Avonworth’s Jake Szolis heads for the end zone in the Antelopes’ 54-6 win over Our Lady of Sacred Heart’s first football team. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

Totally mismatched. That's the best way to sum up the game when Avonworth traveled to Robert Morris University to play Our Lady of Sacred Heart last Saturday.

The Antelopes, 7-1 and a good bet to at least claim a share of the Eastern Conference title, scored on seven of nine of their offensive possessions on their way to defeating the winless Chargers, who are in their maiden season, 54-6.

It was hard to tell what might happen in the beginning of the game especially after the Antelopes turned the ball over with a fumble on the game's opening possession.

"It was a lack of focus," said head coach Jason Kekseo."I wasn't worried -- any mistake affects me, but it's a good thing it didn't happen against a playoff caliber team."

Often it's hard to figure out how young players will prepare and approach a game like this.

"They're a very focused group of individuals," Kekseo said of his players. "I think they know what they want to accomplish and what our goals are. One of our goals at first each season is to win the conference and we do that by winning each game week to week," he said.

After recovering their own fumble and punting on their next possession, the Antelopes got themselves back in sync when their third possession moved in for a score starting from the OLSH 48.

Highlighting the drive was 12-yard run by Ricky Lawniczak that picked up a first down, and a pass completion by Brian Vales to Andrew Niklaus for another first down to the Chargers’ 14.

Vales then threw a 14-yard TD pass to Jake Szolis, which, followed by Elliot Miller’s extra point kick, put Avonworth up 7-0 with 4:09 to play in the first quarter.

OLSH picked up a couple of first downs on their next drive but that all came to an end when A.J. Mang intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to put the 'Lopes in front 13-0 with :13 left in the opening quarter.

Avonworth obtained good field position following a three-and out by the Chargers that set the Antelopes’ offense on their own 47. A 38-yard run by Szolis set up Niklaus' 15-yard TD run coming on a reverse, and then Miller's kick gave the 'Lopes a 20-0 lead with 10:47 left in the second quarter.

Ryan Schmid followed OLSH's next possession with a 30-yard punt return to set up the Antelope offense at the Chargers’ 10. Szolis ran the ball in from there on first down for the score, followed by Miller's kick, moving the 'Lopes ahead 27-0.

Avonworth's next possession started from their own 39 and moved entirely on the ground, with Vales handing the ball off to Lawniczak. Lawniczak had successive gains of 14, 17, 20 and 7 yards before finishing with a 3-yard TD run, followed by a conversion on the 2-point try, to up the Antelopes’ lead to 35-0 going into halftime.

The third quarter started with the mercy rule in effect and Avonworth stopping OLSH's opening possession before starting once again in good position from their own 46. Lawniczak picked up a first down on two carries before freshman tailback Andrew Broaddus zoomed 41 yards for a touchdown.

Miller's kick was blocked, but Avonworth led 41-0.

Broaddus was just getting warmed up. He took the hand-off on Avonworth's next possession and raced 72 yards for a touchdown to put the Antelopes in front 47-0.

The Chargers finally cracked the scoreboard with a big play -- a 62-yard TD run to put the score at 47-6 just minutes into the fourth quarter.

Reserve backs David Monroe, Jesse Zubik and Adam Schweiger all got carries on Avonworth's next drive, whichmoved 80 yards. Chris Woodard finished with a 10-yard TD run. Miller's kick put the final score at 54-6.

Broaddus had 113 yards on two carries, and Lawniczak had 103 yards on 12 carries.

Eddie Kurtz had 11 tackles, followed by Dalton Day with six and Tyler Noethinger with five.