Avon Lake is a perennial playoff team and the Shoremen are well-stocked with talent as usual this season.
Dave Biddle checks in today with a look at the 2008 Shoremen.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DE Zach Murray (6-2, 230, Sr.), OL Adam Schneid (6-4, 265, Sr.), OL Joe Coyne (6-2, 255, Sr.), RB/DB Steve Mares (5-11, 190, Sr.), DT Sean McCann (6-3, 235, Sr.), OL Christian Pace (6-2, 250, Jr.), TE/DE Joe Gaydosh (6-4, 220, Sr.), RB/DB Mike Mansnerus (5-11, 180, Jr.).
SEASON OUTLOOK
2007 Record: 11-1, Regional semifinalist
Avon Lake is a perennial playoff team and the Shoremen are well-stocked with talent as usual this season.
Murray is a disruptive pass rusher and run stopper and is ranked as the No. 93 senior prospect in the state by Ohio High.
Schneid, a Central Michigan recruit, anchors the offensive line and is ranked as the No. 102 senior prospect in the state by Ohio High.
"We should be solid on both sides of the line of scrimmage," head coach Dave Dlugosz said. "We expect our inexperienced but athletic skill positions to mature and compete. Our team goals are to win the Southwestern Conference and advance deep in the playoffs."
Dlugosz is entering his 16th year and has an impressive career mark of 160-29.
Last season, Avon Lake earned the No. 1 seed in Division II, Region 6 and promptly crushed Grafton Midview 50-13 at home in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Shoremen suffered a heartbreaking 21-14 loss to Ashland in the following round.
Avon Lake will likely breeze through its regular season schedule as usual, but Dlugosz isn’t counting his chickens quite yet.
"We have a challenging out-of-conference schedule combined with a balanced and competitive Southwestern Conference slate," he said.
SCHEDULE
8/22 at Maple Heights
8/29 Dover
9/5 at Elyria
9/12 at Breckville-Broadview Heights
9/18 Olmsted Falls
9/26 at North Olmsted
10/3 Midpark
10/10 at Berea
10/17 Westlake
10/24 Amherst Steele
