Some would say it's the beauty of the IHSAA football tournament. A team can forget the past, wipe their losing record from the regular season completely away, and then start off with a clean slate on the opening night of sectionals. Avon football is the perfect example of a team making the most of it's circumstances.
"It helps every team this time of year," said Head Coach Dave Shelbourne. "There's no tomorrow. You've got to play your best, you can't get a do over, and you've got to come out and perform. We try to preach it to he kids, and I'm sure Coach Comer is doing that out in Brownsburg, that you don't get these kind of opportunities too many times in your lifetime, and you need to take advantage of it."
The Orioles have done more than taking advantage of their brand new season. Entering the playoffs, Avon sat with a disappointing 3-6 record. But then came sectionals, where the Orioles defeated the dark-horse favorite to win the state championship in Ben Davis by the score of 28-24, and then defeated No. 6 Pike on the road 10-7. Coach Shelbourne believes the team's youth and lack of experience may have dampened the team's chances of winning during the regular season, but believes the team is now starting to focus with a new attitude.
"I think our kids were trying hard, but there was a little lack of confidence," said Shelbourne on why he believes the sudden turn-around has taken place. "There was a little bit of a lack of confidence. You know they wanted to do well, but I don't think they were confident that they could. As we've gotten a little bit more experienced and the season has gone on, we've focused a little bit better, and I think we've learned to play every game of the entire game."
For Avon's Cinderella run to continue on, they must beat Brownsburg tomorrow night for a sectional championship. The school's met earlier in the year, with Brownsburg winning the game 21-17, despite the Orioles leading the game 17-7 heading into the end of the first half. Coach Shelbourne believes a mix of the Orioles costly mistakes in the second half, along with the Bulldogs stellar play, are the reasons that ultimately cost Avon the game.
However, he expects to see a packed house tomorrow night at Avon when the two rivals meet up again, in a game which will declare if Cinderella is ready to dance one more time.
"It's a huge rivalry, both communities will be involved. The Avon kids get up to play Brownsburg, and the Brownsburg kids get up to play us. I think it's going to be a terrific game with a lot of intensity and a lot of big hitting. You know it's kind of cliched', but I think the team that makes the fewest mistakes and the biggest plays will come out the winner."
"It helps every team this time of year," said Head Coach Dave Shelbourne. "There's no tomorrow. You've got to play your best, you can't get a do over, and you've got to come out and perform. We try to preach it to he kids, and I'm sure Coach Comer is doing that out in Brownsburg, that you don't get these kind of opportunities too many times in your lifetime, and you need to take advantage of it."
The Orioles have done more than taking advantage of their brand new season. Entering the playoffs, Avon sat with a disappointing 3-6 record. But then came sectionals, where the Orioles defeated the dark-horse favorite to win the state championship in Ben Davis by the score of 28-24, and then defeated No. 6 Pike on the road 10-7. Coach Shelbourne believes the team's youth and lack of experience may have dampened the team's chances of winning during the regular season, but believes the team is now starting to focus with a new attitude.
"I think our kids were trying hard, but there was a little lack of confidence," said Shelbourne on why he believes the sudden turn-around has taken place. "There was a little bit of a lack of confidence. You know they wanted to do well, but I don't think they were confident that they could. As we've gotten a little bit more experienced and the season has gone on, we've focused a little bit better, and I think we've learned to play every game of the entire game."
For Avon's Cinderella run to continue on, they must beat Brownsburg tomorrow night for a sectional championship. The school's met earlier in the year, with Brownsburg winning the game 21-17, despite the Orioles leading the game 17-7 heading into the end of the first half. Coach Shelbourne believes a mix of the Orioles costly mistakes in the second half, along with the Bulldogs stellar play, are the reasons that ultimately cost Avon the game.
However, he expects to see a packed house tomorrow night at Avon when the two rivals meet up again, in a game which will declare if Cinderella is ready to dance one more time.
"It's a huge rivalry, both communities will be involved. The Avon kids get up to play Brownsburg, and the Brownsburg kids get up to play us. I think it's going to be a terrific game with a lot of intensity and a lot of big hitting. You know it's kind of cliched', but I think the team that makes the fewest mistakes and the biggest plays will come out the winner."
