By TOM WILLIAMS

August 25, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

Despite losing a defensive lineman to Ohio State and a solid QB to graduation, Fitch coach Phil Annarella feels his team’s transition is nothing unusual.

Billy Price, The Vindicator’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2012-13, is now a Buckeye after anchoring the Falcons’ defensive line. Quarterback Matt Futkos is continuing his football career at Clarion University.

“Playing next to Billy was great,” said Ryan Sayers, one of the Falcons’ seven returning starters on defense. “I played next to him since I was a sophomore and I really looked up to him.

“It’s going to be really hard to replace him, but we can get someone who can get the job done.”

Annarella knows a lot of eyes are watching to see what the Division I Falcons will do after going 9-1 last season.

“It’s what I’ve always said — it’s not the stars,” Annarella said. “Everyone wants to look at who might be the stars of a team, but it’s always the supporting cast that makes the difference in how well your team performs.

“It’s who is going to fill all those other roles because that really dictates the kind of year you are going to have.”

As the regular season approaches, Annarella and his staff have been watching their players battle. Seventeen lettermen are back.

“Guys have got to step up, we’ve got some spots available,” Annarella said.

OFFENSE

The Falcons have three starters returning on the offense which runs the spread.

“We’ve got a lot of spots on offense to fill,” Annarella agreed.

Senior Gabe Chepke and junior Antwan Harris are the candidates to replace Futkos while Darrin Hall returns at running back.

DEFENSE

Defensive lineman Drake Marinelli is a contender to join Sayers and Tony Behanna on the line in the spot Price has vacated.

“Billy was definitely an athlete and he was a great person, too,” Behanna said. “It was a lot of fun playing next to him.”

The Falcons employ a 3-5 set. Annarella says the number of starters returning is a little deceiving.

“Most of them are linebackers,” Annarella said. “[Last year,] they were all injured, that’s why we have so many linebackers back.

“But our experience is more on defense, no question about it.”

Gary Gibson plays on the outside while C.J. Martini, Sam Ortz and Camran Rezapourian return at inside linebacker.

“We have more holes than usual, but we definitely have a lot of potential in our players and we’ll get those holes filled,” said Behanna, who is co-captain with Sayers.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Sheely, who handled kickoffs last fall, is back for his senior season. He and Anthony Mortaro are contending to replace Ken Kilpatrick on placekicks.

OUTLOOK

Fitch is a member of the All-American Conference in every sport except football so the Falcons play as an independent.

Big games on their schedule are against Warren Harding in the opener, Boardman, Massillon Washington and Cardinal Mooney in Week 10.

Sayers said the Massillon game is huge.

“We still have a sour taste in our mouths because we lost to them last year,” Sayers said. “It was our only regular-season loss.

“But we’re gonna play each game like a playoff game.”