Tag Archive for: Austintown Fitch

HORNETS HAVE NO STING AGAINST FITCH

By Ty Bartell

CLEVELAND OH- Week one of the Ohio high school playoffs for football has officially begun! As countless teams embark on their journey to their ultimate goal, half of the remaining teams will say goodbye in the coming weeks until seven teams will stand tall as State Champions for 2023. Heading into the Division 2, Region 5 playoffs there was an intriguing matchup between the #7 seeded Cleveland John Hay Hornets (5-4) hosting the #10 seeded Austintown-Fitch Falcons (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs at The Collinwood Athletic Complex in East Cleveland, Ohio.

The Falcons struck first taking their first drive of the game down the field a full 80 yards on 9 plays while heavily featuring sophomore running back Junie Higgs, who capped the drive off with a 2 yard rushing touchdown, making it 7-0 Fitch with 2:11 in the first quarter. Fitch quickly transitioned to the air attack their next drive, as opening the second quarter, Fitch would run two plays, a 37-yard pass to Dom Perry and a 25-yard touchdown strike to Dan Evans III, Anthony Ruggles mad another PAT, making it 14-0 Austintown with 11:20 in the second.

A three and out would follow for The Hornets the very next drive, with a fourth down blocked punt by Fitch setting The Falcons up with excellent field position to start their third drive. Starting the drive on The Hornets 12 yard line, it only took Fitch one play, as with 10:07 left in the second, a 12 yard touchdown pass to Dom Perry helped make it 21-0! The offense was as potent as DeShawn Vaughn Jr. orchestrated a great 6 play, 52 yard drive that ended with himself in the endzone from a yard out on a designed quarterback run, giving Fitch the 28-0 lead with 6:40 left in the first half. Like the Vince Carter meme, Vaughn had one more in him, putting together another great drive in the waning moments of the second quarter, Vaughn would lead The Falcons 68 yards down the field on 9 plays as the freshman Christian Mahone capped it off with a touchdown! Extending the score to 35-0 in favor of Austintown going into the halftime locker room.

With a running clock being implemented in the second half, it just came down to The Falcons being able to salt time away, and with the second unit in, they did just that! As Davanzo Tate took the intialt possession of the second half right down the field, burning over 10 minutes of game clock in driving Fitch down the field 75 yards on 13 plays with a beautiful 23 yard dime to Brady Evans, a PAT by Jaxon Faulkner and The Falcons sealed the first round a 42-0 winner over John Hay.

Big performers for Fitch included Junie Higgs, as the sophomore ran for 75 yards on 11 carries and grabbed a touchdown, all in the first half. Dome Perry also had a monster first half, reeling in 4 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, DeShawn Vaughn Jr. had an excellent day slinging the rock, going 10/12 in completions with 207 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Dan Evans III also had a nice 5 catch, 68 yard performance as he got his 6th receiving touchdown of the season.

Fitch (7-3) will now advance to the next round where they will meet the #2 seeded Walsh-Jesuit Warriors (10-1) on Friday, November 3rd at Walsh Jesuit with a 7 p.m. start time. Stay up-to-date with all Austintown-Fitch athletics scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

AUSTINTOWN FITCH FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 8) WITH TJ PARKER

AUSTINTOWN, OH- Welcome to a new episode of YSN’s Coach’s Corner! In this episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Austintown Fitch Football’s head coach, TJ Parker. Join your hosts as they dive deep into the world of football and get a glimpse into the life of a dedicated coach. In this candid conversation,

Coach Parker shares his experiences, from dealing with scheduling challenges to facing intense rivalries. Discover the behind-the-scenes of the team’s journey to the playoffs and the determination that drove them to victory.

So get ready to huddle up and listen in as we take you inside the Austintown Fitch Football program with Coach TJ Parker. Let’s jump right in!

 

PRESENTED BY

YSN FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: AUSTINTOWN FITCH

FALCONS FLIGHT GROUNDED BY NDCL

By Ty Bartell

AKRON OH- In a Division 1, Region 1, Northeast 2 battle between #3 seeded Austintown-Fitch Falcons and #5 seeded Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (NDCL) Lions on the volleyball court, it set up a lot of intrigue with the two teams meeting prior in the regular season. These two would lock horns once again on Tuesday night to play for the right to move on to the District Championship!
Fitch entered the match sporting an 18-5 record, meanwhile NDCL had a very deceiving 11-11 clip. In their prior matchup in the season on August 29th, The Falcons would come from behind down two sets to one and win the match in a five set thriller!

Looking like they were going to set the tone once again on Tuesday night, Fitch would grab the opening set in a very competitive battle 25-23 to grab the advantage. The Lions were not taking that lying down, they roared back in set two, claiming it 25-18. Back to a barn burner in set three, both teams took it down to the wire, this time seeing NDCL grab the set win 26-24, grabbing a 2-1 advantage in sets and setting Fitch up in a similar situation earlier in the year. However, no comebacks were on The Lions minds as they secured the 25-22 set four win, taking the match 3-1 and advancing to the District Championship.

