Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Fitch running back Dan Evans III leaps over a Stow-Munroe Falls defender during the first half of the Falcons’ victory.

AUSTINTOWN– From the opening possession to the final play, it was about as dominant of a performance as a team can ask for. Austintown Fitch routed the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs 41-0 on Hall of Fame night at Greenwood Chevrolet Falcons Stadium.

For the Falcons (4-1), starting off Friday night so strongly was a way to keep some of the momentum going following an emotional 24-21, double-overtime win over St. Ignatius in week four’s action.

“You have to come out with a focus, you have to come out with a will to win, to do everything the right way, to prepare and get better week to week,” Fitch coach TJ Parker said. “That’s what I thought we did tonight. The defense set the tone right from the beginning, smothering them; the offense got going on the ground.”

Limiting Stow (0-5) to a very limited number of first downs during the contest prior to their final drive, Fitch only punted once prior to halftime.

It all began with a five-yard score by senior DJ Williams (75 yards on six carries), who found paydirt twice in the first quarter after missing the previous contest due to an injury.

“We knew we just had to come in here and play great team ball, and that’s what we did. That’s what the score showed,” Williams said. “We always smell blood in the water. We always come out early firing on a team. We always want to come out early and punch them in the mouth, so that’s how we play.

“It felt good to come back this week, get a couple of carries and feel it out because we have a big game next week. Always getting that touchdown, walking into the end zone is always a great feeling.”

Freshman Deon’Dray Richard also scored on a five-yard run.

Sophomore Brady Evans found the end zone via a 15-yard run, as did Dan Evans III on a 7-yard run along with a 17-yard reception from DeShawn Vaughn. Evans III led the Falcons with 81 receiving yards on eight catches. Vaughn was efficient, completing 17 of 24 passes for 212 yards.

With the running clock moving, Evans III wanted to keep the foot on the gas. His touchdown reception came early in the third quarter. He was ecstatic with the way the jet sweep worked in the red zone versus the Bulldogs.

“We just got players that are fast, that can break and get loose. A play like jet is one of the perfect plays to get them going, and honestly I think they perfected the blocking scheme of it, and it’s been working all year,” Evans III said. “Honestly, our defense has been playing really well lately, and they always bring that energy. At practice they’re pushing the offense continuously to make plays, that coming from practice and having to work against that defense every day.”

Parker added, “We were making the right football plays. You can see late, we take what the defense gives us, the way we were doing it for each other. The way DJ blocked on Brady Evan’s jet sweep was what we’re looking for.”

The win was Austintown’s biggest margin of victory in the 2023 season, followed by a 40-6 victory at Euclid in week one. Fitch outgained the Bulldogs 333-108. Junior Rocco DiFlorio had a big night, recording a sack and two tackles for a loss, nine total.

The win sets up a showdown with the undefeated Ursuline Fighting Irish at home next Friday.

Austintown understands it’ll be a difficult test.

“Just cleaning up the little things honestly,” Evans III said. “They have a good coach in Reardon, he’s going to call some good plays. We just have to be fundamentally sound and be ready to make plays, and just execute.”