FEDERAL LEAGUE Fitch dominates Canton McKinley in 22-0 rout

The Falcons controlled the game from the start and improved to 5-0.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
CANTON -- At the East end zone of Fawcett Stadium are signs exhorting some of the qualities the Canton McKinley football team wants to exhibit -- intensity, desire and attitude, for instance.
Friday night, Austintown Fitch High settled for a meatier approach -- domination.
The Falcons controlled the game from the opening kickoff, routing their new Federal League rival 22-0.
Fitch (2-0 FL), ranked seventh in this week's Associated Press Division I poll, is 5-0 for the first time since 1990. Next Friday, the Falcons play host to Massillon Jackson (4-1), ranked No. 8, in a game that could determine the Federal League title.
Ground game
There isn't much surprise to the Fitch offense -- a stacked-I formation that Friday night produced 64 running plays -- for 360 yards -- and just one pass.
But what the Falcons do is execute, even when faced with eight men in the box, as McKinley (2-3) did.
The numbers told the story -- Fitch ran 65 plays to the Bulldogs' 27 and held possession for 36 minutes, 44 seconds, to McKinley's 11:16.
"That's what we do," said Fitch coach Neal Kopp. "Control the ball, be patient and keep their [opponents'] offensive touches to a minimum."
Leading the way
Mike Eliseo did most of the work, rushing 23 times for 102 yards, and Dane Stilgenbauer added 99 yards and two scores on just 11 carries. His 43-yard run just three minutes into the game gave the Falcons their first points.
He capped the first half with a 1-yard plunge on the final play. Eliseo's two-point conversion made it 15-0 at the intermission.
The Falcons also got 94 yards on only eight carries from Melvin Davis, whose 52-yard run to the McKinley 2 set up the final touchdown, by Davis, one play later.
"McKinley matched our intensity and played as physical as we did," said Kopp, "but the key for us is to control the ball.
"A 3- or 4-yard gain is a good play for us. We want to be in third down and short yardage situations. If we get in third and 4 or less we feel we have our entire offense [playbook] at our disposal."
Second shutout
Not to be overlooked was the Falcons' defense, which registered its second shutout of the season. It limited McKinley to just 82 total yards.
Ryan Brinson, who began the night in McKinley's all-time top five in rushing yards, had just 38 on 12 carries. Quarterback Mike Shaffer was 2-for-9 for 30 yards, was intercepted once and sacked once.
"Minus two plays, we haven't given up a touchdown all season," said Kopp. "As good as we have been on offense with our running game we have played great team defense."