Another fun and exciting season of Falcons volleyball, we here at YSN wish the best of luck to the three Fitch seniors Afton Roby, Jordan Smith and Payton Binion in all your future goals! It has been our honor to cover all of your careers! Keep updated with all your Austintown-Fitch athletics stats, scores, stories and more on YSN!

FITCH WINS ANOTHER WILD ONE OVER HARDING

WARREN OH- In an exhilarating football showdown, Fitch once again delivered a wild win over Warren Harding, staging a remarkable comeback from a 13-0 halftime deficit to secure a nail-biting 14-13 victory.

The first quarter remained scoreless, with both teams testing each other’s defenses. The second quarter, however, witnessed Warren Harding taking the lead with Javonte Jones breaking free for a 36-yard touchdown run, and Jake Daugherty successfully converting the extra point, establishing a 7-0 advantage. Harding continued their offensive prowess as Ryan Powell executed a 4-yard touchdown run, although Fitch’s Davion Pritchard managed to block the extra point, leaving the score at 13-0 in favor of Harding.

The third quarter marked a turning point in the game as Fitch’s Deon’Dray Richard bulldozed his way through for a 3-yard touchdown run. Anthony Ruggles converted the extra point, bringing Fitch back into the game at 13-7. The highlight of the match came as DeShawn Vaughn Jr. connected with Junie Higgs for a 15-yard touchdown pass at 5:18, with Ruggles once again converting the extra point, swinging the lead in favor of Fitch at 14-13.

The final moments were packed with intense defensive plays, as Fitch’s Rocco Diflorio forced a fumble, which was expertly recovered by Davion Pritchard. Dan Evans III made a crucial play, blocking a field goal attempt from 32 yards. Dylan Krohn contributed with an interception, securing Fitch’s lead.

On the other side, Warren Harding’s DeShawn Wynn forced a fumble and made an important recovery, while Tyler Smith managed to secure an interception.

FITCH GRABS THE EXPRESS TICKET TO DISTRICTS

By Ty Bartell 

AUSTINTOWN OH- As playoff volleyball is upon us, The Austintown-Fitch Falcons volleyball team looks to
carve their way through a very tough Division 1 state tournament. Entering the postseason as the #3 seed in the Region 1, Northeast 2 bracket, The Falcons were already booked in the Sectional Final, where they hosted #36 seeded Lyndhurst Brush.

In a dominating display of effective volleyball, Fitch brushed-off Lyndhurst in straight sets 25-6, 25-2 and 25-8. Wasting little time in booking their ticket to the District Semi-Final. Leading the way for The Falcons was Jordan Smith who finished with a team-high 12 kills, pairing that with 5 digs in the match. Afton Roby was effective at scoring in multiple ways, ending the night with 6 kills and an impressive 7 aces! Tied for a match-high in that category. Also with 7 aces was Kylie Folkwein who also had a team leading 9 digs and also notched 6 kills in the match. While Rylie Simons was, once again, a fine-tuner on offense with 26 assists and 4 aces in the win!

Austintown-Fitch (18-5) will now face a familiar foe in the District Semi-Final as The Falcons are set to square-off with the #5 seeded Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions (11-11) on Tuesday, October 24th. Fitch had a previous encounter with The Lions in the regular season, back on August 29th when The Falcons came back down 2-1 to take the match 3-2. Their Tuesday meeting will be the first of two District Demi-Final matches, slated to start at 6 p.m. and will be played at Akron North. Keep updated with all postseason volleyball scores, stats, stories and more on YSN!

THE PICK PANTHER

AUSTINTOWN, OH- Welcome back, sports fans! Today’s episode of YSN (Your Sports Network) features an exciting player profile on Davion Pritchard, the senior back at Austintown Fitch High School.

In this interview with host DJ Yokley, we get an exclusive look into Davion’s journey as he reflects on his senior year and shares his experiences playing for the Falcons. From the emotional roller coaster of knowing that every moment is his last in high school, to the unforgettable memories made on the field, Davion takes us through the highlights of his final season.

Join us as we delve into the electrifying atmosphere of Greenwood Stadium, the challenges of facing tough opponents, and the importance of selflessness in a team sport. Get ready for an inspiring conversation that will make you appreciate the power of camaraderie and the drive to leave a lasting impact.

Stay tuned for this captivating episode of YSN: “Austintown Fitch Profile – Davion Pritchard”.

 

PRESENTED BY

 

AUSTINTOWN FITCH FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 7) WITH TJ PARKER

AUSTINTOWN, OH-  In this episode of Coach’s Corner, we dive into the world of Austintown Fitch Football with special guest, TJ Parker.

Fresh off a big win over Borman, Coach Parker joins us to discuss the team’s recent success and their plans for the upcoming weeks. We’ll hear about their journey back to the win column after a month-long drought and how they’re building on their previous performances.

