Team

Austintown Fitch

Record	Div.	Conf.
8/3	Div. I	All-American Conference Gold Tier

Falcons intercept Louisville four times

By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

“Three pick 6s — incredible.”

Veteran Austintown Fitch head football coach Phil Annarella said he can’t remember being involved in a game where his defense produced three interception touchdowns after Friday’s 37-19 victory over pass-happy Louisville at Falcon Stadium.

Defensive backs Carlos Herriott and J.C. Mikovich and linebacker Damien Gray each returned Jacob Adams passes for touchdowns. Darrell Jackson also made an interception.

Speaking of amazing numbers, check these out for Mikovich, the Falcons’ player of the game with several key receptions on offense as well as strong defensive plays. The junior is 5-foot-6 and weighs (maybe) 135 pounds.

“The big thing about J.C. is his heart is as big as his body,” Annarella said. “When that’s the case, it compensates for that size.”

The game was closer than the final score indicates. Early in the fourth quarter, Mikovich stole an Adams pass and zig-zagged his way through the Leopards for a 43-yard score to give the Falcons (2-1) a 24-13 lead.

“On defense, we needed to step up,” Mikovich said. “This team was strong.”

In the second half, sophomore kicker Dylan Correia kicked three field goals (27, 28 and 30 yards).

The Leopards (2-1) couldn’t have asked for a better start, taking advantage of two Falcons penalties to move 77 yards on just five plays. Adams completed four passes on the drive, including a 31-yard scoring toss to Tyler Adams alone down the sideline.

“At that moment, we didn’t think they were going to be that effective in the passing game,” Mikovich said. “After that drive, we knew it was coming.”

Those were the only points the Falcons surrendered in the first half. Annarella credited his defensive coaches Wally Hurdley and Alan Mikovich for getting his players ready for the Leopards’ passing attack.

“They just did a phenomenal job preparing,” Annarella said. “It’s very hard to simulate the other team’s offense in practice — your scout kids can’t run it like [Louisville does}.” Late in the first quarter, Falcons sophomore quarterback Nate Fowler connected with Jaylon Sanders for a 39-yard reception to the Louisville 16. On fourth-and 8, the Falcons gambled and it paid off when Fowler found Mikovich streaking across the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Early in the second quarter, Herriott stole a pass at the Leopards’ 30 and returned the ball for a 14-7 lead.

Right before halftime, Mikovich made another big defensive play in the end zone, swatting the ball away from Tyler Jones to preserve the seven-point lead.

The game tightened in the third quarter when Adams hit Connor Bast for a 4-yard touchdown to slice the Fitch lead to 17-13. Mikovich’s pick six stifled the Leopards’ momentum.

In the fourth quarter right after Correia’s third field goal, Gray stole a pass at the Louisville 35 and didn’t stop until he reached the end zone.

“That was beautiful,” Gray said of the interception touchdowns. “You need turnovers to win ball games.”

Like Annarella, Gray called the theft hat trick a first. “I’ve been in games with two back in the day,” said the senior defensive back, who admitted the Leopards’ start created some frustration. “When you go down, you’ve got to come back with your heads up on the next play.”

Mikovich caught four passes for 40 yards. Randy Smith rushed for 44 yards on 12 carries.