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Published: Friday, October 26, 2012
Walkersville’s Ezell runs into record books by Chris Reilly
Special to The Gazette
In what was a record breaking night to remember for its star running back Avery Ezell, the Walkersville High School football team kept its perfect season intact Friday night by defeating host Frederick 55-30. The Lions improved to 9-0 heading into the last week of the season and a game against rival and fellow unbeaten Middletown.
Ezell scored on the Lions opening drive on a 4-yard run up the middle to get Walkersville on the board early. The explosive senior back was just getting started.
By halftime, the Lions were up 42-22 and Ezell already had 210 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and three new school records — most points in season (145), most rushing touchdowns in a season (23) and most rushing touchdowns in a career (36).
All of those records were previously held by his older brother, Quentin Ezell.
“It feels great,” said the younger Ezell, who finished with five touchdowns and 239 yards on 30 carries. “It really wasn’t a part of my goal, but it’s definitely a nice accolade to go along with our undefeated season.”
Ezell has done an exceptional job over the past two seasons filling the shoes of his older brother as the focal point of one of the most dominant offenses in the county.
“He’s proud of me,” said Ezell, “He knows I’ve been working hard and it’s paying off.”
When asked if Quentin Ezell would be hearing from him tonight about the fact that there is a new name taking over Walkersville’s record book, the always humble senior smiled and said, “He might.”
With Ezell leading the way, the Lions were running at will all night against the Cadets (6-3) defense. Quarterback Brady Policelli scored on an 85-yard run at the end of the first quarter after Frederick cut the lead to 14-8. Myron Maiben took over in the second half for Ezell and finished with 106 rushing yards, including three runs over 30 yards.
In a game that featured little defense and two polar opposite offenses, Frederick found early success against the Lions through the air. Quarterback Matt Hynes completed 15-of-20 passes for 237 yards before going down with an injury to his right leg a few minutes before halftime. Reserve quarterback Minase Shiferaw took over with a minute remaining in the quarter and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Jerron Smith to give the Cadets a confidence boost heading into the second half.
“We always strive to do something a little bit different to make our opponent only have one week to prepare,” said Frederick head coach Vince Ahearn. “In a league that’s used to running, we did a lot of work with our empty sets in the offseason and have made it the premier part of our offense this year. If we can make it a shootout, then we have an opportunity.”
But Walkersville’s offense was too much for the Cadets defense too handle down the stretch. Despite giving up 375 total passing yards, the Lions defense played big when it mattered, coming up the four turnovers, including a critical fumble recovery when Frederick fumbled the ball on its 1.
“Our kids have worked really hard all season,” said Walkersville coach Joe Polce. “They deserve it. They’ve done everything we’ve asked and I’m really proud of them.”
The Lions wrap up the season next Friday at home against Middletown in a highly-anticipated game.
The Cadets, meanwhile, have lost consecutive games and need a lot of help to make the playoffs.
Walkersville 55, Frederick 30
Walkersville (9-0) 20 22 6 7 — 55
Frederick (6-3) 8 14 0 8 — 30
W — Avery Ezell 4 run (Brady Policelli kick)
W — Avery Ezell 16 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerel English 17 run (two point-conversion good, Matt Hynes pass to Sammy Gomer-Degomez)
W — Brady Policelli 85 run (two-point conversion no good)
W — Avery Ezell 6 run (two-point conversion good, Avery Ezell run)
W— Avery Ezell 89 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerron Smith 51 pass from Matt Hynes (two-point conversion no good)
W — Braden Smith 43 pass from Brady Politely (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerron Smith 52 pass from Minase Shiferaw (two-point conversion good, Troy Johnson run)
W — Avery Ezell 4 run (two-point conversion no good)
W — Trae Harris 3 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerel English 15 run (two-point conversion good, Minase Shiferaw pass to Jerel English)
RUSHING
Walkersville — Avery Ezell 30-239; Brady Policelli 8-121; Myron Maiben 4-106; Everett Polzin 2-4; Trae Harris 4-29
Frederick — Matt Hynes 3-13; Jerel English 6-72; Sammy Gomer-Degomez 1-21; Jerron Smith 1-1
PASSING
Walkersville — Brady Policelli 3-9-67-0
Frederick — Matt Hynes 15-20-237; Minase Shiferaw 13-20-138-1
RECEIVING
Walkersville — Cody Tharpe 1-12; Braden Smith 1-43; Nick Tucker 1-12
Frederick — Damon Mackin 7-78; Jerel English 7-88; Jerron Smith 10-162; Alex Levine 3-28; Justin Walker 1-14;
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© 2012 Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net
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Published: Friday, October 26, 2012
Walkersville’s Ezell runs into record books by Chris Reilly
Special to The Gazette
In what was a record breaking night to remember for its star running back Avery Ezell, the Walkersville High School football team kept its perfect season intact Friday night by defeating host Frederick 55-30. The Lions improved to 9-0 heading into the last week of the season and a game against rival and fellow unbeaten Middletown.
