Making it 4-0 Avalon defeated Hope Academy of Compton 55-28 at a field in San Pedro last Saturday.  With this win Avalon has advanced in the national, state and league standings.  Avalon is now ranked 15th in the Nation for 6, 8 and 9 man teams, 4th in the State and 1st in the Express League!

The Avalon Lancers met the Hope Academy Lions at Daniels Field in San Pedro last Saturday at 1 p.m. with a dozen or so Avalon folks in the stands to root them on.  The Lancers kicked off and despite defensive efforts of Oskar Casillas, Hernan Soto, and Brett Hernandez the Lions RB No. 5 scored a TD on their sixth play.  Failing the point after effort the score was 6-0 Lions.

Jose Octavo received the Lion kick off and returned it for 25 yards and picked up another 12 yards on a hand off from QB Hernan Soto.  Hernan on a keeper and the Wedge gained another 12 and it was 1st and goal at the 6.  Hernan handed off to Oskar Casillas who ran the ball into the end zone for Avalon's first TD of the afternoon and with a failed point after the score was tied at 6-6.

The Lions were forced to punt on their next series as Miguel Leyva, Brett Hernandez and Spencer Creigh stopped them cold.  Hernan Soto returned the punt and it was the Lancers ball on the Lions 37.  With a combination of hand offs to Jose Octavo and keepers the Lancers advanced to the Lions 6" line and on a keeper Hernan drove across the line for the TD.  Hernan handed off to Oskar Casillas for the points after and the score was 14-6 Avalon.

The Lions were stopped again on their next series of plays and the Lancers took possession and in two plays on a hand off from Soto to Octavo scored again and failing the point after the score was 20-6.

The Lions came back and despite sacks by JD Laflin and Vince Viernes and Vince and Spencer Creigh and tackles by Mark Ramirez their No. 5 scored a TD and then in a free for all scrabble with 3 laterals the Lions failed to score the 2 points after and the score was 20-12 Avalon.

Avalon responded with 2 QB keepers, 5 hand offs to Jose Octavo and 2 to Oskar Casillas and scored a TD, Oskar's kick was good for the point after and the score was 27-12 Avalon with 2:47 remaining in the half.

The Lions failed to convert on their next serious of plays and Avalon took possession on the Lions 20 and on hand offs to Octavo and Casillas and a keeper Avalon scored again and Oskar's kick was good for the point after and the score was 34-12 Avalon with :38 remaining in the half.

The Lions took possession 1st and 10 at the 21 but Alex Padilla, JD Laflin and Spencer Creigh stopped them for no yardage and then on 2nd and 10 with :02 remaining Brett Hernandez  and Spencer Creigh held them as the half ended with the score 34-12 Avalon.

The second half opened with Jose Octavo returning the Lions kick off, breaking three tackles for a 30 yard run.  Avalon scored again on 2 hand offs each to Casillas and Octavo and with Casillas' kick good the score was 41-12 Avalon.

The Lions were stopped on their next series of plays by Mark Ramirez, Hernan Soto, Spencer Creigh and JD Laflin who sacked their QB and on the next play knocked down a long pass to their No. 5 on 4th down and Avalon got possession on their 37.  QB Soto handed off to Rafael Olivera for 4 yards and then on a reverse from Soto to Casillas to Octavo Avalon scored the TD and Casillas' kick was good again and the score was 48-12 Avalon.

The Lions then went to the air on their next series and got three first downs then on 2nd and 7 Leo Garcia stopped their QB who fumbled the ball which was recovered by Spencer Creigh and Avalon again had possession with 11:37 remaining in the game. 

On four straight hand off plays to Leo Garcia and one to Fidel Rodriguez Avalon scored again, failing a two point after pass attempt the score was 48-20 Avalon.

The Lions failed to convert on 4th down in their next series and Avalon took possession and after a keeper and a hand off to Octavo for a first down Soto passed to JD Laflin who scored another Avalon TD, the kick was good and the score was 55-20 Avalon.

The Lions responded and on a combination of running and pass plays scored a TD and on a pass scored the two points after and the score was 55-28 Avalon.

A combination of great defensive plays by Mark Ramirez, Miguel Leyva, Brett Hernandez and Spencer Creigh the game ended with the score of 55-28 Avalon.

Great Game?

Come see Avalon play their first Express League game this Friday night in Huntington Beach against Liberty Christian at 8 p.m.  Call Patty Engel at 310-510-0790 for the address and directions to the game.

- By David Creigh