A decade of champions
Champions of leagues that Avon competed in.
Pequot Football Conference
2009: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell, Hyde, Vinal Tech/Coginchaug (7-1 Sassacus)
2008: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell, North Branford, Hyde (7-1 Sassacus)
2007: Avon (8-0 Uncas); Cromwell (7-0 Sassacus),
2006: Cromwell (9-1)
Nutmeg Football League
2005: N.W. Catholic (9-0)
2004: Berlin & East Catholic/CT (8-1)
2003: East Catholic/CT (9-0)
2002: Berlin (10-0)
2001: Berlin (9-0)
2000: Berlin (9-0)
The decade's most memorable games
No. 1
The greatest game of the decade may be one of the greatest in team history. Facing the defending Class S champions, Avon scored 2 TDs in the final 1:15, including the game-winning score with no time left on the clock – a 57-yard run from Ross McDonald (26-208, 3 TDs). Avon never led until the final gun.
No. 2
Kyle Livingstone scores on a 28-yard TD pass from David Wyrick with nine seconds left as Avon rallies from a 14-point deficit to beat a Tolland team that shared the Pequot Conference Uncas Division title and played in the CIAC’s Class SS playoffs in the previous season (2006).
No. 3
Avon clinches its first championship of any kind in 14 years (1993) with a hard-fought win over Ellington to claim the Pequot Conference Uncas Division title. Four times, Ellington drove inside the Avon 20-yard line and didn’t score. Falcons finish 9-1 but miss the CIAC playoffs.
No. 4
In its first-ever CIAC playoff appearance, the Falcons forced six Brookfield turnovers and had a five-point lead at halftime. Avon trailed by eight and had the ball near midfield with three minutes left. But Brookfield scored nine points in the final two minutes to secure the win. Four days later, Brookfield won the Class M title.
No. 5
In the final game of Brett Quinion’s first season as head coach at Avon, the Falcons used about 16 players and stunned favored Farmington, 25-14. The Indians came into the game with a 7-3 record while Avon was just 3-6. Avon’s Tom Canty rushed for a game-high 142 yards and a touchdown while Chris Prudhomme intercepted two passes. The Falcons forced four FHS turnovers. Avon QB Tony Casorio had his best effort of the season, throwing for 172 yards, 3 TD passes and no interceptions.
No. 6
In Avon’s final game in the Nutmeg Conference, the Falcons prevailed in a thriller. Farmington QB Steve Harrington completed 22-of-41 passes for 317 yards – all career-highs and probably school records. Farmington scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead. Ben Ewbank scored with 11:55 left and scored on a two-point conversion to put Avon ahead, 21-20. Farmington had two more drives deep into Avon territory but a receiver dropped a pass in the end zone and a field goal was too short. It was the final game between the long-time rivals who haven't played since because they are in different leagues.
No. 7
After an undefeated regular season, the Falcons (10-0) hosted Berlin in a Class M semifinal at Muzzy Field in Bristol. But led by junior back Max DeLorenzo (36-265 rushing, 3 TDs), the Redcoats built a 28-0 lead and held on for the victory. Avon scored a pair of TDs in the fourth quarter and had the ball on the Berlin 44 with 1:30 remaining with a chance to tie the game.
No. 8
A year after Avon had won its first title in 14 years, the two teams met determined to prove who was the top team in the Uncas Division. With a dominant ground game led by Ross McDonald (48 yards and 3 TDs), the Falcons prevailed. McDonald scored a 6-yard TD with 3:37 remaining to extend Avon’s lead from one to eight points. Avon eventually won the Uncas Division title for the second straight year. At the conclusion of the season, Tolland announced they were leaving the Pequot Conference to join the Central Connecticut Conference.
No. 9
The Falcons take charge of the Pequot Uncas Division race by taking a quick 14-0 lead in the first six minutes. QB Andrew Livingstone, making his first-ever varsity start, completed 8-of-10 passes for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Vince Savarese. Livingstone also returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Ross McDonald rushed for 127 yards and an 86-yard TD run early in the first quarter while teammate Mike D’Onofrio rushed for 95 yards and three TDs on 12 carries.
No. 10
2006: Avon 21, Stafford/East Windsor, 14, OT Andy Roell grabs a 10-yard TD pass from John Rowley on the first play of OT as Avon prevailed in its first and only overtime game in school history. Playing under the lights at Stafford, Avon’s Matt Gouveia clinches the victory when he intercepts a Stafford pass in OT.
Decade's best
The decade's best -- rushing, passing, receiving.
RUSHING (season)
Ross McDonald, 1,974 '09
Mike D’Onofrio 1,201 '08
John Rowley 1,133 '06
John Rowley 1,060 '05
Mike D’Onofrio 1,042 '07
Tom Canty 1,011 '03
RUSHING TDs (season)
Ross McDonald 35 2009
Mike D’Onofrio 22 2007
Mike D’Onofrio 20 2008
Ross McDonald 13 2008
John Rowley 12 2006
RECEPTIONS (season)
Vince Savarese 34 2009
Andy Roell
32 2007
Tyler D’Onofrio 29 2009
Max Martinez 26 2003
Matt Friedhoff 23 2003
Brad Seaman 21 2004
RECEIVING YDS (season)
Vince Savarese 670 2009
Andy Roell 603 2007
Andy Roell 462 2006
Tyler D'Onofrio 389 2009
Brad Seaman 388 2004
Max Martinez 334 2003
POINTS (season)
Ross McDonald 214 2009
Mike D'Onofrio 144 2008
Mike D'Onofrio 142 2007
Ross McDonald 78 2008
John Rowley 80 2006
David Wyrick 71 2008
RUSHING (game)
Ross McDonald 275 Can '09
Ross McDonald 269 Enf '09
Mike D'Onofrio 269 Staf '09
Ross McDonald 233 Cov '09
Mike D'Onofrio 238 Staff '07
RECEIVING (game)
Andy Roell 7 WLocks '07
Matt Friedhoff 7 Enfield '03
Matt Friedhoff 7 St Paul '02
Andy Roell 6 Tolland '07
RECEIVING YDS (game)
Vince Savarese132 WT '09
T. D'Onofrio 128 Crom '09
Andy Roell 120 Cov '07
V. Saverese 115 Can '09
Andy Roell 109 Vinal '07
PASSING YDS (game)
David Wyrick 196 HK '07
Tony Casario 176 Farm '03
David Wyrick 174 Cov '08
P. Anderson 171 EC '04
David Wyrick 162 Cov '07
PASSING comp (game)
Tony Casario 15 Enf '03
Tony Casario 15 SP '02
David Wyrick 13 WL '06
David Wyrick 12 HK '07
TOUCHDOWNS (game)
Mike D'Onofrio 5 Hous '07
Mike D'Onofrio 5 Staff '07
MIke D'Onofrio 5 Cant '07
R. McDonald 5 Enf '09
Other notable games from the first decade
2009: Avon 47, Canton 20: Falcons finish 10-0 for the first time and ever and compete undefeated regular season for first time since 1967.
2002: Avon 18, Middletown 13: Avon forces five turnovers to beat Middletown for its only victory of the season. The Dragons go 6-4 and lose to the Falcons (1-9) for the first time since 1983.
2006: Avon 19, Ellington 12: Avon blocks two kicks and scores 2 TDs in fourth quarter to earn the victory.
2001: Avon 12, Farmington 7: Joe Rheaume scores 2 TDs in the final 8:28 as Avon beats Farmington for the first time since 1994. FHS had won five of its previous six games entering the game.
