In front of a large parents weekend crowd, Taft defeated Avon Old Farms for the first time since 2012. It was also AOF’s first regular season loss since 2016. After AOF scored on its opening drive, Nolan Grooms ‘19 would lead the Rhinos down the field on a thirteen play drive and tie the game at 7-7 courtesy of a pass to Diante Vines ‘20 from five yards out. After allowing a score on the opening drive, both defenses tightened up and what sounded like an artillery range, was actually both teams trading punts for the majority of the first half. However, with a little over three minutes left in the second quarter and punting from deep in its own end, Taft muffed a snap, AOF fell on it and took a 14-7 lead. This miscue woke up the Rhinos offense as they responded on the ensuing drive and tied the game at 14-14 when Grooms hit Michael Yamin ‘20 down the middle from thirty yards out. AOF didn’t want to miss out on the aerial action as their Clemson-bound quarterback responded on the next drive by hitting a receiver in stride down the left sideline from forty-six yards out. The Winged Beavers led the Rhinos 21-14 at the half. Taft received the ball to start the third quarter and got as far as midfield, but was forced to punt. It appeared Taft defenders were made of wood as the Winged Beavers appeared to be gnawing away at Taft’s strong secondary and took a 28-14 lead with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Ayinde Johnson ‘20 returned the ball from five yards deep in the own end zone and took it to the house in electrifying fashion. Though a penalty took the score off the board, Taft still had excellent field position and started the drive at the AOF twenty-six. Grooms would score on a keeper a few plays later to cut the AOF lead to 28-21. After all this excitement, both teams would once again trade punts. A muffed punt by Taft would be recovered by AOF deep in Rhinos territory and in a game filled with turning points, a nominee for the turning point of the game would be the Rhinos defense holding AOF to a field goal as the third quarter expired, AOF leading 31-21. A squib kick by AOF forced a poor Taft return and the Rhinos began the fourth quarter with the ball on their own twelve. Teely Rhyne ‘19 would pick up the majority of the yards on this drive and cap it off with a twenty-yard scamper to cut the AOF lead to 31-28 with 8:36 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Mac Culbertson ‘19 recovered a loose ball and momentum was now on the side of the Rhinos. Rhyne scored on the first play of the drive from thirty yards out and Taft had its first lead of the game with 8:24 remaining. On the thirteenth play of the drive from the Taft eleven yard-line, Culbertson and Seamus O’Hora ‘19 pressured the AOF quarterback into overthrowing an open receiver on fourth and three. Taft would take over with a little over four minutes remaining and proceed to run out the clock. Grooms would finish the day 21/35 for 223yds and two touchdowns. Rhyne would lead all rushers with 145 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. The Rhinos secondary of captain Liam Akpata ‘19, Isaiah Hernandez ‘19, Diante Vines ‘20, Ayinde Johnson ‘20, and Jacob Rooks did an excellent job of shutting down the AOF aerial attack. The Rhinos return to action next Saturday, October 27, as they hit the road to take on the always rugged and well-coached Kent School. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 pm.