Look Out, Avon HS Football, APD Move Plane In Show Of Strength

AVON, CT — Avon High School football opens its season Saturday at noon in Manchester against East Catholic.

But the team has already defeated one opponent in this young school year ... an airplane.

On Tuesday, the AHS football squad took on a flying machine in the first “Plane Pull” fundraiser for Connecticut Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for close to 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners.

With help from Avelo Airlines, the team journeyed to Tweed-New Haven Airport in New Haven to see just how strong the squad is this year.

The program was also sponsored by WWE and The Prospector Theater and Gemstone Farm, both of Ridgefield.

AHS football was among several teams of approximately 20 members, each representing law enforcement agencies, schools and local organizations and businesses.

State Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-Avon, was even there to cheer on the high school in her hometown.

By raising $2,000, the team earned the right to move an Avelo Airlines Boeing Next-Generation 737 jetliner, which weighs 90,000 pounds, 20 feet.

Not too bad as they denied the jetliner a first down.

Now East Catholic is next.

While local high school football fans can revel in their team's plane-moving capabilities, they can also rest assured that Avon's Finest has similar brawn.

That's because members of the Avon Police Department also partook in the "Plane Pull."

The APD said it was "such a fun event. We hope to be a part of next year as well, with some more strong pullers on the team."

They also had some help from the women of the force on a very special day.

"Not only did the Avon Police Department team come strong and ready to compete, but on National Policewoman's day, all five of our female Officers brought their muscles to pull that 737," wrote the department.

The APD even posted their assault on the jetliner on Facebook, for all to seek.

For more information, visit Avelo Air, click on this link.

For more information on Avon High School football, click on this link.

For more information on Connecticut Special Olympics, visit: www.soct.org