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Defense carries the day for unbeaten Falcons
By Brandon Judeh
Austintown
The 1972 Miami Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense” still stands out as one of the NFL’s all-time greatest defenses as they helped spark an undefeated season.
The 2013 Austintown Fitch “No-Name Defense” may very well go down as one of the best squads the Mahoning Valley has ever seen as they, too, led their team to an undefeated regular season.
“There are no superstars on our defense, they just play tremendous as a unit,” said Falcons head coach Phil Annarella. “Our defense has been phenomenal all season.”
Perhaps the biggest game of the season, thus far, for the defense came in Week 1 against a much bigger, physical Warren G. Harding.
“That performance set the tone for the entire season,” said senior linebacker Sam Ortz. “It really showed that we are a physical defense that comes to play every Friday night and has a lot of heart.”
Ortz added said it motivates he and his teammates more if the team is bigger and stronger than they are.
“A lot of people thought Harding would win and seven people from The Vindicator actually picked them to win, so we used that as fuel going into that game and we were able to turn a few heads,” said Fitch defensive co-captain Ryan Sayers.
Boasting three shutouts, the Fitch defense has allowed just 10.1 points per game on its way to helping secure the first undefeated season in school history.
But as both Ortz and Sayers agree, the undefeated season and unbelievable play of their defense would not have been possible without team chemistry. Most of the team’s seniors have been playing football together since they were 6 years old.
“I don’t know how to explain all of the success we have had, but I really believe a lot of it has to do with us all being very close friends and having played together since we were 6,” Sayers said. “We have always dreamed of a season like this, from the time we were young, so to be a part of the first ever Fitch team to go undefeated is something special.”
While much of the credit goes to the defensive unit’s hard work and dedication, most agree that the backbone of the defense is coordinator Wally Hurdley.
“Coach Hurdley is my biggest influence. He is so motivational and does a great job, not just with us, but with the entire team,” said Sayers, a defensive end.
Fitch heads into Week 11 for the second consecutive season and will host Marysville (7-3) Saturday at 7 p.m.
Marysville features a high-powered offense that has attempted as many as 66 passes in a game this season. Annarella says his defense will be tested.
“This team likes to light it up, they have a good quarterback and some good skill players,” he said.
Ortz says that going into Week 11 this year feels a lot different than it did his junior season, mainly because any game could be the seniors’ last.
“We have done a lot of things this year that we didn’t do last year and now its time to come out and prove that we are a better, stronger team,” he said. “We don’t want our season to end here.”