Sep 3, 2006 By Jim Downey 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – All things, good and bad, must come to an end, and so it was for Avella when the Eagles snapped a 25-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 48-14 victory on the road against Geibel Catholic. The Gators weren’t able to mount any running attack, and gave the ball away six times, including an interception return for a touchdown and a safety.

Both teams had opening day jitters early on until Avella converted good field position midway through the first quarter into the first score when Dan Berdine powered in from a yard out.

The Eagles’ kept running it right at the young Geibel defense, scoring on its next possession with Matt Spencer capped a four-play drive with an 11-yard romp around end.

“We keep it simple and do it well,” said Avella coach Scott Werner. “We have big backs. We just ran out of our base set.”

Neither team was able to convert a series of fumbles, but Avella managed a score after recovering its own mishandled punt. Spencer got the call again, scampering 62 yards around right end after the Eagles nearly scored on the play before when Tim Rush missed a wide-open C.J. Gottardi.

The punting woes continued for Geibel in the second quarter, and cost the Gators a safety when the ball sailed through the end zone.

Avella made the most of the free kick with a short field, needing just five plays to cover 38 yards when Rush found Brent Hargett open for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

The home squad had a couple chances late in the half, but couldn’t capitalize on Andrew Jackson’s 53-yard kickoff return or a fumble recovery deep in Avella territory.

Things continued to go downhill for the Gators when Hargett stepped inside Mark Gira and took the interception the final 13 yards for a defensive touchdown to invoke the mercy rule.

“Our defense has been playing well,” said Werner, whose Eagles play West Greene next. “I think they got it last week when we scrimmaged Carrick. We’ll keep building on what we did (today).”

After Avella turned another lost Geibel fumble into a 19-yard touchdown run by Berdine, the Gators finally got on the board when quarterback Mick Betler found Jackson open behind the Avella defense for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

Geibel has a knack of recovering onside kicks, and Mike Ciarochi bounced it just right for the Gators to recover, but the drive died.

Geibel managed to convert an Avella fumble into points with a 10-play, 43-yard drive, capped by Betler’s 8-yard run. Ciarochi’s onside kick was successful again, but the Avella defense shut down the Gators on a fourth down with just 17 seconds left.

Geibel Catholic coach Angelo Dippolito lost 11 players to graduation and has had to turn to a lot of youth.

“We very young and inexperienced. A lot of the positions are new to the players,” said Dippolito, whose Gators are on the road Friday against rival Frazier. “The defense was in the right place, but they don’t know how to tackle. They tore us apart on the outside, but the didn’t run in the tackles.

“They did the best they could. The kids never quit. The played with dignity.”

Betler completed seven passes for 149 yards, but Avella held the Gators to minus-48 yards on the ground. Spencer rushed for 99 yards for the Eagles.