Avondale gains its payback on Fitzgerald
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — A year ago Avondale took a gamble in the waning seconds and the plan backfired.
The Yellowjackets went for a two-point conversion and failed, which resulted in a 21-20 defeat to Warren Fitzgerald in the season opener.
This time Avondale did not need to attempt any late-game magic. The Yellowackets pounded Fitzgerald 55-18 in an OAA-MAC crossover at Bloomfield Hills Andover.
After falling behind 6-0, Avondale scored 21 straight to end the first quarter and eventually led 38-18 at the break. The Yellowjackets outscored the Spartans17-0 in the second half.
“We didn’t need to come back and try for two this time. Last season we just were not organized in the opening game,” recalled Avondale coach Steve Deutsch. “This year we are different. We ran the ball really well. We didn’t need to pass like we did last year. We lost a lot of (veteran receivers) to graduation. But we can still move the football.”
After Mike Boyd scored on a fumble recovery for Fitzgerald, Avondale got untracked in a hurry.
Michael Johnson, the only running back to receive much playing time last season, scored on a 58-yard sprint and Kyle Sroka kicked the extra point to put the Yellowjackets up for good at 7-6.
Johnson added an 8-yard run and Mitch Robinson scampered in from 62 yards out for a 21-6 lead through 12 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, Julian Samford scored his first varsity touchdown, hauling in a 22-yard strike from Robinson for a 28-6 advantage.
Paul Czartorski added a 2-yard interception return for a touchdown, Robinson scored on a 21-yard run and also added a 60-yard interception for another score.
Sroka, who finished 7-for-7 on extra points, booted field goals of 29 and 26 yards.
“I thought our defense and our lines played really well,” said Deutsch. “Last year we were really young on the lines. We struggled to stop people. Sure, we could score. This year we will be able to run the football a lot o more. Last year we passed a ton, but we lost a lot of those guys.”
Avondale will play nemesis Hazel Park Thursday, with the hopes of its new turf field being cleared for competition.
“That’s the plan. We’re not planning on going to Hazel Park,” laughed Deutsch. “They’ve been our nemesis. We plan on playing at home and debuting our new field. Unless they tell us otherwise, that’s the plan. We’re excited about it.”
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