Tag Archive for: Todd Simons

FALCONS MAKE A STATEMENT

EUCLID OH- Looking to avenge their 27-42 loss almost a year ago, the Austintown Fitch Falcons headed north to face off against the Cleveland Benedictine Bengals at Euclid High School.

After receiving the opening kick, the Falcons immediately went to work. Almost 8 minutes and 14 plays into the game, quarterback Devin Sherwood got his boys on the board first, curtesy a 14-yard touchdown scamper.

While the Falcons first scoring drive was perfectly sustained, they have the ability to strike quickly as well. On their very first offensive play of the second quarter, Sherwood connected with senior Nate Leskovac for a 66-yard touchdown, boosting the Falcon lead to 14-0.

Already ahead by two scores, Fitch could smell blood in the water. Thanks to the alignment of the Bengals on the ensuing kickoff, Head coach T.J. Parker gave the green light for an onside kick, and his special teams unit produced.

Taking over on the Benedictine 46, Sherwood’s offense looked to strike again. The Falcons needed just 7 plays from plus territory to get into the endzone and make it a three-score game off Sherwood’s 29-yard pass to a wide-open Todd Simons in the front of the endzone.

With the score standing at 20-0, after a failed fake field goal by Fitch on the extra point, quarterback Ronnie Schultz and the Benedictine Bengals would start their drive at their own 25. With the first sign of life seen by the Bengals all night long, a mix of air and ground attack pushed the Bengals down to the Fitch 1 yard line before running back, Duane Jackson, was able to power it in for the score.

Back to a two-score game, the Falcons needed a little under 3 minutes to respond. In just 8 plays, T.J. Parker’s high powered offense was back into the endzone with Nate Leskovac now doing it himself with a 4-yard touchdown run from a wildcat formation, pushing the score to 28-7 after Fitch went for and converted their 2 point conversion.

Coming out of the half and trailing by 3 scores, Benedictine needed to strike quickly, and they did. Just 1 minute and 35 seconds into the half, Duane Jackson had his second rushing touchdown of the game from 4 yards out.

Unfortunately for the Bengals, their scoring would end, there while the Falcons were just getting started. Another Nate Leskovac touchdown run from a wildcat set, this time from 1 yard out pushed the lead back out to 3 scores with just 3 minutes and 43 second remaining in the third quarter. Then Sherwood’s final touchdown pass of the evening to Tyler Evans from 15 yards out would put a cap on the scoring for the night, moving the score to 42-14.

BIG PERFORMERS

Austintown-Fitch:

Devin Sherwood: 16 completions on 27 attemptsfor 262 yards, 16 carries 81 yards, 3 total TDs

Todd Simons: 6 catches 111 yards 1 TD

Nate Leskovac: 2 catches 72 yards, 5 carries 13 yards 3 total TDs

Cleveland Benedictine:

Duane Jackson: 14 carries 94 yards 2 TDs

Andre Rodgers: 7 carries 50 yards

 

UP NEXT

Fitch: T.J. Parker and his men will head home to take on Coach Reno and his Steubenville Big Red (3-1).

Benedictine:  It’s been a tough schedule for the Bengals and it doesn’t get any easier in week 6, the Bengals will plays host to Saint Ed’s (3-1) on Friday night.

*Contributed By YSN’s Jamie Thomson

SIMONS SAYS

AUSTINTOWN, OH- The road for Fitch standout Todd Simons has been anything but easy, but he’ll tell you himself, it’s been worth it.

Simons suffered an injury last year that cost him time on the football field, and took a top-tier weapon out of the Falcons arsenal.  Fast forward to 2020 with a new coach, a new culture, and a new high-octane offense, and Simons is flying above the rest of the targets in the area with his athleticism, work ethic, and laser-focused attention to detail.

We caught up with one of the area’s top athletes to discuss the year that was, the year that is, and what this year could be for him and his teammates.

Our first episode of Austintown Fitch Player Profile is here and is sponsored by:

MOONEY TAKES BATTLE OF THE BIRDS

Youngstown, OH – Cardinal Mooney faced the Austintown Fitch Falcons on Saturday after losing to Warren JFK the day before. After a turnover plagued first half, Mooney gave up only 21 points in the 2nd half to achieve the come from behind win against the Cardinals. Mooney beat Fitch 57-44.

Fitch took the lead early and held on to it through halftime making the game 23-16. Simons had 9 points going into halftime for the Falcons. Thomas Fire had 6 points for Mooney.

Mooney made its comeback in the 2nd half. Mooney only allowed 2 points in the fourth quarter to win the game 57-44. Simons finished the game with 20 points for the Falcons. Michael Pelini had 13 points in the game while Fire finished with 12 points. Mooney will travel to South Range Tuesday night while Fitch will travel to Poland on Tuesday. Watch both games here on YSN

* Story Contributed by YSN’s Anthony Melone.

FALCONS GET IT DONE VS EAST

AUSTINTOWN OH- The Falcons defeated Youngstown East in a high scoring affair on Saturday 72-66. The Falcons held a 6 point lead at the half and a 4 point lead after 3 quarters. The 4th quarter saw the Falcons and East exchange baskets throughout with the Falcons hitting some timely free-throws down the stretch.

Leading the way for the Falcons was Todd Simons with 22 points, Devin Chaney with 17, Kris Brown with 15, and Devin Sherwood and Nate Leskovac with 8 pts. The Falcons travel to Hudson on Tuesday to take on the Explorers. The game time for that game is 6:00 J.V. 7:30 Varsity.

 

*Story Contributed by Brian Beany at austintownathletics.com