For a brief moment, it appeared the Avon Eagles might be in for a challenge when they faced host North Ridgeville Friday in the Southwestern Conference opener for each team.

After Avon started the game by holding the Rangers to negative three yards on their opening drive, a long punt return by Fin Jerdonek led to a quick two-play scoring drive by the Eagles that ended on a 24-yard TD pass from Blake Elder to Sam Ulery. Later in the opening period, North Ridgeville put together a nine-play drive that covered 51 yards, culminating on a 5-yard pass from Cole Miller to Dylan DeShazo, making it 7-7 late in the first period.

Would this be the night that the Rangers ended a 14-game losing streak to Avon, a streak that has seen the Eagles win by the average score of 45-12? Would Ridgeville derail Avon’s plans to win its 10th consecutive SWC title before beginning a postseason quest toward a second consecutive Division II state title?

Well, no.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Elder found Jerdonek on a simple seam route that the wide receiver turned into a 71-yard scoring jaunt, breaking one tackle on the Ridgeville sideline and then using a key block by fellow receiver Grant Barr to go all the way to the end zone, making it 14-7.

“That was big,” said Avon coach Mike Elder. “That drive gave them confidence, and if they then come in there and get a three-and-out, then all of a sudden you’re in a football game because of the psyche of a teenage kid. Confidence goes a long way.”

So does defense. On Ridgeville’s next drive, quarterback Miller was hit from the blindside on a keeper, and the loose ball was recovered by Jackson Brokaw for the Eagles. Two plays later, Blake Elder again found Ulery in the end zone, this time on a 36-yarder to make it 21-7.

On the following possession for the Rangers, Miller was hit while attempting to pass, and the ball fluttered into the air, with Avon’s Ben Strichek making a juggling interception and then returning it 25 yards for the touchdown, putting the score at 28-7 with 10:03 left in the second quarter and giving Avon three touchdowns in less than 3 minutes.

“That was big,” said Blake Elder. “We knew we were the better team, so that just got us some confidence so we can keep going and win.”

Not only did they keep going, the Eagles never let up, as the final score of 55-7 will attest. Elder added third-quarter touchdown passes of 14 and 38 yards to Barr, with the second putting the score at 42-7 and starting the running clock. Trevor Maly and Isaac Gutierez later added rushing touchdowns for Avon, now 3-1.

It was a breakout game for Elder, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 231 yards and five touchdowns. The Eagles demonstrated their quick-strike ability, as they had a one-play drive as well as a pair of two-play drives.

“We’re going to take what the defense gives us, and we thought they were more vulnerable to the pass than to the run,” said Mike Elder. “But we try to be 50-50 at Avon, and that means throw it when you need to and run it when you need to. If we have to run it every down, we will. If we have to throw it every down, we will. If you can throw the ball over a team’s head and you can get off the field early, it’s a lot less physical game.”

North Ridgeville obviously was very aware of the talents of Barr, as they focused their defense on stopping the senior who had 10 catches for 170 yards in last week’s 28-16 victory over Glenville.

“We have some explosive players,” said Mike Elder. “When you double-team Grant Barr, we’ve got other guys who can run and they’re capable. We’re excited about that.”

Elder’s son echoed what his father said about the Avon receiving corps.

“We’ve got very talented receivers, and if we just get them the ball, we’re going to score,” said Blake Elder. “If they were giving us the ball over the top, then that’s what we’re going to do. I would say (I had) a pretty good game, but our receivers did most of the work. I have to give all credit to them and to the linemen.”

The next game on the schedule for Avon could go a long way in determining the outcome of the SWC race, as the Eagles host Olmsted Falls on September 19. The Bulldogs are 3-1, with the lone loss coming by a touchdown to Mentor, one of the top Division I teams in the state.