FALCONS GO ALL IN

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio- In one of the most anticipated matchups of the high school football season, Austintown Fitch was set to host the Foothill Falcons, who dawn from Henderson, Nevada. Greenwood Falcon Stadium was packed and energetic as fans were ready for Fitch to face off with one of the best teams that Nevada has to offer.

Fitch came into the 2022 season with a new quarterback at the helm, as Deshawn Vaughn Jr. took over for Devin Sherwood, who is now playing his college ball at the University of Virginia. Vaughn showed early and often that he is more than capable of leading the high-powered attack that Head Coach TJ Parker wants to run. Starting on their own 10-yard line on their first possession, Vaughn led the Falcons 90 yards down the field, finding DJ Williams on a touchdown pass from 23 yards out to put Austintown on the board first. The Foothill offense was not one to be messed with either though, as they have a plethora of athletes that can do some damage with the ball in their hands as well. Foothill answered Fitch’s touchdown with a 27-yard field goal by Diego Souza to shorten the gap to 7-3 just before the end of the first quarter.

Austintown’s offense contains arguably the best running back tandem in the area, as Jamell James, who returns after missing all of 2021 with an injury, compliments Williams in the backfield. James led the Falcons with 135 rushing yards on 19 attempts, and the power he brings to the field combined with the speed of DJ Williams is what makes Fitch such a lethal unit. Second-quarter touchdown runs by Williams and Deshawn Vaughn Jr. helped give Austintown a 21-10 edge heading into the locker room.

The Falcons picked up right where they left off coming out of the locker room, as Williams found the end-zone for the third time on the night to push the lead out to 28-10. The Fitch defense stepped up mightily as well, led by Brian Robinson who had two sacks on the night. Touchdown receptions from Dominic Perry and Jayden Eley helped cap off Fitch’s 42-10 opening-season victory. The Falcons blanked Foothill in the second half while scoring 28 unanswered points to pull away.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: To no surprise, junior standout running back DJ Williams was chosen as the Player of the Game for Week 1. Williams accumulated 97 yards on the ground of four carries, finding the end-zone twice on the ground and once on the receiving end of a pass from Vaughn.

UP NEXT: The road doesn’t get any easier for Fitch, as they will welcome state-power Canton McKinley to Greenwood Falcon Stadium next Friday night.

Foothill will return to Vegas next week to play another out-of-state foe, as they will welcome Inglewood (CA) to Henderson, Nevada.

*Contributed By YSN’s Anthony Romo.

Postgame Interview With DJ Williams: