Tiffin Columbian coach Steve Gilbert has been breaking down game film for the past 16 years at the Seneca County school, and has been preparing for playoff games seven of the last nine seasons.
But even he didn’t need long to figure out the kind of team Avon was, probably because he saw that type of team every time he hit the practice field.
“I think we’re two really similar teams,” Gilbert said. “We both rely on speed instead of size. It’s going to be a fun game to watch.”
It should be a good quarterback battle. Everyone around here knows of the impressive season Avon senior Ryan O’Rourke has produced, but Columbian senior Ethan Kagy — who is listed as a tailback and strong safety on the Tornadoes’ official roster — has passed for 1,332 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 818 yards and nine scores.
“Their quarterback is a dual threat, which is something that’s kind of new to us,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “Their quarterback and wide receiver (Derek Kneeskern) are extremely fast. They were both part of the 4-by-100 relay team that finished fifth in the state last year.”
Kneeskern leads the team in scoring with 16 touchdowns, 41 extra points, a 2-point conversion and two field goals. He has caught 50 passes for 870 yards and 14 scores.
Each coach took time praising the other’s defense, and each mentioned the linebackers as an area of strength.
“We’ve seen three- or four-receiver sets against Fostoria and Fremont (Ross),” Gilbert said. “We’re comfortable defending a wide-open attack.”
Confident words from the coach of a team that just won its eight league title in nine years and is making its 10th playoff appearance.
“Our kids kind of feel like they are the underdogs in this game … and I kind of like that,” Elder said. “Columbian has won their conference the past four years and they’ve been here before. I think it comes down to a game between two evenly matched teams and it could go the way of whoever makes the least mistakes.” 

UNSUNG HERO

Brandin Munson, junior, defensive lineman

There’s no position on the field that deserves the title of unsung hero more than that of the defensive lineman, according to Avon coach Mike Elder.
“Being on the defensive line is kind of a thankless job,” Elder said. “Because when the defense is clicking it’s the linebackers that get all the credit for making the plays and when the defense is giving up yardage, the linemen get blamed.”
But Elder said one of the linemen that has impressed him the most is junior Brandin Munson, who came up big during the season-opening win at Aurora — but at a price.
“He’s been battling a hamstring injury since Week 1,” Elder said. “Brandin can totally dominate when he is healthy, but it won’t be until the offseason that it finally heals up. He’s found a way to battle through it every game this season.”
Munson, who has 22 tackles and one for a loss, said the injury actually occurred well before this season — nearly three years ago when he was throwing javelin for his track team in Massachusetts. Since then, he moved to Indiana — where his Division I high school reached the state final four in football — and moved to Avon last summer.
“It’s kind of a chronic hamstring injury,” Munson said. “Between track, wrestling and football, I’ve never really been able to deal with it fully. In the second half of the Aurora game it got really bad. I should have probably been on crutches.”
Munson went to a physical therapist after the game and said the injury has felt better since receiving treatment. It’s felt good enough, in fact, to get on the field and help the Eagles to a 10-0 regular season, a 7-0 win over Defiance last weekend in the playoff opener and to play tonight against Tiffin Columbian in the Division III regional semifinals.
The joy of a perfect season might be enough, but Munson has also got to play this year with his brother, Matt, a senior linebacker.
“We’ve been playing football together for a long time,” Brandin said. “Now we’re on the field at the same time, trying to work for the same goal.”

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.