Many Avon football players grew up watching the Browns playing at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Now, it is their time to play on the same stage.
The moment Avon released its schedule in February 2024, its Week 1 matchup against St. Ignatius immediately became the Cleveland area’s marquee season opener.
With the game on Aug. 23 at the forefront, the Eagles are ready to seize the moment, represent their community and capture a dream many area players have.
“It is a lot of kids’ dreams in a lot of different sports to go pro,” Avon’s All-Ohio quarterback Nolan Good said. “Me knowing that I have always wanted to be a professional athlete. There is no better place to start than play at the Browns’ stadium where all of the pros play. I get to share the same field that guys like Joe Thomas, Josh Cribbs, Nick Chubb and guys like that. It is pretty cool if you think about it.”
Good (Kent State commit), All-Ohio wide receiver Matt Maxey and linebacker Ryan Stolarski said they have been to numerous Browns games.
“With the environment, there is nothing better than the Browns Stadium environment,” Stolarski said. “It’s full of people screaming. (This game) has lots of excitement. … We have been working all offseason for this year. Starting it at Browns Stadium gives us a bigger environment.”
Avon Coach Mike Elder, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, took a trip down memory lane, as Browns Stadium was the place for his coaching debut.“This is starting year No. 18 here at Avon,” he said. “In my first ever game at Avon, a 0-0 record, we played the (Avon Lake) Shoremen. … It was not a good experience for our first time at Browns Stadium. Hopefully, we will have a different outcome.”
Against their rivals, the Eagles lost, 50-25, and finished the season 6-4. Since then, the Eagles have won 13 conference titles, seven regional championships and appeared in the postseason 15 times.
The excitement has been building since the announcement.
“There are a lot of people that are coming to the game,” Good said. “I am not sure if Elder was joking or not, but the entire city has been asking for tickets. Usually on a Friday night home game, it is sold out and is a packed-house, which is a blessing. … There are going to be a lot of people from different cities that are coming to watch this game. I am super excited for it.”
Within the Avon community, this is a game that Elder believes his team earned the right to be in.
“I think there is a lot of excitement, especially in this community. I think there are a lot of Avon Eagles, whose families are in third or fourth grade and are going down to Browns Stadium. They are going to tailgate and watch their local team play at an NFL venue. That is really cool.
The Eagles went 14-1 in 2023 and secured another trip to the final four. With a game of this magnitude to start the season, Elder wants to minimize the nerves.
“The good news is that when you are playing in Week 15, if you lose, you are done and your season is over,” Elder said. “Whether we win or lose we are coming to practice this Monday morning for Week 2. That should eliminate the pressure (of this game) right away.”
Regardless of what happens on Aug. 23, Avon’s main goals are still ahead, as it works toward a potential Division II state championship run.
“This is going to be crazy, we have been building this entire season for the long run. We are ready to go 100%,” Maxey said.
Good will be playing in his first game since he broke his collarbone against Olmsted Falls in Division II, Region 6 semifinal.
“This is meaningful, as far as just getting back out there. I feel like I missed out on some opportunities out there with injury. One of those was being able to go to the state championship game. I felt like we could have done that. Not everything went our way this year. This year, I am hoping to change that.”
Good is a Division II first-team All-Ohioan who threw for 2,100 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also scored 10 touchdowns and rushed for 518 yards.
“I believe Nolan (Good) has gotten 10 times better since last year. … His ball went from a B-plus to an A-plus-plus,” Maxey said. “Those are one of the best balls that I have ever been thrown to in my life.”
St. Ignatius has won 11 state championships, which ranks second in Ohio history. Despite finishing the 2023 regular season with two wins, it won a first-round playoff matchup against No. 5 seed Mentor, 10-7, as a 12th seed.
The Wildcats have the potential to impose a lethal rushing attack, led by running back Grant Washington (Minnesota commit) and second-team All-Ohio offensive lineman Will Conroy. Its defense is highlighted by Ohio State commit Cory Haddad.
“On offense, this team brings back a lot of offensive linemen that played as sophomores. That unit is beginning to jell,” Elder said. “They are physical and have a new quarterback (Daniel Chalhoub) that throws the ball exceptionally well. I think their passing game is very polished to me.”
Avon vs. St. Ignatius
What: Nonconference game
When: 7 p.m., Aug. 23
Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium, 100 Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland, OH 44114
Records: Avon 0-0, St. Ignatius 0-0
Originally Published:
Avon Coach Mike Elder, a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, took a trip down memory lane, as Browns Stadium was the place for his coaching debut.
“This is starting year No. 18 here at Avon,” he said. “In my first ever game at Avon, a 0-0 record, we played the (Avon Lake) Shoremen. … It was not a good experience for our first time at Browns Stadium. Hopefully, we will have a different outcome.”
Against their rivals, the Eagles lost, 50-25, and finished the season 6-4. Since then, the Eagles have won 13 conference titles, seven regional championships and appeared in the postseason 15 times.
The excitement has been building since the announcement.
“There are a lot of people that are coming to the game,” Good said. “I am not sure if Elder was joking or not, but the entire city has been asking for tickets. Usually on a Friday night home game, it is sold out and is a packed-house, which is a blessing. … There are going to be a lot of people from different cities that are coming to watch this game. I am super excited for it.”
Within the Avon community, this is a game that Elder believes his team earned the right to be in.
“I think there is a lot of excitement, especially in this community. I think there are a lot of Avon Eagles, whose families are in third or fourth grade and are going down to Browns Stadium. They are going to tailgate and watch their local team play at an NFL venue. That is really cool.
The Eagles went 14-1 in 2023 and secured another trip to the final four. With a game of this magnitude to start the season, Elder wants to minimize the nerves.
“The good news is that when you are playing in Week 15, if you lose, you are done and your season is over,” Elder said. “Whether we win or lose we are coming to practice this Monday morning for Week 2. That should eliminate the pressure (of this game) right away.”
Regardless of what happens on Aug. 23, Avon’s main goals are still ahead, as it works toward a potential Division II state championship run.
“This is going to be crazy, we have been building this entire season for the long run. We are ready to go 100%,” Maxey said.
Good will be playing in his first game since he broke his collarbone against Olmsted Falls in Division II, Region 6 semifinal.
“This is meaningful, as far as just getting back out there. I feel like I missed out on some opportunities out there with injury. One of those was being able to go to the state championship game. I felt like we could have done that. Not everything went our way this year. This year, I am hoping to change that.”
Good is a Division II first-team All-Ohioan who threw for 2,100 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also scored 10 touchdowns and rushed for 518 yards.
“I believe Nolan (Good) has gotten 10 times better since last year. … His ball went from a B-plus to an A-plus-plus,” Maxey said. “Those are one of the best balls that I have ever been thrown to in my life.”
St. Ignatius has won 11 state championships, which ranks second in Ohio history. Despite finishing the 2023 regular season with two wins, it won a first-round playoff matchup against No. 5 seed Mentor, 10-7, as a 12th seed.
The Wildcats have the potential to impose a lethal rushing attack, led by running back Grant Washington (Minnesota commit) and second-team All-Ohio offensive lineman Will Conroy. Its defense is highlighted by Ohio State commit Cory Haddad.
“On offense, this team brings back a lot of offensive linemen that played as sophomores. That unit is beginning to jell,” Elder said. “They are physical and have a new quarterback (Daniel Chalhoub) that throws the ball exceptionally well. I think their passing game is very polished to me.”
