Expect Avon-Cincinnati Anderson Division II state championship football rematch to be an epic clash | Analysis

Avon and Cincinnati Anderson face off for the second straight season in the Division II state championship game, once again at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, with a mix of new faces and returning standouts.

In a snow globe-like environment for the 2024 edition, the Eagles defeated the Raptors, 20-13, with a stop on defense as time expired.

Next door to where the greatest players to grace the gridiron are honored at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Avon will look to become the second Lorain County team to win back-to-back titles since Elyria Catholic in 1983 and 1984.

The Eagles blazed the same path as their 2024 championship season, with regional wins against Olmsted Falls, Wadsworth and Medina Highland.

Instead of facing Akron Hoban in a state semifinal, Avon played Walsh Jesuit at the University of Akron and won, 38-7.

Anderson enters the state championship game undefeated at 14-0.

The Raptors played Edgewood, Butler and Mount Healthy in Division II, Region 8 in 2024. Then they defeated Big Walnut in a state semifinal. This year, they swept through LaSalle, Withrow and Trotwood-Madison before beating Big Walnut in a state semifinal rematch.

Key players

RB Quiante Smith, Avon >> Since starting in 2024, Smith has been Avon’s playoff workhorse. After a three-touchdown state semifinal performance against Akron Hoban last year, he scored against Anderson, with 44 rushing yards. He had another three-touchdown performance against Wadsworth in a regional quarterfinal in 2025. Despite an injury sidelining him for half the regular season, Smith has 583 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while sharing the backfield with Cam Wendell (11 touchdowns).

ATH Jakob Weatherspoon, Avon >> Blocked an extra point against the Raptors last year. He was uncommitted at the time and flipped from Ohio State to North Carolina. The four-star suffered a season-ending injury late in the regular season and will not play Dec. 4.

DL Lance Dawson, Avon >> After getting five tackles in the 2024 state title game, Dawson ascended from a rotation player to a starter committed to Cincinnati.

LB Ryan Stolarski, Avon >> Stolarski became a Miami (Ohio) recruit after he was Avon’s second-leading tackler in 2024. He leads the Eagles this fall with 98 tackles and recorded five sacks to be named Division II Northeast Lakes Defensive Player of the Year.

OL Max Hauck, Avon >> Hauck started on Avon’s offensive line, along with fellow first-team all-district selection Eian Englehart. Hauck (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) was moved from left guard to left tackle.

Avon football’s trainer mom shapes son, standout lineman Max Hauck

DB Caden Clapham, Avon >> Along with captain Jerry Clements, they each had at least five tackles against Anderson. They are now fly-around defensive backs with at least 40 tackles.

LB Antwione Higgins, Anderson >> A four-star who is ranked 10th at his position with 33 FBS offers. The junior sits at 61 tackles with 8.5 TFLs, two interceptions and three sacks.

DB Ace Alston, Anderson >> While 247Sports ranks Higgins the No. 3 recruit for 2027, Alston is at No. 2. With 46 tackles and two interceptions, the four-star has 40 FBS offers, which includes the Big Ten and SEC.

LB Reid Baker, Anderson >> Baker had nine tackles against Avon in 2024. Baker has an offer from Fairmont State.

DB Ke’Maury Tye, Anderson >> Tye was named second-team all-district and had six tackles against the Eagles. He holds several MAC offers.

LB Brady Kuhn, Anderson >> Had six tackles against Avon. Kuhn is Anderson’s leading tackler with a whopping 118, 26.5 TFLs and nine sacks. The 6-4, 216-pound linebacker is committed to Air Force.

New faces

QB Blake Elder, Avon >> Coach Mike Elder’s son won the Lorain County Golden Helmet award. He has completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,822 yards, 31 touchdowns to four interceptions.

WR Fin Jerdonek, Avon >> A punt returner last year, Jerdonek is the new Maxey in the Eagles’ offense. The slot receiver became Elder’s second favorite target, with 49 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdown receptions.

OL Jack Fitch, Avon >> Fitch is Avon’s only offensive lineman to score a touchdown, with a recovered fumble in the end zone against Highland. He was named all-Northeast Lakes District honorable mention.

LB Vinny DeTillio, Avon >> Was a rotational linebacker who recorded four tackles in Canton last season. With 57 tackles, DiTillio is Avon’s third leading tackler.

DB Trevor Maly, Avon >> Maly (64 tackles) is Avon’s second-leading tackler after having one in the 2024 state title game. He is also the Eagles’ backup quarterback.

Trevor Maly wears many hats for Avon football

DB Jariel Fenton, Avon >> With five interceptions, Fenton had two major impactful interceptions in the postseason run. The first was a pick-six at Wadsworth, and the other was against Walsh.

