The large contingent of fans that attended the game left excited and happy. Tailgating began around noon with small soccer and football groups playing on the field in the afternoon. Both teams came into the game with 0-3 records. The Falcons first possession ended with a 10-yard touchdown run. They would add a 2nd score to take a 13-0 lead after the 1st quarter. The Mountaineers scored on a 50-yard run on the 2nd play of the 2nd quarter to close to 7 points. Each team would add another touchdown to make the score Avon 19 - Housatonic 13 at the half. Avon would add a touchdown in the 3rd quarter and each team would score again in the 4th quarter to make the final Avon 31 - Housatonic 19.
Housatonic would take the opening kickoff and start on their 32-yard line. After a 1st down, the Mountaineers would stall and the Falcons took over on downs on their own 48. They would take advantage of the field position, and their march, which was aided by a 31-yard pass from David Wyrick to Andy Roell on a 3rd and 11, moved the ball to the Avon 18. Three plays later John Rowland would bolt for 10 yards and the touchdown with 5:40 left in the quarter. The extra point kick by Preston Anderson was good to make the score Avon 7 - Housatonic 0. The Mountaineers stalled on the next drive as well, and Avon started on the Housatonic 36-yard line. An 18-yard run by Mike D'Onofrio would give the Falcons a 1st down on the 15, and Connor Mack would power into the end zone on the next play with 1:26 remaining in the quarter. The extra point kick failed, to make the score Avon 13 - Housatonic 0. The Mountaineers would start on their 25 and move to midfield as the quarter ended. On the second play of the 2nd quarter, Jameson Martin would streak for 50 yards and the score. The kick failed, which made the score Avon 13 - Housatonic 6, with 11:42 remaining in the half. Avon would start on their own 31 and a Rowley 34-yard run would give the Falcons a 1st down on the Housatonic 30. Terence Olsen would run a reverse for 28 yards and three plays later Rowley would add his 2nd touchdown of the night on a 4-yard run with 9:30 left in the half. The extra point kick failed to give Avon a 19-6 lead. But the Mountaineers would storm right back, aided by several Falcon penalties, and quarterback Steve Hedden would connect with Clayton Keller on an 11-yard touchdown pass with 3:26 remaining in the half. Gian Lodevole would add the extra point kick to make the score Avon 19 - Housatonic 13, which is how the half would end.
The 2nd half would begin with Avon playing control ball, with a Wyrick to D'Onofrio 7-yard touchdown pass completed with only 4:38 remaining in the 3rd quarter. The extra point conversion passed failed, to give Avon a 25-13 lead. Then both teams would stall, and Avon continued to give the Mountaineers second chances with several key penalties along the way. Avon would take over when the Mountaineers gave up the ball on downs for the second consecutive possession, starting on the Avon 45. Five plays later Connor Mack would break free and ramble for a 40-yard touchdown run with 3:43 remaining. The extra point failed and the score was Avon 31 - Housatonic 13. The Mountaineers showed heart, marching down the field and scoring on a 2-yard Will Kennedy run with 56 seconds remaining. The extra point failed, making the final score Avon 31 - Housatonic 19.
In previous Sports Weekend events, the Boys Soccer team faced a strong Suffield team on Tuesday night and went down to a 1-0 double overtime loss when Wildcats' Anthony Sperrazza scored on a breakaway with 27 seconds remaining in the 1st overtime period. The loss was the first for the Falcons on the season.
Thursday night was a very special night for the girls Field Hockey team who played to an overtime 1-0 victory over a tough Enfield team, when Hannah Kennedy scored with 6:56 remaining in the first overtime period. The victory marked win number 200 for Avon coach Terry Zimnicki. Congratulations Coach Z on your accomplishment!
On Friday night the girls Soccer Team took center stage, and methodically marched to a 3-0 victory over Windsor Locks, to remain undefeated. Senior captains got things started when Lindsay Gengras scored off a Catherine Pomeroy feed with 30:19 remaining in the 1st half. Liz Donaldson would score unassisted at the 35:01 mark of the 2nd period, and Cassie Cesaro would score off a terrific Cara D'Annibale throw in with 10:20 remaining in the game.
The football team will move onto the road, as they travel to Windsor Locks on Saturday, October 14, 2006 for a 3 PM game. Buoyed by their first victory of the season, the Falcons are still a work in progress. They must cut down on penalties, especially unforced penalties if they are to continue to grow and be successful. With four straight games on the road before returning home to face Gilbert on Saturday, November 11, the Falcons will not have the home support they have recently experienced. All of the games on Sports weekend were very well attended, and the crowds were excited to watch the teams compete over a week that provided excellent weather for all events. As the seasons move into the meat of the schedule, continue to support the Falcons.