Avon (1-0) found itself down, 12-7, with more than five minutes to play in regulation when standout running back Nick Perusek broke free for a 16-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a one-point lead before a failed two-point conversion.

The defense went to work holding Avon Lake deep within its own territory, and an incomplete pass on fourth down set up an Avon drive that all but secured the win. Quarterback Danny Zeh muscled three yards for a first down with less than two minutes to play, giving Avon a 13-12 win.

“It was awesome,” Perusek said. “This might have been the best game I’ve ever been a part of, definitely the most fun game I’ve ever been a part of.”

Perusek showed why he’s widely regarded as not only one of the top running backs, but one of the best high school football players in Lorain County.

The senior finished with both of Avon’s touchdowns when he caught a 23-yard pass from Zeh midway through the first quarter to put the Eagles up, 7-0, and again in the fourth quarter to give his team the lead.

He finished with 81 yards on 20 carries and caught four passes for 29 yards.

“We knew they were gonna have a really tough defense going in and our offense didn’t really start clicking till we got our passing game down and that’s what really opened up the run,” Perusek said.

Zeh had a generally positive showing in his first game under center after backing up All-Ohio quarterback Ryan Maloy for two seasons.

He finished 14-of-22 with 112 yards and a touchdown on a night where the Avon Lake pressure forced him to make tough play after tough play. And his only misstep was an interception in the end zone late in the second quarter.

“Danny was under duress and pressure and I don’t know that we always put him in the best situations in this game but for the most part, he made one bad decision, but he’s a first-year starter in a pretty big atmosphere so he’ll grow up and get better,” Avon coach Mike Elder said.

Elder could not express enough how proud he is of his team to find a way to win against a defense that he knew would be one of the toughest his team would face all season.

“That defense that we just played is one of the best I’ve seen on film in a long, long time and that’s no fluke,” he said. “We knew what we were getting into in this kind of game. … What about the belief of our kids. They never quit. They’re programmed and conditioned to keep playing till the end.”

Unfortunately for Avon Lake it was penalties that kept the Shoremen from truly taking over the game, as they finished with 14 penalties for 114 yards when the playoff-like atmosphere seemingly got to the offensive line.

“We can erase those penalties in a 13-12 game, but we can’t beat ourselves,” Avon Lake coach Matt Kostelnik said. “We played tough tonight but we came up a point short.

“The idea is we got to get back, got to play Shoremen football and do what we do best.

Gage Duesler had Avon Lake’s lone touchdown, a four-yard run, and finished with 45 yards while Harry Hebert added 22 and Michael Corbo 70. Hebert added two field goals of 30 and 34 yards, respectively.

Avon Lake travels to Clarksville to face Clinton-Massie next week while Avon prepares to travel to Lorain.

“(The win) gives us such a wave of momentum and it will really help us throughout the whole season, especially next week against Lorain,” Perusek said.

Perkins at Elyria Catholic

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Knights of Columbus Field, Elyria Catholic High School, 725 Gulf Road, Elyria

2018 records: Perkins 2-8, Elyria Catholic 9-3

For the record: Elyria Catholic is looking to pick up where it left off after an incredible 2018 season. With 25 returning lettermen the Panthers are primed to do just that, and a home opener against a young Perkins team that finished with a mere two wins last season should help set the stage for another banner year. Junior Steven Navilinsky steps in at quarterback with plenty of big targets, including three returners: Jaret Frantz (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), Connor Trockley (6-3, 175) and Nate Damron (6-5, 220). Despite maybe a few adjustments, the Panthers should command the field against Perkins.

Independence at Columbia

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Columbia Raiders Stadium, 14168 W. River Road, Columbia Station

2018 records: Independence 6-4, Columbia 7-4

Last meeting: 2018 – Columbia won, 35-6.

For the record: Columbia won this game handily last season but this isn’t the same team as it has been in the past. The Raiders return three starters on offense and one on defense, lost the county’s all-time leading rusher – Brandon Coleman – to graduation and have been forced to retool the offense with a group of young, inexperienced players. This game is the first chance to see how first-year quarterback Andrew Champagne and junior Joe Governale, who takes over for Coleman, fill the voids on offense, while a defense with one returning starter, senior lineman Carson Heidecker, finds its footing against the Division VII Blue Devils.

Avon Lake at Avon

What: Southwestern Conference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Joe Firment Chevrolet Stadium, 3075 Stoney Ridge Road, Avon

2018 records: Avon Lake 10-2, Avon 12-2

Last meeting: 2018 – Avon Lake won, 31-28.

