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At Avella, every player counts
And that was early in the game.
Avella has 18 players on its roster and only 14 dressed for the homecoming game against Bentworth. Of the 14 who donned shoulder pads, one was a girl. Anastasia Barr left the cheerleading squad at midseason to help the Eagles continue to field a football team. She entered the game as a defensive back for three plays late in the Eagles' 50-8 loss in the Class A Black Hills Conference game.
Nearly every player on the Eagles' squad played both offense and defense, and the team did well just to keep 11 on the field. At Avella, every player counts.
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Running back Nathan Davis left the game late in the first half and did not return to the Eagles' sideline for the second half. Gray fears the freshman suffered a concussion.
"And I have another kid who has bruised ribs, if not broken ribs," Gray said.
Still, the outmanned Eagles (0-5, 0-7) continue to play hard, continue to practice hard, continue to impress coaches with their never-say-die attitude. The Eagles, though few in numbers, refuse to give up on a season that gave up on them a long time ago.
"These kids just keep showing me more courage every week," Gray said. "We're outmanned so badly every game. Teams can run up the middle at us at will, but our kids don't quit. The ones who are quitters, they aren't here anymore."
While the Eagles were in their locker room going over last-minute pregame details, Avella held its homecoming ceremonies. The Eagles' starting quarterback at the beginning of the season was named Homecoming King. Another former player who was named all-conference last year was in the court.
"We have a ton of kids who could be playing," said Avella junior quarterback Jesse Noble, who has played 10 positions this year. "We have athletic kids, big kids. But they say the team will stink even if they play, so they don't want to put the effort into the program."
Noble turned in quite an effort against Bentworth. He completed 11 of 22 passes for 135 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Damon Cupp-Sheader in the third quarter. Noble also rushed for 45 yards.
Noble is one of the few Avella students who are willing to overlook the school's recent football history. The Eagles have lost 25 consecutive games and 49 of their last 50.
"It's going to take a while to build the program because it had basically been run down to the bottom of the barrel," said Gray, a teacher at Avella who helped coach Duquesne to a WPIAL championship many years ago.
The "bottom of the barrel" is quite a fall for the once-proud Avella program. The Eagles have played in seven WPIAL championships games - the last in 1976 - and won or tied three of those.
Today, the Eagles settle for playing hard, which has been noticed around Washington County and the Black Hills Conference.
On Friday, the Avella team was visited by four Canon-McMillan players and Big Macs coach Guy Montecalvo.
"They came to the school and told us we are an inspiration to them because of what we're going through," Gray said. "They couldn't understand how we're hanging in there. They've been touched by us."
The Big Macs invited Avella's players to Canon-Mac's pregame dinner prior to its playoff game later this month. The Eagles also will stand on the Big Macs' sideline during the game. They'll find the sideline more crowded than what they're used to.
"I feel bad for them because Frank is doing a nice job," Bentworth coach Randy Walters said. "They play hard to the end."
That was shown when Avella, in its last possession of the night, drove 84 yards in 15 plays only to have the drive stall on the Bearcats' 12-yard line.
Avella, with a boys enrollment of 95, is the second-smallest public school in the WPIAL to field a football team. Mapletown (71 boys) is smaller.
Still, Gray sees light at the end of the tunnel for the Eagles. He started a junior high program that is hovering around the .500 mark. He expects 10 to 12 players from that team to make an impact on the varsity next year.
"It's going to take a while, two or three years" Gray said. "We only have two seniors, so we have almost everybody back. What we have now is the gustiest group I've ever been around."
Go Avella : 10/11/2008
I went to high school at Beth Center in the late 1950s. Before I went to high school, I played football on a team for kids aged nine through 12 years old. I played for the team in Marianna. Avella was always our toughest game of the year. So I am really surprised that Avella has so few players on its team. I really applaud the kids on the team, especially the young lady. I still remember many happy and proud moments when I played football. I think that those young men who won't join the football team will regret that fact in the future.
Keep on pushing : 10/11/2008
I attended Burgettstown in the 1980's. Even though we didn't play each other at the time, the Eagles had a good team at that time. I know now as a coach, that consistency is most important in building a program. If coach Gray is consistent and is allowed a few years to build, the Eagles will be back. Consistency is the key. I applaud all the young men and the young lady on the heart and desire to keep on fighting till the end. I also applaud coach Montecalvo and his players on their show of class and support. Keep on working and success will follow.
GREAT JOB AVELLA! : 10/13/2008
The team is really accomplishing what they really believe in --- there's no stopping them now! Also, I had a chance to meet the young lady who chose to help her school by joining the team. As a parent of a high school senior, I must say I was very impressed by her courage to do what she felt was right, her strength to carry it out, but most of all her intelligence was striking. I mean that as a compliment. Anyone out there who thinks this young lady doesn't have a clue what's going on is MISTAKEN. WAY TO GO!
lets go avella : 10/13/2008
look i played at chartiers-houston and we had so much respect for them boys and girls.i give them 11 boys,girls mad respect for never giving up on there selfs are there school it takes alot of heart to get out there and do what there doing and more people should show them more respect.I give mad respect to the girl on the team for steping up and playing thats kool as hell.i hope u guys/girls at AVELLA never give up on them there a ok team so back them up!!!
Three Cheers For Avella : 10/15/2008
Hang in there Avella, just hang in there. You day will come
I played for this team. : 11/19/2008
Hey guys i played for this Team. I was tackle/end till i was Hurt but i stuck with my team so if any of you have questions about our team/season i will be happy to ask
