Fitch beats Boardman 34-26, remains in the playoff hunt

The Falcons held off the Spartans, 34-26, to remain a playoff contender.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- The Austintown Fitch High football team kept its Division I playoff hopes alive Friday by beating Boardman 34-26 at Boardman Spartan Stadium.
The Falcons also evened the all-time series with Boardman (28-28-1).
The Fitch victory didn't come as easy as some might have expected as Boardman (1-8) gave the Falcons all they could handle, rallying from a 28-7 deficit to nearly pull off the upset.
The Spartans trailed 28-26 with three minutes left before Fitch running back Mike Eliseo sealed the win with a 20-yard touchdown run.
Boardman had no answer for Eliseo as the junior rushed 21 times for 152 yards and four touchdowns.
Eric Chine added 115 yards and a touchdown on 18 totes.
"We've had some disappointing losses this year when we lost our focus," Fitch coach Neal Kopp said. "We knew Boardman would come out and play four quarters of football and our kids were able to make plays when they had to at the end.
"Now we put ourselves in the same position as last year, being 6-3 and playing Harding to make the playoffs," Kopp said. "We're going to work hard this week and play our hearts out against a tough Harding team."
Fitch builds lead
Fitch's offense dominated the Spartans' defense in the first half, taking advantage of several Boardman miscues to build a 28-7 lead.
After a 1-yard touchdown run by Eliseo gave the Falcons a 14-0 lead, Boardman cut the deficit to seven as Brad Beck rumbled 12 yards for a score.
Two critical errors turned the momentum back into Fitch's favor.
With Austintown driving to the Boardman 5-yard line, the Spartans defense forced a fourth-and-3 situation. Fitch elected to go for it, but before it could run a play, Boardman jumped off-sides, giving the Falcons a first-and-goal at the 3.
Eliseo made the Spartans pay, taking it into the end zone on the next play to increase the Fitch lead to 21-7.
Another gift
Boardman gave the Falcons another gift one possession later, fumbling a punt which was recovered by Fitch's Fred Weidenthal at the Spartans' 34.
Two plays later, Eliseo scored again, this time on a 3-yard jaunt to make it 28-7 at the half.
Spartans quarterback Josh Susany rallied his team in the second half, throwing for three touchdowns, two to Nick Sess. The second scoring toss to Sess cut the Fitch lead to 28-20 with 7:39 remaining.
On Fitch's next possession, Boardman's defense came up with a big play as T.C. Osman recovered a fumble to give the Spartans possession with 3:31 left.
On the first play, Susany hit Beck on a screen pass. Beck did the rest, breaking a tackle and sprinting 85 yards for the score to bring Boardman a two-point conversion away from tying the contest.
Conversion fails
However, the conversion pass sailed over the head of the intended receiver and the Spartans trailed 28-26.
Boardman attempted an onside kick, but was penalized for illegal touching and Fitch took over at the Spartans 47 with 2:13 left.
After Eliseo put Fitch ahead 34-26, Boardman had one last chance, but turned the ball over on downs.
The Falcons ran out the final 38 seconds to clinch the win.
"We had a great effort," Boardman coach Garry Smith said. "We were just a couple of plays away tonight.
"It was a great game, but it just wasn't our night again," Smith said. "We were able to come back in the second half, but you have to give Fitch credit for holding on."
Susany finished 8-of-20 for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
Beck rushed for 90 yards on 20 carries and caught two passes for 108 yards. He had one touchdown rushing and one receiving.