Austintown Fitch finds a way to get past Perry, 20-15
AUSTINTOWN — The noun “Homecoming” probably couldn’t have better described Austintown Fitch’s return to their nest. After being on the road for three weeks, the Falcons stormed back to their own confines for the first time in nearly a month, taking down Masslion Perry, 20-15.
Rebounding off a road loss to Ursuline at Youngstown State last Friday, coach TJ Parker and company were happy to be back in the win column.
“Anytime you prepare for a Wing-T team you think you know what you’re going to get until the ball is snapped the first time and everything is that much faster, that much more aggressive, you can’t simulate that stuff in practice,” Parker said. “We weren’t getting lined up right at the beginning which was disappointing because we put so much time and effort into that.”
“The initial punch we had to absorb, and then once we kind of figured that out, I think the guys did a good job, and the defensive staff made the adjustments.”
Perry (3-4) found success on the ground early, throwing a slew of sweeps to the left with the occasional run up the middle to drive down field and take an early 6-0 edge.
On their second offensive possession, Austintown Fitch found its groove, moving the ball downfield before junior Brady Evans made an acrobatic touchdown snag, bobbing the ball multiple times after it brushed against the back of a Panther defender.
Evans dove into pay dirt, completing the 34-yard touchdown pass by sophomore Collin Kalaher.
“It starts in practice, I just want to give props to the coaches. We’re the players, we’re out here making the plays, but they’re the ones who prepare us, they’re the ones who care, they just show out every day, they’re here all day, every day long,” Evans said. “I went up (on the touchdown catch), it went up, I envisioned, my brother (Tyler) made one of the same catches against Massillon Washington, I just got flashbacks in that moment, saw the ball in my hands and I held onto it.
“It felt great, I love to help (Kalaher) out, and that just felt great, it’s amazing for him.”
Kalaher made his first career start at quarterback, helping pace his team, tossing 19-for-22 passing for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
“There was definitely jitters in the beginning, but once I threw the ball and got hit for the first time, it was just second nature and got myself going,” Kalaher said. “They were a gritty team defensively and offensively, just running the ball and stopping the run, our offense pushed through all night and we finally got something to go.
“Just getting the (first game) out of the way, hopefully less nerves, less time to get into rhythm.”
Teams exchanged field goals, including a 50-yarder from Falcons senior Anthony Ruggles, before Austintown took a 10-9 lead into halftime. Fitch later tacked on a touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a wide open 45-yard yard connection from Kalaher to sophomore Al-Tahire Iluono, alongside a 35-yard field goal by Ruggles, helping provide enough points on a night where the Austintown defense induced three turnovers.
Evans snagged eight passes for 88 yards, Iluono adding 80 yards on four receptions himself. Junior Junie Higgs rushed for 71 yards on 21 attempts, alongside pulling in an interception on defense.
“(Kalaher) has worked his butt off to get to this point, we always knew he could do it, but he showed what he can do tonight, cool, calm, collected,” Parker said. “I know the competitor he is, he’ll be back in the film room and go over all of the mistakes with us.
“For the most part, just a great game, and I’m just proud of the man and kid he is.”
Fitch will once again hit the road next week, taking the trek up to Erie, Pa., for a duel with McDowell.