The Falcons took a 7-3 lead into halftime but couldn’t
hold on.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Fitch football team has been a work in progress under first year coach Phil Annarella.

“It’s been a long year,” Annarella said after his team dropped a hard-fought 16-7 decision to Canton McKinley at home Friday night in a Federal League contest.

“You can’t do what we did tonight against a quality program like McKinley’s and win,” Annarella said. “That’s it. Back to the drawing board.

“We gotta fix some things and do a better job of coaching.”

Winless in league

The Falcons (1-5, 0-3) did acquit themselves well throughout the contest against a McKinley team (2-4, 2-2) that has also struggled this season.

The young Falcon team, which fields a team laden with juniors and sophomores, led 7-3 at halftime and didn’t surrender the lead until 3:56 remained in the third quarter.

McKinley tailback Monterae William broke free on a 64-yard gallop to the end zone and Andrew Gage’s conversion kick gave the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead.

William finished with 278 yards rushing on 34 carries and set up the final touchdown that put the game away after breaking away for another run of 77 yards.

Those breakdowns and several missed opportunities by the Falcons were the difference in the game.

Playing hearts out

“We’re playing our hearts out,” Annarella said. “I hate to see [the team] lose.

“You go through years like this. That’s all you can say.”

Fitch took the lead early in the game when Jon Stockman recovered a fumble by William on McKinley’s first possession and raced 31 yards to the end zone. Derek Brenlinger’s point after kick gave the Falcons a quick 7-0 lead.

McKinley responded by marching 84 yards on its next possession in 19 plays before the Fitch defense stiffened and Gage’s field goal from 24 yards was good as Fitch clung to a 7-3 lead 10:17 before halftime.

Fitch missed a golden opportunity following that score when the Falcons drove to the McKinley 8-yard line before losing the ball on downs when quarterback Jon Ballard was stopped on 4th and 1.

Minutes later, Fitch forced a punt and got a chance at a 27-yard field goal by Brendlinger that came up short.

“You gotta convert when you have those opportunities and we didn’t,” Annarella said. “When you don’t make them you don’t deserve to win.”

The Falcons were stymied for much the entire second half by a tough McKinley defense.

Still the Falcons missed two more opportunities when passes were dropped by wide-open receivers, including one in the end zone, and Ballard was intercepted once.

Ballard was 8-for-22 for 101 yards, and junior Sylvestry Gibbs rushed for 62 yards on 12 carries.