FEDERAL LEAGUE Fitch pickoffs preserve win

The Falcons rushed for 338 yards and defeated GlenOak, 22-14.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- Brian Weidenthal redeemed himself twice and teammate Dane Stilgenbauer once to save the Austintown Fitch High football team from squandering a strong performance by its offensive line and ball carriers against Canton GlenOak Friday at Falcon Stadium.
Weidenthal, a junior safety, came up with two timely interceptions, the first one to set up Fitch's winning touchdown drive and the second one to thwart GlenOak's last-ditch attempt to tie the score, as the Falcons emerged with a 22-14 victory in a Federal League game.
Weidenthal more than made up for his costly mistake at safety in the third quarter, when he failed to go deep to defend against a scoring pass that helped the Golden Eagles tie the score at 14.
Receiver Brian McNew slipped behind Weidenthal to catch a 78-yard TD pass from quarterback Mike Hartline and Chris Gaga kicked the placement to tie the score.
Weidenthal regroups
But Weidenthal would not be denied a comeback and redemption. His first interception came after Stilgenbauer, a senior running back, was heading to the goal line for what looked like a sure TD with the score tied at 14 late the fourth quarter, but then dropped the ball at about the 1-yard line where it was recovered by GlenOak.
Two plays later, Weidenthal intercepted at the GlenOak 25 to set up Fitch's five-play drive to A.J. Pankewicz' 9-yard scoring dash and Taylor Edwards' conversion run to give the Falcons a 22-14 lead with 1:27 remaining.
Then, with GlenOak driving at the Fitch 19-yard line with about 20 seconds to go, Weidenthal struck again by intercepting a pass to foil GlenOak's last chance.
Fitch's line opens holes
Fitch's offensive line opened huge holes for four ball carriers that combined for 338 rushing yards in 54 attempts, led by Edwards with 107 yards in 15 carries and Pankewicz with 106 yards in 16 runs.
Stilgenbauer added 81 yards in 16 carries and one TD, Ruble 44 yards in seven attempts and one TD.
"[Weidenthal] felt terrible because he gave up the deep [pass] when they tied the game," said Fitch (4-5, 3-3 Federal League) coach Neal Kopp.
Regarding Stilgenbauer's dropped ball that prevented a Fitch score, Kopp said, "The ball just fell out of his hand."
Kopp said his offensive line was outstanding.
"We dominated in the trenches. We ran the ball for four quarters. The holes were there," Kopp said.
GlenOak (4-5, 2-4) coach Jack Rose agreed.
"They dominated the line of scrimmage," Rose said. "That was the difference."
GlenOak took a 7-0 lead at 6:19 of the first quarter on Hartline's 1-yard plunge that capped a 51-yard, eight-play drive, and Gaga's placement.
Fitch bounces back
Fitch bounced right back with a 75-yard drive in 11 plays, ending with Ruble's 39-yard scoring dash and Derek Brendlinger's placement.
Then Fitch, after turning back a GlenOak drive at the Falcons' 18, launched an 82-yard, five-play march fueled by Ruble's 39-yard pass to David Castronova to the GlenOak 24, and capped three plays later by Stilgenbauer's 17-yard TD dash and Brendlinger's placement.
GlenOak was able to tie the score at 14 after stopping a Fitch drive at the Golden Eagles' 20 late in the third quarter. Three plays later, Hartline connected on his 78-yard toss to McNew, who slipped behind Weidenthal; and Gaga added the placement to tie the score, setting the stage for Weidenthal's double-redemption.
Hartline was a double threat for GlenOak. He passed for 171 yards on 10-for-24 and rushed for 114 yards in 19 carries. McNew caught five passes for 109 yards.
Fitch had 385 total yards and 17 first downs, GlenOak 307 total yards and 15 first downs.
kovach@vindy.com