By PAUL GOTHAM
AVON, N.Y. — Oakfield-Alabama/Elba head football coach Tyler Winter has been able to count on spirited practices when his team takes the field the past few Tuesday afternoons. That’s the day the New York State Sportswriters’ Association (NYSSWA) releases its weekly rankings. Relegated to the “Honorable Mention” portion of the Class D list has provided Winter’s squad with a reason for focusing their efforts.
After Friday night’s outcome, Winter and his Aggies may need to find a new source of motivation.
Noah Currier scored two touchdowns and the OA/E defense held the Avon Braves to a season-low output in a convincing 24-7 victory.
“This was a huge win for our team,” Winter said. “We knew beating Avon was going to take a full four-quarter battle. They’re a very strong team and we needed to play mistake-free football to get the win tonight.”
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The Aggies made big plays when needed on both sides of the ball.
OA/E took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards for a lead it never surrendered. Gaige Armbrewster’s rush for seven yards on the 14th play of the drive along with the ensuing point-after attempt made it a 7-0 game.
Gaige Armbrewster goes 7 yards on third down to cap a 14-play, 65-yard opening drive. PAT is good. Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 7-0 pic.twitter.com/8OX9RwP3dC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 8, 2021
A takeaway on Avon’s first drive of the game put the Aggies in position to take command of the game early.
On second down just inside the 50-yard line, Kaden Cusmano pounced on a fumble. The Aggies followed with a 50-yard, 11-play drive for a 14-0 lead with 9:50 remaining in the half.
Bodie Hyde to Noah Currier. PAT is good. Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 14-0 pic.twitter.com/CeRZBEFPZz
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 8, 2021
“It was huge to be able to create a turnover on their first drive and then answer and put more points up on the board,” Winter stated. “That could have been the game. If they drive down and score and it’s 7-to-7, who knows what the outcome is.”
Sophomore quarterback Bodie Hyde capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown completion to Noah Currier.
The score was the first of two in as many touches for Currier.
The junior followed a 45-yard Avon scoring drive with an 80-yard kickoff return for a 21-7 OA/E lead heading into halftime
“Noah has just turned it on the past couple of weeks,” Winter stated. “I feel like every time that we’ve needed a spark, Noah answers. He just has a big-play ability.”
Currier finished the night with three receptions for 52 yards including a 15-yard catch on a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter.
On 4th and 15, Bodie Hyde to Noah Currier. 1st down. pic.twitter.com/vL3MbzFoFd
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 9, 2021
“The way he was able to transform his body in the weight room and his dedication to the sport, it’s coming up big for us right now,” Winter said of Currier’s work in the off-season. “He’s playing well, and he’s earned every ounce of success that he and the rest of the team is experiencing right now.”
Avon (5-1-0) came into the game averaging more than 29 points per game. The Braves had scored a total of 66 points in the previous two outings before Friday’s matchup.
This completion from Andrew Rowland to Jake Driscoll on fourth down set up the first Avon touchdown. pic.twitter.com/cQdYPIf6KK
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 8, 2021
“I can’t say enough about the job my brother, our defensive coordinator Corey Winter, does to make sure that our guys are prepared week-in and week-out. He put together a great plan for tonight. The kids were really bought into it.
The Braves were ranked No. 2 NYSSWA Class D.
Andrew Rowland rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries and completed 10-of-17 passes for 79 yards. Rowland scored the lone Avon touchdown on a six-yard keeper. Thomas Welch rushed for 88 yards on 12 carries and made two catches for 15 yards. Welch also had two kickoff returns for 27 yards. Michael Rowland made five catches for 21 yards.
“Avon’s a very talented team, obviously. They have size. They have speed. They have strength. They were able to move the ball on us.
“I felt like every time we needed an answer in the red zone, we were able to come up with one.”
The Braves play at Clyde-Savannah next Friday.
Armbrewster paced OA/E’s offense with 74 yards on 21 carries. Hyde completed 7-of-12 passes for 91 yards. Connor Scott made three catches for 24 yards and Kaden Cusmano had two receptions for 23 yards.
Scott led the OA/E defense with 12 tackles including one for a loss and two pass break-ups. Kameron Cusmano had nine tackles, three for negative yardage. Kaden Cusmano and CJ Gottler finished with eight tackles apiece.
Gaige Armbrewster has been making plays on offense all night. This pass break-up on fourth down gives Oakfield-Alabama/Elba the ball with 6:23 on the clock and a 21-7 lead. pic.twitter.com/JskDXCroIh
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 9, 2021
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba (6-0-0) plays at Bolivar-Richburg next Saturday.
As for the state rankings that will come out in a couple days.
“Maybe they’ll change; maybe they won’t,” Winter said. “Either way we’re going to stay pedal down into next week.We have a lot of good Tuesday practices because of them.”
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