Avon vs. Walsh Jesuit final score, result: Updates, highlights from OHSAA D-II state semifinal game

Billy Heyen

•
Avon vs. Walsh Jesuit final score, result: Updates, highlights from OHSAA D-II state semifinal game image

Avon got off to a nightmare start.

The Eagles allowed Walsh Jesuit to return the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and then Avon fumbled the ball away on its opening offensive possession of this OHSAA Division II state semifinal at the University of Akron.

From there, it was all Avon.

After 38 unanswered points, the Eagles were heading back to the state final in Canton next week as 38-7 winners over the Warriors.

Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 ranked Avon and Walsh as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the state for any division (for reference, D-III Toledo Central Catholic is No. 3, followed by D-I's St. Edwards at No. 4).

Avon showed who was boss in this one and will play Cincinnati Anderson for the crown.

A year ago, the snow fell heavily as the Eagles won their 2024 crown.

They showed Friday night that they deserve a chance to keep that crown atop their own heads.

Scroll down to see our live updates from throughout the game.

MORE: Follow along with the state semifinal between Glenville and Indian Valley

AVON 38, WALSH JESUIT 7: FINAL

Refresh for latest.

FOURTH QUARTER

- It's over. Avon is going back to Canton to try and defend its Division II state title. It'll take on Cincinnati Anderson.

- FIELD GOAL AVON.  Jensen Petro added a late field goal for a 38-7 lead.

- With 7:40 left, Avon's lead remained 35-7 with the ball.

- Avon snatched its third interception of the game midway through the fourth quarter to make its 35-7 lead seem especially safe.

THIRD QUARTER

- Avon has the football to send the game to the fourth quarter.

- Walsh had another fourth down, this one fourth-and-4. Ternosky was sacked by Avon, Nathan Peters the first to the quarterback. Yet another turnover on downs.

- TOUCHDOWN AVON.  It was again Blake Elder to Grant Barr over the top again. All defending state champs in Division II. Two-point trick play didn't work. (Avon 35-7, 2:47 3Q)

- It was another fourth down before long, fourth-and-7. Avon used a timeout before the play. Walsh completed a pass but Caden Clapham made the tackle at the line of scrimmage to force yet another turnover on downs.

- Walsh went for it on fourth-and-5 with 5:16 left in the third quarter. They converted on a pass to midfield from David Ternosky after scrambling right, then left before finding Kian McHugh.

- TOUCHDOWN AVON.  Blake Elder hit Grant Barr over the top for a 38-yard touchdown. All Eagles since the opening kickoff return TD. The two-point pass try was incomplete. (Avon 29-7)

- Walsh tried a double-pass trick play on third down, but Avon sniffed it out. Walsh then went for it on fourth down. A pass fell incomplete, and Avon got it back.

- Walsh got a three-and-out to begin the second half, halting the Eagles to get the ball back and try to get something going down 16.

- Avon prepared to receive an onside kick to start the second half, but Walsh kicked deep out of the end zone. Eagles will start the second half from their own 20.

HALFTIME

- Avon leads 23-7 at the half and will get the ball to start the second half. The Eagles gave up an opening kickoff return TD, then fumbled on their opening drive, but somehow then went on to score 23 unanswered points from there.

-  Avon is set to receive the second-half kickoff.

- In the other D-II semifinal, Anderson leads Big Walnut at the half, 23-8.

SECOND QUARTER

- Avon completed the short-time stop to end the first half. 

- Avon got a sack to start Walsh's final drive of the first half. Two Eagles met at the quarterback. Walsh called a timeout with 18 seconds left, own 37.

- TOUCHDOWN AVON.  Blake Elder completed an 18-yard pass to Killian Haessig in the end zone on a third down. It was Haessig's first TD catch of the season, wide open down the seam. Point after was no good. (Avon 23-7, 30 seconds until half)

- Avon had a screen pass all the way down to the 1-yard line, but a holding penalty backed it up to the 18-yard line for a third-and-6.

- Walsh went for it on fourth-and-4 from its own 48, and Avon knocked the ball down to get the turnover on downs.

- FIELD GOAL AVON.  The Eagles stalled inside the 10-yard line. A delay of game backed the field goal attempt up five yards, so it ended up being a 27-yard attempt. The kick was good for Jensen Petro. (Avon 17-7, 5:59 until half)

- INTERCEPTION AVON.  Sam Ulery snagged a pass near midfield and returned it back to inside the 30-yard line. Another interception for Avon. Eagles lead 14-7 with about eight minutes until the half.

- David Ternosky took a QB draw up the middle for a key first down run to push the ensuing Walsh drive over midfield with nine minutes until the half.

- TOUCHDOWN AVON.  Walsh had second-and-goal at the 5. Caden Clapham picked off the pass off a tip at the 2-yard line and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown. Clapham had fumbled in the first quarter, but he got his redemption. (Avon 14-7)

FIRST QUARTER

- Walsh is in the red zone at the end of the first quarter.

- Walsh's Milan Paris went up for a jump ball on third-and-8 to extend the drive over midfield.

- TOUCHDOWN AVON.  Avon made Walsh's failed fourth down pay off. The Eagles found the end zone on a 1-yard Cam Wendell TD run. (7-7, 5:40 1Q)

- Walsh went for it on fourth down and didn't get it, giving Avon the ball at the Walsh 48.

- Avon stopped Walsh after the fumble, but the Eagles didn't get anything going and had to punt it back.

- Walsh forced a fumble on Avon's opening possession to get the ball back.

- TOUCHDOWN WALSH. Milan Paris returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. The Miami (Florida) commit opens the game with a bang. (Walsh, 7-0)

PREGAME

- This should be an incredibly well-attended game at the University of Akron. Walsh and Avon fans won't have too long a trip to support their powerful teams.

- Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

- It's shaping up as a clear evening in Akron, with potential for a few small snow flurries:

More HS football news:

Contributing Writer