RB Jordan Davis, Anderson >> After rushing for 671 yards at Milford (4-7 in 2024), Davis transferred to Anderson. Nicknamed the “Main Event” on X, he is a dual-threat running back with 1,386 (671 rushing, 715 receiving) yards from scrimmage and has scored 25 touchdowns. He has MAC offers to Toledo, Kent State and Miami (Ohio).

QB Owen Scalf, Anderson >> Like Elder, Scalf replaced a Division II Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback. Similar to Justice Burnam, he can run (640 rushing yards) and throw (4,584 passing yards). He scored seven touchdowns on the ground, with 39 through the air. He is 14th in the OHSAA record book for passing yards in a season and is 54 yards away from surpassing his older brother and former Anderson quarterback Griffin Scalf (12th in state).

Anderson QB Owen Scalf has thrown for 4,584 yards and enters Thursday’s state final No. 14 on @OHSAASports list for most passing yards in a season. He is 53 yards from tying his brother, former Anderson QB Griffin Scalf. Griffin is No. 12 with 4,637 yards. @WCPO @_AHS_Football pic.twitter.com/u60Q6vrDig

— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) December 1, 2025

WR Tysin Weaver, Anderson >> Is Anderson’s leading receiver with 80 catches, 1,250 yards and 19 touchdowns.

WR Tegan Jallick, Anderson >> Trace Jallick was the Raptors’ top receiver in 2024, his little brother Tegan Jallick caught 72 passes for 832 yards with six touchdowns.

DB Mark Madden, Anderson >> An athlete who has offers from Indiana, Kentucky and a couple of MAC programs. He has 62 tackles, with six pass deflections.

LB James Schurstein, Anderson >> Is one of Anderson’s top pass rushers with 8.5 sacks.

WR Cooper Kathman, Anderson >> Kathman was not Anderson’s top receiver last year, but he caught a pair of passes for 12 yards in Canton. The Raptors’ second-best target, he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, with eight touchdown receptions.

Key seniors in 2024

QB Nolan Good, Avon >> The Eagles’ Mr. Football finalist was their offensive catalyst. He contributed with two of Avon’s three touchdowns, with 190 rushing yards and threw for 143 in Canton. Good has appeared in two Kent State football games in college.

WR Matt Maxey, Avon >> After catching a 44-yard touchdown pass against Anderson, his final game in an Eagles uniform had him with three catches for 83 yards. The first-team All-Ohioan joined Good at Kent State and played in one game.

OL Jeremiah Kelly, Avon >> Kelly was one of Avon’s captains. He was a first-team All-Ohioan who anchored its offensive line, alongside All-Ohioan Connor Bingham. After winning a state championship, he passed away while at the University of Cincinnati’s spring training.

TE Ty Beerbohm, Avon >> Beerbohm was the extra lineman needed for Avon’s pushing postseason rushing attack. The 6-5 tight end kept his wings as an Eagle at Ashland (10-3), winning a G-MAC title in 2025.

DL Jason Gillespie, Avon >> Gillespie recorded five tackles and a half-sack before heading to Slippery Rock (6-4).

QB Justice Burnam, Anderson >> Burnam shared the Division II Offensive Player of the Year Award with Good and Keller Molton (Walsh Jesuit). He scored the Raptors’ touchdowns through the air (150 passing yards) and on the ground (148 rushing yards). He is at Georgetown College with teammate Alex Stanyard (2024 All-Ohio honorable mention).

WR Aidan McClanahan, Anderson >> Was the Raptors’ second-leading receiver (842 yards, 11 touchdowns) and caught Burnam’s touchdown pass in the second quarter against Avon to tie the game at 7-7.

WR Trace Jallick, Anderson >> Statistically had one one of the best receiving seasons in OHSAA history. Currently at Mercyhurst, he caught 107 passes for 1,932 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. All were acknowledged in the OHSAA record books.

WR Caden Piening, Anderson >> Prior to heading to UCF, Piening had 782 yards off 42 receptions. He was Anderson’s third-leading receiver.

DB Jayonn Saunders, Anderson >> Saunders was named third-team All-Ohio, and he returned three kicks against Avon in 2024. In addition, he also led Anderson with 10 tackles and forced an Avon fumble in the red zone that resulted in a touchback. He plays at Mercyhurst with Jallick.

OL Cam Mathis, Anderson >> Mathis was Anderson’s best offensive lineman, who was named All-Ohio honorable mention.

Avon vs. Cincinnati Anderson

What: Division II state championship game

When: 7 p.m., Dec. 4

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton

Records: Avon 13-1, Anderson 14-0

TV: Spectrum News 1

Radio: WOBL-FM 107.7, AM 1320, WDLW-FM 98.9, AM 1380

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