PREP FOOTBALL Tumultuous first season pays off for Yo. Christian

The Eagles won their first game last Saturday.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Basking in Sunday's sunlight following the school's first-ever football victory, Youngstown Christian returned to reality when the Eagles practiced in the mud Tuesday at Ipe Field.
"We got one under our belts, but we've got to put it behind us and work on this week," coach Eddy Witham said a few days after his team defeated Lutheran East, 14-0, Saturday in Cleveland Heights.
Youngstown Christan, which went 0-7 in its first season last fall, travels to Fairport Harding on Friday night.
"We took it on the chin a lot of times last year, but we didn't have anybody walk away and we had no bad attitudes," Witham said.
"The kids came back to work hard in conditioning in the spring and summer and it finally paid off. We told the kids about adversity on the field and in the real world and how they'd have to push through it before they see results."
All scoring in second half
Against Lutheran East, Youngstown Christian scored all of its points in the second half on Eddie Gonda's 36-yard touchdown reception from Aaron Agresta and Agresta's 1-yard run. Jared VanArsdale made both point-after kicks.
Other than its first score, the Eagles gained most of their yardage on the ground: 187 yards on 31 rushes.
"After Lutheran's first two possessions, they didn't cross midfield," Witham said. "That's good field position and we felt like we controlled the game the majority of the time."
The second-year coach's only regret is that his Eagles didn't come away with more points.
"That's definitely a point of emphasis this week -- to finish drives off and take advantage of good field position."
Playing key roles
Offensive linemen instrumental in the season-opening win were left tackle Tommy Smolko, left guard Joe Suszczynski, center Jeremy Lee, right guard Dominic Vitullo and right tackle Jared VanArsdale.
Up-front defensive players leading the Eagles' first-ever shutout were ends David Colbert and Smolko and tackles Josiah Elias (senior) and Rolando Rojas.
Vitullo and Aaron Tate were inside linebackers registering close to double-digits tackles.
Smolko, VanArsdale, Vitullo, Elias and Tate are seniors; Suszczynski and Lee are juniors; Colbert is a sophomore and Rojas is a freshman.
Most returning
Aside from two sophomores who came out for the first time and a senior transfer, 15 current roster players suffered through last year.
"We've got a good chance to be competitive again on Friday at Fairport," Witham said.
The Eagles, who practice at Ipe Field, have 28 players out this season -- one more than 2004. Home games are played at Mineral Ridge High's stadium.
Youngstown Christian will play Lutheran East again on Sept. 30 when the Falcons play here in an East Suburban Conference contest.
The teams didn't meet last year.
bassetti@vindy.com