Avon Lake was the No. 5 seed in the
Region 6 playoffs last year and lost at Medina Highland in the first round. The
Shoremen return an impressive group of players and should be better this season.
The following is a look at the 2009 Avon lake Shoremen.
Avon Lake (8-3)
* Players To Watch –
OL Christian Pace (6-4, 271, Sr.),
TE/DE Dan Schneider (6-4, 238, Sr.), TB/DB Mike Mansnerus (6-0, 185,
Sr.), FB/LB Nick Marinkov (6-1, 218, Sr.), DL Jon Rodgers (6-4, 245, Sr.), DB
Jordan Market (5-10, 180, Sr.), WR/DB Kevin Morissette (5-10, 175, Sr.), OT/DE
Brian Mihalek (6-6, 235, Jr.)
* Outlook – Avon Lake was the No. 5 seed in the
Region 6 playoffs last year and lost at Medina Highland in the first round. The
Shoremen return an impressive group of players and should be better this season.
Pace is a verbal commitment to Michigan. He is ranked as
the 17th-best senior in the state by Ohio High, making him the
highest-rated Division II player in the state.
“He is tough and physical,” head coach Dave Dlugosz said.
Schneider is ranked 40th in the state by Ohio
High and was a second-team All-Ohio selection last year. He has scholarship
offers from Air Force, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Colorado,
Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Miami U., Ohio, Pittsburgh and Toledo. Ohio
State is also taking a close look at him.
“Dan is smart, experienced and gives us good leadership,”
Dlugosz said.
Mansnerus returns as the bell-cow tailback. Last season, he
piled up 1,700 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in just eight games.
Mihalek is the top player in Avon Lake’s junior class and
he will be a two-way starter.
“He has great tools,” Dlugosz said. “Good size and good
speed (4.8 in the 40).”
Marinkov returns as a two-way starter and he is a strong
and quick player that “plays downhill and has great hands out of the backfield.”
Rodgers is coming off an injury and Dlugosz is happy to
have him back due to his good size and athletic ability.
Market and Morissette are returning starters that bring
leadership to the secondary. The latter also plays offense as a wideout.
“Our expectations are high this year as they always are,”
Dlugosz said. “Our goals are to win our opener, dominate at home, win the SWC
(Southwestern Conference) and qualify for the playoffs.”
Dlugosz is entering his 17th season at Avon Lake
and has a career record of 168-32. The Shoremen won a state championship under
his watch in 2003.
HTML clipboard
Schedule
Aug. 28, Maple Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4, at Brunswick, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11, Elyria, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18, at Olmsted Falls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25, North Olmsted, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2, at Middleburg Heights Midpark, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 9, Berea, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16, at Westlake, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 29, at Amherst Steele, 7:30 p.m.
