By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

After the first undefeated regular season in school history what does the Fitch High football team do for an encore?

With just six returning starters, the Falcons rebuild.

Asked if he enjoys the challenge of working with younger, inexperienced players, Falcons head coach Phil Annarella smiled.

“Let me put it this way, I don’t know if ‘enjoy’ is the word,” said Annarella who is beginning his eighth season at Fitch (47-29). “I would rather have the experience factor, or at least more than what we have.

“But certainly the challenge is going to keep us on our toes because you have to adapt to your players’ abilities and their knowledge,” Annarella said. “That’s the big thing right now.”

Last fall, the Falcons won 12 straight games before falling to Lakewood St. Edward in the Division I, Region 1 semifinals.

The four returning starters on offense are good ones — running back Darrin Hall (University of Pittsburgh), quarterback Antwan Harris, wide receiver Joey Harrington and lineman Matt Fusillo.

On defense, linebackers Tyler Hewlett and Damien Gray are back.

Everyone else will be working on their first letter.

OFFENSE

The Falcons’ offense begins with the legs and skills of Hall and Harris, who said he’s fully recovered from the knee injury he suffered last fall in Week 7 against Massillon.

“No surgery, just rehabilitation to get me back to 100 percent,” Harris said, admitted the injury was a little scary. “It felt like a pop and after that I lost a little bit of feeling in my knee. It was hard to walk.”

One of his favorite targets is wide receiver Joey Harrington.

“He just gets open — any [defensive back] who has to guard him, I feel sorry for,” Harris said. “Joey is a big help. He’s probably one of the fastest kids in the state.”

The challenge for the Falcons is finding four starters to join Fusillo up front.

“That’s a work in progress,” Annarella said. “We thought maybe after the first scrimmage it would sort out a little bit. But it did not.”

DEFENSE

The Falcons are looking for nine new starters to join Hewlett and Gray.

“We’re going through some growing pains right now,” Annarella said. “Last year with all that experience, we were able to do a lot more on offense and defense. The kids knew the system well, it was easy to tack additional things on.

“This year, we can’t do that.”

Annarella said decisions will be made this weekend.

“We’re probably going to have a couple of sophomores starting, which is not something you really want but it’s out of necessity,” Annarella said. “There’s going to be some definite growing pains this season.”

Hewlett, who is captain along with Hall and Harris, said Sam Ortz (Vindicator Male Athlete of the Year), Ryan Sayers and Tony Behanna were strong role models last fall.

“Those guys were good leaders and helped the team,” Hewlett said.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Falcons must replace the strong leg of punter/placekicker Nick Sheely. Senior Anthony Mortaro and Hunter Klaus are the kickers.

OUTLOOK

With Massillon, Warren Harding and Cardinal Mooney on the schedule, a repeat 10-0 season will be difficult to achieve.

The team that the Falcons can’t wait to play is Boardman in Week 5.

“Boardman is our true rival,” Hewlett said.

His cousin, Harris, added: “They always seem to come at us harder than any other team because we’re their [main] rival. I like that because we’re better.”

Roster

1Maurice RiversRB-LB5-7165Sr.

2Davelle LazaroRB-LB5-5156Jr.

3Mike PearsonWR-LB5-9170Sr.

4Jordan EatonRB-LB5-6150Jr.

5Carlos HerriottWR-DB5-11162Jr.

6Dylan HenryWR-DB5-10140Jr.

7Tyler PriceRB-LB6-0188Jr.

8Anthony MortaroK5-11181Sr.

9Joey HarringtonWR-DB5-11150Jr.

10Lawrence HarringtonRB-LB6-0180So.

11Joe HawthorneWR-DL6-3172Sr.

12Darrell JacksonWR-DB6-0150So.

13Ben NishimuraQB-LB5-10172Jr.

14Nate StevensWR-DB5-8170Sr.

15Kyle KentQB-DL6-1192Jr.

16Jaylen SandersQB-LB5-6145So.

17Nick StevensQB-DB5-11135So.

18Antwan HarrisQB-LB5-11210Sr.

19Nick TerryRB-LB6-0188Jr.

21Dwayne HowellWR-DB5-6145Sr.

22JC MikovichWR-DB5-5130So.

23Damien GrayRB-LB5-11208Jr.

24Darrin HallRB-LB6-0212Sr.

27Zach KrohnWR-LB5-9155So.

28Earl ScottWR-DB5-11150Jr.

31Tyler HewlettRB-LB5-7170Sr.

32Shane KunovichRB-LB6-0173So.

33Steve BerchikWR-DB5-7130Jr.

34Bryce WarmouthRB-DL6-2191So.

36Brandon AkuszewskiRB-LB6-1182So.

37Marquis BarbelRB-LB5-7133So.

38Sammy AndersonWR-DB5-9135So.

40Justin ArgiroRB-LB5-8147So.

41Matt GilchristWR-DB5-10144So.

42Austin GayWR-LB5-6161Sr.

43Hunter KlausK5-6163So.

45Brett MoyerRB-LB5-11158So.

46Bailey PeachockRB-DL5-9181So.

48Matt ArgiroOL-DL5-6160Jr.

50Jalen FletcherOL-DL6-2223Jr.

51Alonzo WilliamsOL-DL6-0232Jr.

51Robbie CaldwellOL-DL5-9147So.

52Chris EllisOL-DL5-11214Sr.

53Tyler MillerOL-DL5-8187Jr.

54DeAndre HenryOL-DL6-5251Sr.

55Anthony PhillipsOL-DL6-0184So.

55Anthony LatimerOL-DL5-8153So.

56Ken StainfieldOL-LB5-11225Sr.

57JD VaughtOL-DL5-10232Sr.

58Zach MitterOL-DL5-10199Jr.

59Shane VantellOL-DL6-3238Jr.

60Jeremy DorbishOL-DL5-11222So.

61Gary CooleOL-DL6-0210So.

62Malcolm CappitteOL-DL5-9214So.

63Matt LantermanOL-DL5-9195Sr.

64Matt FusilloOL-DL6-1239Sr.

65Alec GreathouseOL-DL6-0175So.

66Terrence MurphyOL-DL5-9181Jr.

67Jacob DorbishOL-DL5-11226Jr.

68Jovet RodriguezOL-DL5-9196So.

68Cole RatlifOL-DL6-2188So.

69Steve AllenOL-DL5-8187So.

70Terionne LumsdenOL-LB5-10211So.

71George AdamsOL-DL5-10173So.

72William HollisOL-DL5-8180So.

73Jacob FranksOL-DL5-9213Sr.

74Ed DorbishOL-DL5-9185Jr.

75Adam RivelloOL-DL5-11264Sr.

76Brandon JacksonOL-DL6-3232So.

78Isaiah JonesOL-DL6-0230So.

79Tristan SuberOL-DL6-3240Jr.

80Angel CuevasWR-DB5-5127Sr.

81David GreenRB-LB6-1193So.

82Lucas DalambakisWR-LB5-8105So.

83James ScottWR-DB5-8120So.

84Clayton LehmanWR-LB6-1163So.

86Tim GayWR-DB5-9130So.

87John MonteroRB-LB5-8120So.

88Anthony JonesRB-LB5-11145Sr.

89David GaylesWR-LB6-1170SO.