The pressure cooker was working overtime as Blake Elder and the Avon Eagles approached the 2025 football season. After two years backing up All-Ohioa QB Nolan Good, Elder was about to take over as Avon’s starting quarterback. With that, came a lot of pressure. So much pressure that he contemplated not playing his senior year. “I’m not going to lie, I struggled a lot with it,” said Elder. “A lot of times I would sit in my room, and I had thoughts of not playing this year just because of all the pressure. I didn’t know if I could handle it all. So, I struggled a lot, especially early on.” Avon coach Mike Elder hugs his son Blake after winning the Division II state championship on Dec. 4. (Mark...