Ezell scored on the Lions opening drive on a 4-yard run up the middle to get Walkersville on the board early. The explosive senior back was just getting started.
By halftime, the Lions were up 42-22 and Ezell already had 210 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and three new school records — most points in season (145), most rushing touchdowns in a season (23) and most rushing touchdowns in a career (36).
All of those records were previously held by his older brother, Quentin Ezell.
“It feels great,” said the younger Ezell, who finished with five touchdowns and 239 yards on 30 carries. “It really wasn’t a part of my goal, but it’s definitely a nice accolade to go along with our undefeated season.”
Ezell has done an exceptional job over the past two seasons filling the shoes of his older brother as the focal point of one of the most dominant offenses in the county.
“He’s proud of me,” said Ezell, “He knows I’ve been working hard and it’s paying off.”
When asked if Quentin Ezell would be hearing from him tonight about the fact that there is a new name taking over Walkersville’s record book, the always humble senior smiled and said, “He might.”
With Ezell leading the way, the Lions were running at will all night against the Cadets (6-3) defense. Quarterback Brady Policelli scored on an 85-yard run at the end of the first quarter after Frederick cut the lead to 14-8. Myron Maiben took over in the second half for Ezell and finished with 106 rushing yards, including three runs over 30 yards.
In a game that featured little defense and two polar opposite offenses, Frederick found early success against the Lions through the air. Quarterback Matt Hynes completed 15-of-20 passes for 237 yards before going down with an injury to his right leg a few minutes before halftime. Reserve quarterback Minase Shiferaw took over with a minute remaining in the quarter and threw a 51-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline to Jerron Smith to give the Cadets a confidence boost heading into the second half.
“We always strive to do something a little bit different to make our opponent only have one week to prepare,” said Frederick head coach Vince Ahearn. “In a league that’s used to running, we did a lot of work with our empty sets in the offseason and have made it the premier part of our offense this year. If we can make it a shootout, then we have an opportunity.”
But Walkersville’s offense was too much for the Cadets defense too handle down the stretch. Despite giving up 375 total passing yards, the Lions defense played big when it mattered, coming up the four turnovers, including a critical fumble recovery when Frederick fumbled the ball on its 1.
“Our kids have worked really hard all season,” said Walkersville coach Joe Polce. “They deserve it. They’ve done everything we’ve asked and I’m really proud of them.”
The Lions wrap up the season next Friday at home against Middletown in a highly-anticipated game.
The Cadets, meanwhile, have lost consecutive games and need a lot of help to make the playoffs.
Walkersville 55, Frederick 30
Walkersville (9-0) 20 22 6 7 — 55
Frederick (6-3) 8 14 0 8 — 30
W — Avery Ezell 4 run (Brady Policelli kick)
W — Avery Ezell 16 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerel English 17 run (two point-conversion good, Matt Hynes pass to Sammy Gomer-Degomez)
W — Brady Policelli 85 run (two-point conversion no good)
W — Avery Ezell 6 run (two-point conversion good, Avery Ezell run)
W— Avery Ezell 89 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerron Smith 51 pass from Matt Hynes (two-point conversion no good)
W — Braden Smith 43 pass from Brady Politely (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerron Smith 52 pass from Minase Shiferaw (two-point conversion good, Troy Johnson run)
W — Avery Ezell 4 run (two-point conversion no good)
W — Trae Harris 3 run (Brady Policelli kick)
F — Jerel English 15 run (two-point conversion good, Minase Shiferaw pass to Jerel English)
RUSHING
Walkersville — Avery Ezell 30-239; Brady Policelli 8-121; Myron Maiben 4-106; Everett Polzin 2-4; Trae Harris 4-29
Frederick — Matt Hynes 3-13; Jerel English 6-72; Sammy Gomer-Degomez 1-21; Jerron Smith 1-1
PASSING
Walkersville — Brady Policelli 3-9-67-0
Frederick — Matt Hynes 15-20-237; Minase Shiferaw 13-20-138-1
RECEIVING
Walkersville — Cody Tharpe 1-12; Braden Smith 1-43; Nick Tucker 1-12
Frederick — Damon Mackin 7-78; Jerel English 7-88; Jerron Smith 10-162; Alex Levine 3-28; Justin Walker 1-14;
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© 2012 Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net
