Avon bringing pressure, not feeling it, after back-to-back state-title runs

AVON, Ohio — Coming off back-to-back state championships and eight state final four runs in the last nine years, Avon could have its most inexperienced team in that stretch.Only four starters are back on offense and two on defense from the football team that beat Cincinnati Anderson for a second straight season in Canton, but the Eagles’ depth for that run extended well beyond the starting lineup.“When you have great players like we have the last couple years and they leave, a lot of people look at that and say, ‘Oh boy,’” coach Mike Elder said Monday before his program’s intrasquad scrimmage. “To me, I see opportunities for new kids who have been playing JV football in this program and working exceptionally hard in the offseason. I think we’ve got a bunch of guys who now have put themselves in a position where they’re varsity ready.”Senior receiver Fin Jerdonek (776 yards, 10 touchdowns on 54 receptions) is one of the biggest returning playmakers, while center Jack Fitch and Caden Krugman lead the line for a run game that will have a seasoned player carrying the football in Michael Colburn (424 yards, seven TDs). He took the bulk of the carries while starters Quiante Smith and Cam Wendell were out because of injury.Quarterback Blake Elder will be tough to replace, but Avon has already proved it can do that when Elder stepped in for cleveland.com Offensive Player of the Year Nolan Good, who led the Eagles’ 2024 title run.Defensively, Jairel Fenton was a pickoff artist last season with six interceptions at corner. He is moving to safety, similarly to how Jakob Weatherspoon (now playing college football at North Carolina) did for the Eagles. Fenton also now has offensive duties at running back to complement Colburn. “Freshman year, it was me and Mike,” Fenton said. “We were going every two plays. We had an insane amount of stats.”In addition to two returning starters, Fenton and Colburn will have a potential Division I college recruit blocking for them in junior guard Derek Weitzel. Defensively, senior tackle Nolan Robke and edge rusher Grady Szucs picked up their play down the stretch for Avon’s latest state-title run.“I don’t want this team carrying pressure and expecting they’ve got to win the state championship or bust,” Elder said. “It’s never been what it’s about at Avon. We’ve been all about developing young people, creating an uncommon brotherhood and we’re doing that right now. I told them, ‘Just keep getting better every day, and by the end of the year, hopefully you’re a team that nobody wants to play.’”Check them out in the video at the top of this post and learn more about the Eagles in this quick breakdown, which is part of the cleveland.com preseason camp tour:Who’s the best safety in NE Ohio football 2026? Our picks, your votesAug. 4, 2026, 6:05a.m.Best running backs in Ohio Division IV, DV high school football entering 2026Aug. 4, 2026, 6:00a.m.Why Garfield Heights’ beefed-up roster could make it a team to beat in Division IIIAug. 3, 2026, 8:05a.m.Avon Eagles2025 finish: 14-1, Division II state championCoach: Mike Elder (20th season)Players to watchTrevor Sykora, QB/P, 6-0, 165, jr.Casey Birth, QB, 6-0, 205, jr.Colin Fox, QB, 5-9, 155, so.Michael Colburn, RB, 5-9, 185, sr.Fin Jerdonek, WR, 5-9, 170, sr.Caeden Bennett, WR, 6-0, 170, sr.Jackson Palmer, WR/S, 5-10, 170, sr.Gavin Koehler, WR/CB, 6-0, 190, jr.Caden Krugman, G/OT, 6-1, 255, sr.Derek Weitzel, G/DT, 6-3, 285, jr.Jack Fitch, C, 5-10, 235, sr.Ryan Wysocki, OL/DL, sr.Grady Szucs, DE, 6-1, 210, sr.Nolan Robke, DT, 6-2, 250, sr.Jack Goldian, OLB/TE, 6-2, 210, sr.Nathan Peters, LB/TE, sr.Jairel Fenton, S/WR, 5-10, 180, sr.Johnny Scott, DB, 5-9, 175, jr.ScheduleAug. 20 vs. St. Ignatius at Huntington Bank FieldAug. 28 vs. Pine-Richland (Pa.)Sept. 4 at Upper ArlingtonSept. 11 vs. North RidgevilleSept. 18 at Olmsted FallsSept. 25 vs. Berea-MidparkOct. 2 at MidviewOct. 9 vs. AmherstOct. 16 at Avon LakeOct. 23 vs. Elyria