EUCLID, OH- The Austintown Fitch Falcons faced off against the Euclid Panthers in a high-energy game that culminated in a commanding 40-6 victory for the Falcons.
The Falcons wasted no time asserting their dominance as returning standout Deshawn Vaughn intercepted a pass and showcased his athleticism with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving Fitch an early 7-0 lead with 4 minutes and 40 seconds on the clock.
Continuing their offensive momentum, Vaughn connected with Brady Evans on a 13-yard touchdown pass at the 2:11 mark. Unfortunately, the point-after attempt was missed, leaving the score at 13-0 in favor of Fitch.
Vaughn’s aerial precision remained a key factor as he delivered a 39-yard touchdown pass to Dan Evans III, extending the Falcons’ lead to 20-0 with 9 minutes and 41 seconds left in the game.
The Euclid Panthers fought back, as Robert King found Jerome Davis-Gayles with a 9-yard touchdown pass, putting Euclid on the scoreboard at 20-6 (though the extra point was missed) with 2 minutes and 30 seconds remaining.
Fitch’s offensive prowess was undeniable, with DJ Williams powering through the Panthers’ defense for a 1-yard rushing touchdown just before the end of the quarter, bringing the score to 27-6 in favor of the Falcons.
The Falcons continued to dominate the field in the second half. DJ Williams showed his versatility with an 18-yard rushing touchdown, extending Fitch’s lead to 34-6 after a 3-minute and 58-second drive.
Not to be outdone, Deon’Dray Richard sealed the deal for Fitch with a remarkable 34-yard rushing touchdown in the final 52 seconds of the game. Despite the missed extra-point attempt, Fitch solidified their victory with a final score of 40-6.
Fitch goes to 1-0 on the season, while the Panthers are left looking for their first win on the year.