Trojans are no match for Antelopes

&emsp;&emsp;Most of the time over the years, you could count on a pretty competitive football game when the Avonworth Antelopes met the North Catholic Trojans, but that was not the case at home last Friday.&emsp;&emsp;Dimitri Velisaris and Luca Neal scored two touchdown each, as the Antelopes took control early on the way to a 48-28 victory.&emsp;&emsp;"We did the things that we needed to do," said coach Duke Johncour. "It was a good game."&emsp;&emsp;The 'Lopes got on the board first, taking advantage of a blocked punt to end the game-opening drive by the Trojans. Luca Neal returned the ball to the NC 21 yard line. Following an offsides penalty by North Catholic, Velisaris ran to the left on first down and went 16 yards for a touchdown. Calder Mahan's extra point kick was blocked, so Avonworth went in front 6-0.&emsp;&emsp;The Antelopes were able to take advantage of a 64-yard punt return by Cooper Scharding that gave Avonworth great field position at the NC 13 late in the first quarter. Two runs by Velisaris culminated in an 8-yard TD run, and Mahan tacked on the extra point kick to give Avonworth a 13-0 lead with :13 remaining in the opening period.&emsp;&emsp;The next possession by the 'Lopes began at midfield, with Velisaris, Nico Neal and Bryce Metz alternating rushes to the NC 40. Receiver Jackson Krul took a pitch-out before throwing the ball to Marco Arlia to complete a 40-yard touchdown pass. Mahan's kick was good, and Avonworth went up 20-0 with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter.&emsp;&emsp;Bryce Metz finished off an eight play drive that moved 58 yards with a 2-yard TD run, on the next possession by the Antelopes. Mahan's kick was true, and Avonworth led 27-0 with 3:12 left in the second quarter.&emsp;&emsp;The 'Lopes recovered a fumble on the ensuing possession by the Trojans, and began on offense from the NC 35. A sack moved the ball backwards, but Carson Bellinger completed a pass on second down to Luca Neal that resulted in a 42-yard touchdown. Krul followed by completing a pass to Evan Loutzenhiser on the two-point conversion, and Avonworth would shortly go into halftime leading 35-0.&emsp;&emsp;The Antelopes began substitutions in the first half, and continued that way, with the mercy rule in effect and a continuous runnning clock during the second half.&emsp;&emsp;The 'Lopes went three-and-out to begin the third quarter, but a sack by Luca Neal forced a fumble, and Nico Neal hauled the ball 38 yards to the end zone. Mahan made good on the extra point kick, and Avonworth's lead became 42-0.&emsp;&emsp;The Trojans finally got something going when they returned the ensuing kick-off to the Antelope 25.They scored on a 6-yard touchdown run, and converted the kick to trail 42-7.&emsp;&emsp;A pooch kick was recovered by North Catholic at the Avonworth 34 yard line, and they capitalized with a three-play drive that culminated with a 15-yard TD pass, followed by the PAT, to cut the Antelopes' lead 42-14.&emsp;&emsp;Avonworth added to their lead, after taking over on downs at the Trojan 43 in the early stages of the fourth quarter.&emsp;&emsp;Brayden Wiles carried the ball on second down around the left side, and sprinted 42 yards for a touchdown. A run by Wiles on the two-point try failed, but the 'Lopes increased their lead 48-14.&emsp;&emsp;North Catholic responded on their next possession, hitting on a 56-yard TD pass, followed by the extra point to trim the Antelopes' lead 48-21 with 9:45 remaining to be played.&emsp;&emsp;They would add another score, connecting on a 34-yard touchdown pass, followed by the extra point to finalize the 48-28 'Lope victory.&emsp;&emsp;Avonworth (7-2, 5-0) travels to Beaver (7-2, 4-1) for an important Western Hills Conference showdown tonight at 7 p.m. &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;