30 left in the first.

The Knights would rally two possessions later after a poor Avon punt went out at their own 30. Seven plays later Dylan Johnson would pound in from the one to make it a 7-7 game with 9:49 left in the second quarter.

Back came Avon as Fuentes took the ensuing kickoff to midfield where the Braves would string together a 9-play, 50-yard scoring drive that culminated with a Zach Pumputis 12-yard TD reception from Stanton to make it a 13-7 game with 6:26 left in the first half. The PAT was blocked.

Le Roy would respond. After being forced into a fourth-and-five, the Knights would pull out the fake punt as sophomore RB Zach Hogle ran for six yards to keep the chains moving. A 35-yard highlight-reel run from junior RB Tommy McQuillen would give the Knights a first-and-goal from the five where two plays later senior QB Tyler Fenstermaker scored from two yards out. Austin Steinbrenner added the PAT kick that put Le Roy up 14-13 at the half.

Welch returned the opening kickoff 88 yards, where he ran right, then left, and then cut towards the corner of the end zone for the score, putting the Braves up 19-14 with 11:42 left in the third quarter.

Le Roy would respond yet again two possessions later as the Knights pounded out a 10-play, 47-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 3-yard TD run by McQuillen that gave the Knights the lead back at 21-19 with 5:10 left in the third.

Much like a heavyweight title fight, Avon swung back. The Braves would take just four plays to answer as Welch rumbled off tackle for a 48-yard TD run that gave the Braves the 25-21 lead with 3:14 remaining in the in the third stanza.

Le Roy answered, yet again. Starting from their own 38, the Knights, sparked by a 40-yard run from McQuillen, would regain the lead when Fenstermaker scored from six yards out to cap off a 7-play, 62-yard drive that pushed Le Roy ahead 28-25 with 16 ticks left in the third.

Welch and the Braves would counter. On the very first play in the fourth quarter, and just the second play of the ensuing drive, Welch would pound his way up the middle for a 60-yard TD run that gave the Braves a 31-28 lead with 11:50 left in the game.

This time Le Roy would be denied. After moving the ball deep into Avon territory, the Knights would cough up the ball as Stanton fell on it at the Braves' 27 sending the green and white into a early celebration with just under six minutes to play.

The Braves would put the fork into Le Roy and their 11-game winning streak nine plays later as Stanton called his own number and scored from two yards out, making it a 38-28 game with just under three to play.

Ironically, after Mazurowski scooped up his second fumble on Le Roy's next possession, Welch would rumble 59 yards down inside the Le Roy 10 to seal the deal. Welch ran the entire 59 yards without his shoe which was pulled off him in the Braves' backfield.

"That's Richie right there," said coach Englert. "They don't come any tougher than that kid."

Of Welch's 263 yards rushing, 230 of those came after the intermission.

"I was just running hard, and the entire offensive line did a great job opening up holes," said Welch.

Stanton finished 8-of-14 passing for 134 yards and two TDs. Fuentes caught six passes for 117 yards and one TD. Welch also led the Avon defense with 13 tackles (11 solo). Younger brother Dan, a freshman, added 7 tackles, as did Fuentes. Stanton, Austin Mazurowski, and Justin O'Donoghue.

McQuillen led Le Roy with 141 yards rushing on 18 carries while Zach Hogle went for 71 yards on 11 carries. Rick Henry gained 39 yards on 9 carries and Fenstermaker was 8-of-15 passing for 81 yards.

The victory for Avon was oh-so-sweet says Welch.

"My little brother (Dan) has never beaten Le Roy in anything so this feels great," said Richie.

Stanton echoed those thoughts.

"My older brother (Greg) lost to them a lot in football, one of the games was like 9-7, and I've lost to them all the time so this win is for everybody that ever lost to them all those years - its for our entire community," said James. "I think we made a little history of our own tonight. This victory is euphoric."

"My older brother Marcus lost to Le Roy like 70-0 once so this win feels great," said Austin Mazurowski. "This wins means so much to our town and to our community."

"As great of a win that this is, we need to get back to work and get ready for Caledonia-Mumford Friday night," added Richie Welch.

Friday, September 10, 2010 (07:30 PM)
League game at Hartwood Park, LeRoy NY
Livingston County Division II

Avon Braves 38, LeRoy Oatkan Knights 28