By PAUL GOTHAM
BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Late in the second quarter of Friday’s Section V Class D championship game, Avon head coach Andy Englert wondered aloud “Why is the clock running?” It was a simple question with the teams coming out of a timeout.
The message, though, was more important.
Englert wanted his Riverhawks to get one more chance with the ball before halftime.
And why not?
His squad was starting to find its rhythm and it was a chance to put more points on the board heading into halftime. A chance to add momentum heading into the break.
Avon didn’t get the ball before the horn sounded to end the second quarter.
It mattered little. Not much was going to get in the way of the Riverhawks on this night.
Kal Dolgos scored three times and garnered MVP honors as No. 2 Avon cruised to a 41-15 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame-Batavia/Byron-Bergen on Bob Boozer Field at Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on the SUNY Brockport campus.
With the win, Avon clinched its second straight sectional title and seventh since 2008.
“It’s surreal,” Dolgos said of the championship. “It’s a great feeling. I’m so fortunate and very blessed. Great guys, great coaches, great program and awesome times. Good memories.”
Dolgos gave Avon a lead it did not surrender when he scored from nine yards out to make it a 14-8 game with 7:52 remaining in the second quarter. The next time he carried the ball into the end zone came with 6:46 left in the third. At that point, Avon was cruising with a 28-8 advantage.
Given that lead, it’s hard to imagine that Notre Dame-Batavia/Byron-Bergen (5-6-0) had the ball with an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter looking to make it a two-score game.
That is until Dolgos shifted the game’s momentum when he intercepted a Chase Antinore pass and went 41 yards in the opposite direction for Avon’s first score of the game.
“Our coaches prepared us really well,” he said. “We’ve done a lot of work on our defense. I read it pretty well and came down on it. All the credit goes to the coaches. We have a very good preparation. It’s a simple as that.”
ND-B/B-B sent three receivers into the area near the left sideline. Dolgos positioned himself in the middle of the action and was ready to react when the opportunity came.
“The flood concept (a group of receivers running different routes on one side of the field), when they go out like that, we practice against that so much. I was just able to read it and see all of them going out. The ball was sent to toward the sideline and there it was.”
3rd and 3, Kal Dolgos with the pick-6 from 41 yards. 2-pt attempt is no good. 1:47 remaining in the first quarter: Notre Dame-Batavia/Byron-Bergen 8 @avon_central 6 pic.twitter.com/00ULPF9AlE
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 15, 2025
3rd and 9, Kal Dolgos on the keeper finds paydirt. 2-point conversion is good. @avon_central 14-8 with 7:52 to go in the half. @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/2X4DuU7Nhv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 15, 2025
Three plays after recovering a fumble at the ND-B/B-B 34, Evan Blye rolls out and finds Blayden Borsching in the end zone. PAT is good. @avon_central rolling 21-8. @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/4U3wVcCEEg
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 15, 2025
Fourth and goal from just inside 5, Evan Blye leads James Chase for 6. PAT is good. @avon_central 35 ND-B/B-B 8 @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/IJXxwsyJVp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) November 15, 2025
In all, Avon (9-2-0) converted three ND-B/B-B turnovers into touchdowns. Dolgos recovered one of two third-quarter fumbles.
“To win the turnovers and execute on them was important,” Englert said. “You want to be able to light up the board when you get the opportunity. We have special players.”
Avon trailed 20-0 in the first quarter when the two teams met in the regular season. The Riverhawks scored 48 unanswered for the win. Against Geneseo in the sectional quarterfinals, Avon scored in the final minute to pull out a 29-22 victory.
“Those types of games prepare you,” Englert said. “I’m proud of the kids. For us it’s a great win. Back-to-back is something special. It’s an opportunity for another group of kids to cherish it.”
Three plays after recovering a fumble at the ND-B/B-B 34, Evan Blye found Blayden Borsching in the end zone for 6. After the PAT, Avon led 21-8.
Later on fourth and goal from the five, Blye led James Chase into the end zone.
John Dolgos capped the scoring with a 45-yard run.
Notre Dame-Batavia’s Antinore started the scoring. After going 35 yards on a fourth and one to set up the Fighting Bees with first and goal, the junior quarterback scored on another keeper.
Adyn Horzempa scored the game’s final touchdown.
Avon (No. 9 NYSSWA Class D) will play Section VI champion, Newfane (No. 3 NYSSWA) in the state quarterfinals. That game is scheduled That game is scheduled for next Friday (11/21) at All High Stadium in Buffalo. A 5 p.m. kickoff is scheduled.
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