Super-sized task awaits eager Falcons

November 23, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

In last week’s 40-24 victory over Westerville Central, turnovers made a big difference for the Fitch High football team.

Against the pass-happy Warhawks, the Falcons stole four passes (two by Gabe Chepke, two by Kerrell Johnson) and recovered two fumbles (both by Sam Ortz). Those giveaways helped the Falcons (12-0) overcome a 10-point second-quarter deficit.

Tonight against top-seeded Lakewood St. Edward (10-1), the fourth-seeded Falcons will need to repeat the formula if they hope to advance to their first Division I state appearance in 21 years.

“They’re balanced, but I don’t know if they are more balanced than Central,” Fitch head coach Phil Annarella said of the Eagles. “Central ran the ball a lot, too.

“If anything, St. Ed’s [also] relies a little bit more on [its] passing game.”

When the Eagles do run, Shaun Crawford most likely will have the ball.

“We’ve got to contain him,” said Annarella of the Michigan commit. “He’s one of the fastest kids in the state, a track star, too.

“He’s made some real big plays for them — kickoff returns, pass receptions, running the ball,” Annarella said. “We’re looking at 70- and 80-yard plays when he scores.”

The winner of tonight’s game at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium will play the winner of the St. Ignatius-Mentor game.

Saying that making it to the state’s final eight is “kinda neat,” Annarella knows there are no easy challenges ahead.

“You’re playing a potential state champion every week,” Annarella said. “We know that. [But] we’re going to line up and play.”

Senior center Chuck Zaborsky said St. Edward’s players remind him of Massillon, the team the Falcons beat 30-27 in Week 7.

“I felt accomplished after that game — very accomplished,” Zaborsky said, “especially since last year when we went to Massillon and they put a whupping on us. It was good to get some revenge and just overcome the size difference.”

Asked if St. Edward would have a size advantage, Zaborsky smiled.

“A lot of games this year, we were undersized like we are this week but we managed to pull through and managed to get the victory,” Zaborsky said. “Hopefully, we can just perfect our technique, play our game and [perhaps] the outcome will be the same.”