PERRY — Avon came to the first-ever Ohio High School Football Coaches Association 7-on-7 regional tournament to compete and get better.
The Eagles not only did both, but figured they might as well win, too.
Following four victories on June 16, Avon won the Division I Northeast Regional at Perry High School to advance. Next week’s state finals will be held on June 23 at Columbus St. Charles.
“The one thing about Avon kids is they’re going to fight and battle,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “They’re all ultra competitive. If you see our practices, they look like this every day. It’s just kind of who we are. I was proud of them. It was fun. I want to make sure 7-on-7 isn’t real football, but you can certainly compete in it.”
PHOTOS: Perry, Kirtland, Brookside 7-on-7 football, June 16, 2025
The Eagles played both Youngstown Chaney and Maple Heights twice. They defeated Chaney in pool play, 20-10, and won the second matchup in the semifinals of bracket play, 14-8.
Avon beat Maple Heights in the final game of pool play, 20-11, before taming the Mustangs in the championship game in a 25-6 victory.
In the second matchup against both teams, Avon made adjustments and played better, especially defensively.
“We have the best coaches in Ohio,” Avon senior wide receiver Grant Barr said. “They are super smart on the sideline and they can see what their defense is within the game and exploit their weaknesses.”
Although there is only so much to take away from playing in 7-on-7s, they are beneficial for a group like Avon that has holes to fill on both sides of the ball.
Winning the regional title is a bonus, but the Eagles truly did get something out of this by building more chemistry.
“It feels great,” Avon senior quarterback Blake Elder said. “We came out here to compete and I think we did that. I think overall, we did pretty good. … I want to win in everything I do. As soon as we get out here, if there’s a chance we’re going to win, we’re going to win.”
On the flip side, Brookside couldn’t capture a state appearance in Division II.
The Cardinals finished 0-3 on the day and lost Cleveland Central Catholic in bracket play, 30-2. The Ironmen advanced to the championship game, where they lost to Kirtland.
“We have a little ways to go,” Brookside coach Scott O’Donnell said. “Those are all good teams — Kirtland is a very good team, they were in the state title game last year. Perry, Bob (Gecewich) does a great job with his team here. You knew that coming here. That doesn’t worry me as much as what we do and how we continue to get better and our guys continue to get better. That’s the big thing.”
Brookside lost in pool play to Norton, 21-13, and host Perry, 31-6. Despite the outcome, the team’s consensus is that they’re better off from playing such strong competition early in the offseason.
Brookside huddles during a 7-on-7 competition June 16 at Perry. (Steve Hare – For The News-Herald)
“It definitely meant a lot to us because this is our first competition this year,” Brookside junior quarterback Mason Waechter said. “It’s big that we see these big teams and we can see what we can get ready for this season.”