Avon Lions Club to Present The Annual Silver Rail Rivalry Trophy

The Avon Lions Club is pleased to sponsor the annual Silver Rail Rivalry trophy for the winner of the upcoming Avon Eagles vs. Avon Lake Shoremen football game.  The Silver Rail Rivalry trophy was created in 2015 by the Avon Lions Club to recognize the rivalry between the two neighboring schools.

Avon and Avon Lake first played each other in six-man football in the fall of 1939 when both were a part of the Lorain County League.

Prior to the 2015 season and with the Eagles joining the Southwest Conference, the Avon Lions Club approached former Avon Lake Head Football Coach Dave Dlugosz and Avon Head Football Coach Mike Elder about creating a traveling rivalry trophy to give to the winner of the annual football game.  Both thought it was a great idea and with the Norfolk & Southern railroad tracks as the boundary between the two cities; the Silver Rail Rivalry trophy was born.

Members of the Avon Lions Club will be on hand at the conclusion of the game to present the Silver Rail Rivalry trophy to the winning team.

If you would like more information about the Avon Lions Club and Silver Rail Rivalry trophy, please contact Paul Johnson at www.mjandpj@yahoo.com.

The Eagles vs. The Shoremen: A New Rivalry, Steeped in Tradition

Local football fans may believe that the rivalry between the Avon Eagles and the Avon Lake Shoremen started in 2007. You really need to go back to the Great Depression for the first “rivalry” football game between the two schools.

The two teams first played in 1939 when both played six-man football were a part of the Lorain County League. Between 1939 and 1961 the Eagles and the Shoremen played each other 24 times. After the 1961 season, the Shoremen joined the Lakeland Conference and the two schools did not play each other in football until 2007.

After 45 years, the Avon Eagles and the Avon Lake Shoremen renewed playing each other at Cleveland Browns stadium. The Shoremen won 50-25 and the rivalry was re-ignited. After a short 2 year break the two teams have played each other every year since 2010. Including regular season and the state playoffs, the overall record for the rivalry is Avon Eagles 23 & Avon Lake Shoremen 20. Although the two teams have played each other 36 times since 1939, 2016 was the first time they met in the state playoffs and have faced off several times in the playoffs since.

Prior to the 2015 season and with the Eagles joining the Southwest Conference, the Avon Lions Club approached former Avon Lake Head Football Coach Dave Dlugosz and Avon Head Football Coach Mike Elder about creating a traveling rivalry trophy to give to the winner of the annual football game. Both thought it was a great idea and with the Norfolk & Southern railroad tracks as the boundary between the two cities; the Silver Rail Rivalry trophy was born.

The Avon Lions Club has used this event as a fundraiser in support of the Community Resource Services “SOUPer Bowl” food drive. As a result, the Avon Lions Club has donated over $3,500.00 on behalf of both schools to CRS & the food drive.

The Silver Rail Rivalry trophy was created to commemorate an annual football game steeped in tradition and to recognize a friendly rivalry between two cities separated by a set of railroad tracks. Good luck to both teams and the Avon Lions Club looks forward to presenting the Silver Rail Rivalry trophy to the winner of tonight’s game.

– Paul Johnson, Avon Lions Club