For the record: Avon Lake has beaten its rival twice in the past three seasons, including a 2016 first-round playoff game. This year the teams aren’t waiting until the second half of the season to face each other. Avon will no doubt pack the house for its season-opener and arguably its most anticipated game of the season when it debuts a new-look offense, including senior quarterback Danny Zeh. The Shoremen offense looks different from 2018 as they too have a first-year quarterback in senior Harry Herbert, but feature an athletic defense with seven returners that will make for an instant classic typical of most Avon Lake-Avon football games.

Elyria at Midview

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Ross Field at Ed Adelsburg Stadium, 38199 W. Capel Road, Grafton

2018 records: Elyria 0-10, Midview 2-8

Last meeting: 2014 – Midview won, 42-25.

For the record: Both teams are looking to make a statement in their season opener after sub-par finishes in 2018. Midview returns most of its offensive and defensive lines which will help first-year quarterback Zac Gill, who also has a pair of running backs, T.Y. Nelson and Domenic Roman, and wide receiver Nathan Bashak returning to the lineup. On the other hand, Elyria returns eight starters on offense, including quarterback Dylan Sharlow, and six on defense. But the Middies always create a tough environment for opponents which will be difficult for Elyria to overcome if it gets behind early.

Keystone at Bay

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Bay Memorial Stadium, 29230 Wolf Road, Bay Village

2018 records: Keystone 5-5, Bay 8-3

Last meeting: 2018 – Bay won, 27-6.

For the record: Don’t expect a similar lopsided result as last season. Keystone returns seven starters on each side of the ball including one of the area’s top quarterbacks in senior Jacob Shackelford and its entire offensive and defensive lines. Bay brings back quarterback Logan LaMere, but the senior is one of only three returning starters on offense while the defense has four. Home field advantage could help the Rockets in this game but Keystone will no doubt put up a tough fight in a game that, should the Wildcats win, would help their playoff chances down the road.

Firelands at Edison

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Edison Charger Stadium, 2603 State Route 113 East, Milan

2018 records: Firelands 4-6, Edison 3-6

Last meeting: 2018 – Edison won, 41-23.

For the record: Edison owns a 3-1 advantage in the series since these teams began scheduling each other in 2015, with Firelands’ only win over the Chargers coming in 2017. The Falcons are still a generally young team despite returning 20 lettermen, but have experience and athleticism to improve on last season’s 4-6 record. Edison is coming off a down-year, too, having not won a game since Sept. 7, 2018, and will put up a tough fight against Firelands on its home field.

Lorain at Brunswick

What: Nonconference game

When: 7 p.m., Aug. 30

Where: Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium, 3581 Center Road, Brunswick

2018 records: Lorain 6-4, Brunswick 1-9

For the record: This Lorain senior class has been waiting to take the field since last year’s final game. The Titans are loaded with playmakers on offense and are determined to make a statement on the road in their season opener. Brunswick is coming off a one-win season in 2018, its only win against Elyria (31-0), but plays in the brutal Greater Cleveland Conference so the Blue Devils are used to stiff competition. Lorain knows what it can do on offense, it’ll just be about settling in as it takes the field for the first time, but the defense needs to show what it can do against a Division I opponent.

Vermilion at Toledo Bowsher

What: Nonconference game

When: Aug. 29, 7 p.m.

Where: Bowsher High School, 3548 S. Detroit, Toledo

2018 records: Vermilion 3-7, Bowsher 4-6

For the record: Vermilion opens the season with a rare Thursday night game when it travels 81 miles to Toledo to take on Bowsher, a team that finished 4-6 in 2018. The Rebels won’t give Vermilion any favors on the field either, considering they return eight starters on defense and bring in a host of talented juniors on offense to build on last year’s four win season. … Meanwhile the Sailors are extremely young and inexperienced in most areas and somewhat undersized, and as a Division IV team face a tough test against the D-I Rebels, who moved up from D-II this season. … At the very least, this game will force Vermilion to acclimate quickly and prove if they have what it takes to improve on last year’s sub-.500 record.

Rocky River at Westlake

What: Nonconference game

When: Aug. 29, 7 p.m.

Where: Lou Duchez Field at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center Stadium, 27830 Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake

2018 records: Rocky River 7-5, Westlake 1-9

Last meeting: 2014 – Rocky River won, 48-16.

For the record: Rocky River and Westlake are renewing a rivalry that dates to 1954. The teams haven’t met since 2014 but will be playing for the Westwood Cup on opening night. Westlake currently owns a 32-28-1 advantage over Rocky River, but the Demons have just one win over the past two seasons while the Pirates have posted back-to-back seven-win seasons including a regional semifinal appearance in 2018. … Westlake coach Dan LaRocco will be tasked with rebuilding the program in his first year and it likely starts with a statement win at home.