Coach: Rob Gibson, 0-0 in 1st year at school, 22-3 in 3rd year overall
2022 RECORD: 2-9
2022 RESULTS:
AUG. 19 AT LAWRENCE NORTH L 25 32
AUG. 26 BEN DAVIS L 13 44
SEP. 2 HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN L 13 48
SEP. 9 AT BROWNSBURG L 21 60
SEP. 16 AT FRANKLIN CENTRAL L 21 38
SEP. 23 FISHERS L 17 21
SEP. 30 AT WESTFIELD L 21 35
OCT. 7 ZIONSVILLE W 27 20
OCT. 14 AT NOBLESVILLE L 41 43
OCT. 28 AT PIKE W 25 14 SECTIONAL
NOV. 4 BROWNSBURG L 21 56 SECTIONAL
2023 SCHEDULE:
AUG. 18 LAWRENCE NORTH 6A 7:00 PM
AUG. 25 AT BEN DAVIS 6A 7:00 PM
SEP. 1 AT HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 6A © 7:00 PM
SEP. 8 BROWNSBURG 6A © 7:00 PM
SEP. 15 FRANKLIN CENTRAL 6A © 7:00 PM
SEP. 22 AT FISHERS 6A © 7:00 PM
SEP. 29 WESTFIELD 6A © 7:00 PM
OCT. 6 AT ZIONSVILLE 6A © 7:00 PM
OCT. 13 NOBLESVILLE 6A © 7:00 PM
KEY PLAYER LOSSES:
WR ANTHONY KENNEDY
OL TY MEAD
LB EVAN CHISHAM
WR CAM GREEN
RB JAIDEN JONES
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING:
QB MASON REYNOLDS
RB JAWSLEY BORDERS
WR NOAH WASHINGTON
WR JACE HURD
OL ZACH BANDY
OL ALEX CANALES
DL TONY GIBBS
DL FAWZY OMOTOSO
LB CARSON FOXEN
LB ELI PETERS
LB DONOVAN SEABORNE
DB CLARENCE CUNNINGHAM
DB KEYTON JONES
DB XAVIER SHERRELL
2023 OUTLOOK: From 2010 to 2020 Avon never had a losing season under former coach Mark Bless. Then things changed under Coach Bless in 2021 and 2022. The Orioles went 1-9 in 2021 and 2-9 in 2022. Bless is out and Rob Gibson is in. Coach Gibson went 22-3 at Owen Valley and won two sectional titles. The problem is Avon has to play the likes of HSE, Ben Davis and Brownsburg. Turning things around won’t be easy, but it isn’t impossible.
For the Orioles it all starts with QB Mason Reynolds (Western Michigan). The senior-to-be threw for over 2,000 yards last season and added 16 touchdowns. The receiving corp lacks experience but they have Noah Washington and Jace Hurd to throw to. The running game lost Jaiden Jones and finding his replacement won’t be easy. The offensive line returns two starters including Zach Bandy (Ball State) and Alex Canales.
The defense will be led by several talented defensive linemen including Toney Gibbs and Fawzy Omotoso plus an excellent linebacking corp including Carson Foxen, Eli Peters and Donovan Seaborne. Look for Clarence Cunningham, Keyton Jones, Xavier Sherrell and Jace Hurd to return to the secondary.
Avon will have another very challenging schedule with road trips to HSE and Ben Davis in the first three weeks.