High school football playoffs: Highland looks to end playoff skid against Avon

The defending Division II state champion vs. the determined upstart. Two of the top public school programs in Northeast Ohio. Two coaches with stellar winning percentages and Mount Union ties. Remarkably similar communities whose vast farmland has been swallowed by subdivisions and the financial backing that comes with them. Welcome to Highland-Avon, Part IX in the playoffs. Seven of the previous eight editions, all since 2011, haven't gone the Hornets' way, but experience and tremendous senior leadership give them hope to finally get over the hump in what could be another Region 6 championship game classic tonight at Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium. The winner will face an Akron-area parochial powerhouse — Archbishop Hoban (10-1) or Walsh Jesuit (10-1) — next week at a state semifinal site to be determined. "People ask what it's like to play Highland," said Eagles coach Mike Elder, who has a 213-32 record in 19 seasons. "It's like playing ourselves. It's like Avon playing Avon." The respect is mutual. "You look at their program and it's a first-class program," said Highland coach Mike Gibbons, who's 59-7 over the last five seasons to improve to 96-30 in 11 overall at the school. "You watch the film, you play against them and you realize it's just a well-coached team. The kids play really hard, so you respect a program that plays that way." Everyone knows the storyline. Highland fell behind 14-0 and 21-7 in 2023 before eventually having a chance to tie, failing and running out of steam in a 28-14 loss. Last season, Avon scored on its first play, recovered the ensuing muffed kickoff and went up 21-0, but Highland cut to 28-20 and had the ball before a turnover on downs near midfield in the final minute. While the Hornets (12-0) adjusted to the Eagles' speed, physicality and game plans in both meetings, avoiding a disastrous start tonight will be the chief priority after running roughshod through a schedule that has featured 11 second-half running clocks in 12 games. Included was a 48-0 win over North Ridgeville last week, a team that Avon (11-1) hammered 55-7 in Southwestern Conference play. "We definitely know we've got to come out with our butts on fire," first-team All-Ohio Highland running back Casey Myser said. "We've got a lot of motivation going into this game. There's been so many seniors I've watched walk off that field crying. It's really stuck with me. I'm not going out there just playing for me or my team. I'm also going out there and playing for them, too." The outright physical dominance and chess-match mastery of Avon was evident last week in an impressive 42-21 victory at previously undefeated Wadsworth. Led by Miami of Ohio recruit Ryan Stolarski — one of the most instinctive linebackers in the state — and Cincinnati-bound pass-rushing dynamo Lance Dawson, the Eagles rely heavily on zone blitzes that force opponents to essentially guess where pressure is coming from after Avon puts five, six and sometimes seven players directly on the line of scrimmage. That's not all. Avon also rotates up to seven players along a physical four-man line, disguises coverages much like the Hornets and has had enough quality depth in the back end that the loss of injured North Carolina recruit and first-team All-Ohioan Jakob Weatherspoon, who had the game-sealing interception a year ago, hasn't led to a dropoff in production. What gives the Hornets optimism is the ability to be more complementary to Medina County all-time leading scorer Myser (1,313 yards from scrimmage, 25 touchdowns) than a year ago. Quarterback Grady Gibb is a physical downhill running threat with 632 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns to go with an .856 completion percentage, 1,647 yards and 22 scores through the air, while slot receiver Lucas Gerding (213 rushing yards, 465 receiving yards) and H-back Evan Foust (14 catches, 255 yards, 4 TDs) could be potentially explosive check-down options against blitzes. How Highland's offensive line responds also will be a key storyline. The quintet with four new starters averages 6-foot, 239 pounds, but communication and blitz recognition will be just as important as physicality. "We definitely know Avon's defense is amazing," Myser said. "It's definitely one of the things they're known for. "The biggest thing is just communicating and keeping the game slow. We don't want to let the game get too fast on us and get out of hand." Avon's offense isn't as explosive with Mr. Football finalist Nolan Good and star wide receiver Matt Maxey now at Kent State. The Eagles, however, are deadly efficient with a 55/45 run-pass ratio. While not a consistent threat in the running game, Blake Elder is a quintessential coach's son with surgical decision-making. The senior, who played well in place of an injured Good two years ago against Highland, has completed 152-of-225 passes (.676) for 2,502 yards, 28 touchdowns and three interceptions while only being sacked six times. The primary target is likely D-I college player Grant Barr, a physical 6-foot, 190-pound junior who was shut down by Wadsworth's Calix Lemp last season but still has 53 catches for 854 yards and 10 touchdowns. Fin Jerdonek (40 catches, 613 yards, 7 TDs) is the slot receiver, while Caden Clapham (20, 349, 4) also has contributed. A running back-by-committee approach has been tested by injuries but still provides complementary threats between the tackles. Quionte Smith (68 carries, 387 yards, 8 TDs) and Cam Wendell (54, 233, 9) got the bulk of the carries last week, but Michael Colburn (78, 386, 7) also has produced behind a technically sound line that boasts 6-4, 300-pound Max Hauck, an incredibly strong right tackle who will also move to guard in short-yardage/goal-line situations, and depth like the D-line. Highland's defensive line averages only 217.5 pounds, but the Hornets have evolved with more blitzing and coverage disguising under veteran coordinator Chris Meyer and have allowed only one first-string touchdown all season. The linebacking corps of Suburban League American Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year Foust (63 tackles, 14 for loss), Jameson Gordon (59, 9½, 2 INTs) and hybrid third safety Kallen Whitling (41, 5½, 3) leads the way, while end Dan Miller (31, 13½) and safety Nick Dobkowski (7 interceptions) also have stood out. "When we look at our defense, we're going to be in situations where it's going to be third down, fourth down and we've got to get off the field and not allow them to continue their drive," Gibbons said. "The flip side is obviously whichever team converts in the red zone more is going to win the game, so I think if you look at our defense, we've got to make sure to get stops down there." This is a different matchup than a year ago, when Highland relied on line play and Avon rode its star-studded trio of Good, Maxey and two-way lineman Jeremiah Kelly. The weather forecast also appears more favorable to passing, as last season's matchup at Elyria was affected by wind and light rain. Northern Medina County will be the place to be tonight, and the Eagles know that revenge will be Highland's motivation. "Listen, we have video evidence that they've been pointing to this game forever and wanted us," Mike Elder said. "So now they've got us, and we're excited about that. What we're not going to do is walk into the game feeling like we're being hunted. That doesn't work that way. "We're not being hunted. We're hunting. We're coming after them and they're coming after us and that's fine. We're going to meet in the middle, but we're not sitting back defending anything. We're going after what we believe we want, and that's to get to the state final four and spend another week together." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.