Top Player: Jon Ballard

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Jon Ballard

East vs Fitch

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By Joe Scalzo

Falcons quarterback Jon Ballard threw three TD passes.

AUSTINTOWN — There are times when Fitch senior Nick Groat resembles a running back on one of those old electronic football games, where the players buzz around the field, running into the defenders and blasting them out of the way.

For much of the past decade, the rest of the Falcons’ offense looked like that, too. Forget about passing, the biggest question often was, which off-tackle play would they run?

Coach Phil Annarella changed that when he was hired before last season, switching from bruising option offense to a spread.

He saw growing pains last year. Now he’s seeing results.

“We thought it would be the best offense for our players and it’s proven to be,” Annarella said following his team’s 49-12 win over visiting East Friday. “Whether that continues or not, we’ll wait and see.”

Fitch’s spread is still run-oriented — the Falcons rushed 48 times for 274 yards — but the offense takes full advantage of junior quarterback Jon Ballard’s athletic ability, both running and passing. His versatility helps create running lanes for shifty senior running back Sylvestry Gibbs (who carried 12 times for 64 yards), similar to what West Virginia has done with Pat White and Steve Slaton over the past few years.

And if the Falcons need to get physical, they can turn to Groat, who just picks a spot behind Fitch’s giant offensive line and buries his head until a defender (or, more often, several defenders) drag him down.

“The O-line deserves all the credit,” said Groat, whose team scored its most points since 2004 when the Falcons went 9-1 and made the playoffs. “During practice they’ve been going full-go and playing with intensity.”

Ballard, however, is the key to the attack. The 6-feet-3, 185-pounder has Division I talent but struggled at times last season. But he threw for a school-record four TDs in last week’s 35-14 win over Chaney and followed it up with 95 yards passing and three TDs against East. He also led the Falcons with 84 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.

Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

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IN THE CLEAR: Fitch's Aaron Edwards runs into the end zone to complete a 51-yard TD reception from Jon Ballard during Friday's game.

Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

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FISTFUL OF 4: Fitch running back Sylvestry Gibbs (4) tries to break free from the grasp of East defenders Michael Thomas (12) as Eric Taylor (59) gives chase during Friday's game at Fitch High Stadium. The Falcons won 49-12.

East coach Brian Shaner, whose team beat Fitch 20-3 last year, said Ballard’s growth has been dramatic.

“Last year, you could tell he was a sophomore,” Shaner said. “This year you can’t tell he’s a junior. He looks seasoned like a senior. He’s phenomenal.”

Defensively, Fitch’s front seven (including Groat, an inside linebacker) swarmed to the ball and, for the most part, kept the Panthers’ explosive skill position players from breaking big plays.

“Last week, we were disappointed with our defense and thought they lacked intensity,” Annarella said. “We remedied that somewhat tonight.”

Senior Anthony Robinson gained 84 yards on 17 carries for East (1-1), but he had to earn them. The Panthers didn’t do themselves any favors with 12 penalties for 81 yards.

“We couldn’t get anything going,” Shaner said. “We just didn’t play very well and Fitch played outstanding.

“But the kids kept playing. The could have hung it up and said they were done at halftime [trailing 35-6]. They kept playing hard. We know we’re undersized, though, so if we don’t out-quick people, we’re in trouble.”

Fitch, meanwhile, is guaranteed to improve on last year’s 1-9 season, which Groat labeled “heartbreaking.”

The question is, how good are the Falcons? Are they a playoff-contender, or are they simply beating rebuilding teams?

“You know what?” Groat said. “I can’t answer that now. Come ask me after the middle of the Federal League, then we’ll see how good we are.”

scalzo@vindy.com