Coach Parker also shares his insights on their upcoming game against Harding, a team they know all too well. Join us as we explore the strategies, challenges, and victories of Austintown Fitch Football. Get ready for an exciting and insightful conversation!

PRESENTED BY

CRAFTY AFTON ROCKS THE MIDDLE

By Ty Bartell

AUSTINTOWN OH- When discussing Division 1 high school volleyball in the state of Ohio, you will not really find much success come tournament time if you lack a strong middle. Someone with solid height, good skill with an even better IQ and awareness to help solidify the net. Looking at The Austintown-Fitch Falcons volleyball team, that is exactly what they have in senior Afton Roby! A three year starter for The Falcons, Roby has continued to develop herself and get better each and every season she has played in.

Having the stats to back it up as well, as Roby was third on the team in kills (192) this regular season while simultaneously being second on the team in kill% (46.5), hit% (.363), aces (40) and leading Fitch in blocks (61) with 14 of them being of the solo variety. Beyond that, Roby has one of the loudest and proudest support systems at her games with her parents and grandparents, especially her “papa”, bringing the energy to each and every match!
A great leader on the floor,

Roby reminisces about her journey to that spot with Ty Bartell in this edition of Player Profile by YSN. While also discussing some of her favorite volleyball memories, the best hangout spots in Austintown and her plans following high school. Do not miss out on this Player Profile with Austintown-Fitch senior middle, Afton Roby!

Presented By:

WEEK 10 FOOTBALL IMPLICATIONS

Contributed by Mike Swinhart

 

DIVISION 2 REGION 5 – Hoban is already in the playoffs
Austintown Fitch
– WIN or Eastlake North loss

Lakeside
– WIN
– or losses by Cleveland CC, Lutheran East, Eastlake North, Solon, and Akron Ellet

DIVISION 3 REGION 9 – Ursuline is already in the playoffs
Canfield
– WIN or Notre Dame – Cathedral Latin loss

Chaney
– WIN + losses by Dover, Bedford, Kent Roosevelt, NDCL, and Marlington + win by Mooney or Boardman
– Loss + losses by Dover, Linsly(WV), Indian Valley, Kent Roosevelt, Harvey, West Geauga, Bedford, Marlington, Tallmadge, and NDCL + Boardman and Mooney wins

DIVISION 4 REGION 13 – WB, Struthers, Poland, Mooney, and Niles are already in playoffs
Beaver Local
– WIN or Ravenna loss

Girard
– WIN or Ravenna loss

Edgewood
– WIN or any losses by Ravenna, Field, Warrensville Heights, and Holy Name

East Liverpool
– WIN or any losses by Ravenna, Field, Warrensville Heights, and Holy Name

Hubbard
– WIN or losses by Lutheran East, Ravenna, and Warrensville Heights + either losses by Field & Holy Name or wins by Beaver Local, Youngstown East, Howland, and Greenville (PA)


DIVISION 5 REGION 17 – South Range and Garfield are already in playoffs
Conneaut
– WIN or 2 out of 3 must lose (Orrville, Smithville, Chagrin Falls)

Edison
– WIN or 3 out of 5 must lose (Brookside, Chagrin Falls, Smithville, Orrville, Fairless)

Lakeview
– WIN or 3 out of 5 must lose (Brookside, Chagrin Falls, Smithville, Orrville, Fairless)

Liberty
– WIN or 3 out of 5 must lose – Brookside, Orrville, Chagrin Falls, Smithville, and 1 out of 3 (Fairless, Claymont, or Manchester)

 

DIVISION 6 REGION 21 – United, PV, J-M, LaBrae, and Brookfield are already in playoffs
Mineral Ridge
– WIN or a winner in the Valley Christian – Columbiana game, they will be in

Crestview
– WIN or a winner in the Valley Christian – Columbiana game, they will be in

Columbiana
– WIN or losses by Independence, Brooklyn, Saint John School

Valley Christian
– WIN or losses by Independence, Brooklyn, Wickliffe, Saint John School + wins by Crestview, Wellsville, and either East Palestine or Leetonia

Waterloo
– WIN + losses by Columbiana, Crestview, East Palestine, Wickliffe, Independence, Saint John School, and Brooklyn + wins by Lisbon and Leetonia

East Palestine
– WIN + losses by Waterloo, Wickliffe, Columbiana, Crestview, Independence, St John School, and Brooklyn + wins by Leetonia and Wellsville


DIVISION 7 REGION 25 – Springfield, WR, Lowellville, Southern, Lisbon, & McDonald already in playoffs
Warren JFK
– WIN + Conotton Valley loss + either a Buckeye Central loss or two out of these next three need to lose (Crestline, St Joseph Central Catholic, and/or Bucyrus).

Windham
– WIN + losses by Conotton Valley, Buckeye Central, Saint John School, and Warren JFK + wins by Waterloo, Tuscarawas Central Catholic, and St. Thomas Aquinas