DIVISION II PLAYOFFS Shroeder leads Avon Lake past E. Liverpool

The Shoremen rolled past the Potters 31-14 in Massillon behind running back Jon Schroeder.
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MASSILLON -- In a game marked by big plays, it was the steadiness of junior Jon Schroeder that made the difference for Avon Lake High.
Schroeder, a 6-foot, 170-pound running back, finished with 124 yards and the final touchdown in the Shoremen's 31-14 victory over East Liverpool in a Division II Region 7 semifinal at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Schroeder touched the ball on 11 of 12 plays in Avon Lake's game-deciding touchdown drive, a 54-yard effort, and his 6-yard run with 9 minutes, 41 seconds remaining in the contest made it 30-14.
Rob Roark's extra point kick provided the final points.
Special teams factor
"They say games are won by defense and championships are won by special teams," said East Liverpool coach Bob Thayer, "and Avon Lake was better on special teams tonight."
Roark scored seven points, including a 37-yard field goal just before halftime, which gave the Shoremen a 17-14 lead at the intermission.
But the signature plays of the night came from Matt Kostelnik.
His 47-yard reception on the first drive of the game led to Avon Lake's first touchdown, then he returned a punt 62 yards for the second TD, and the Shoremen had a 14-0 lead with less than six minutes elapsed.
Bad field position
The second half was a battle of field position. East Liverpool didn't have it and it affected their play calling.
Take away one possession that started at the Avon Lake 49, and the average start of the Potters' five remaining drives was their own 20.
"Their kicking game pinned us deep and we could not get out of that hole," said Thayer. "The whole second half was played at their end of the field."
Following East Liverpool's second possession of the third quarter, the Shoremen began at the Potters' 30.
On the second play, quarterback Tyler Booher found Trey Stross behind the secondary for a 26-yard scoring pass, giving Avon Lake a 24-14 lead.
Seven straight plays
The next Shoremen drive began at the East Liverpool 46. Schroeder carried the ball on seven straight plays, to the ELO 10.
He caught an 8-yard pass to give Avon Lake a first-and-goal at the 2, and three players later, following a false start penalty, ran it in from the 6.
"Big plays and mistakes on our part were the difference in the game," Thayer said.
"We ran the ball well and we controlled their run fairly well in the first half. But we allowed big plays to get us in the hole."
Justin Campbell rushed for 65 yards to lead the Potters (8-4). Quarterback Matt Skrinjar was 9-for-24 for 108 yards. He was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter.
Avon Lake (11-1) out-gained the Potters 271-258. Booher finished 8-for-16 for 121 yards and two scores.