By Tom Williams

williams@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

The good news for Joe McMahon, Fitch’s new defensive coordinator, is he has plenty of starters coming back to mold his schemes.

McMahon is replacing Wally Hurdley, Phil Annarella’s long-time assistant coach for the Falcons. Hurdley and another veteran assistant, Alan Mikovich, have stepped aside.

Despite those changes, Annarella, who is beginning his 37th season as a head coach and 11th at Fitch, says: “Absolutely, the defense is more ready than the offense.

“But that’s typical.”

Annarella’s career record is 232-139-3. His Falcons teams have gone 69-39. He said the transition to McMahon hasn’t been a big adjustment because McMahon was mentored by Hurdley.

“He did a phenomenal job for us,” Annarella said.

The Falcons went 5-5 in 2016 and return seven starters on defense, four on offense and both kickers (punter Nick DeSalvo and placekicker Dylan Correia).

OFFENSE

The Falcons will work out of the spread offense. Most likely, Joey Zielinski will be the starting quarterback. He took some snaps last year late in the season. Last year’s starter Nate Fowler has transferred to Niles so Dom Montalbano also is a contender for the starting role.

“I like the pressure,” Zielinski said of the starter’s role. “If anything, it [has] me more excited.

“We’re getting there, we’ll be ready for Hudson,” Zielinski said. “On defense, I think we’re ready for Hudson right now.”

Randy Smith and Jakari Lumsden will be the running backs. Last spring, Lumsden qualified for the state track and field meet in the high jump.

He spent the summer at AAU meets, including a national event in Florida.

“I finished third,” he said, adding that football remains his favorite sport.

“As much as I like track, I’m a football guy,” Lumdsen said. “I use the skills of track to get ready for football.”

Not as settled for the Falcons is the wide receiver position.

“We have a boatload of [contenders] at wideout,” Annarella said.

DEFENSE

The Falcons favor a 3-5 formation. Returning up front are Mike Ferree and Willie Beverly. Lumsden, Zielinski and Emmanuel Dawkins have experience at linebacker.

“There’s a lot of us who started as sophomores,” said Lumsden, a senior. “So we have a lot of confidence on defense.”

Ferree said it helps the linemen that experienced linebackers are more than capable of signaling what’s expected.

“[Inexperienced linemen] need to know direction calls, hear the checks, if needed,” Ferree said. “[Their experience] helps a lot because we don’t need to be scrambling around right before a play.”

The secondary returns Shane Hewlett and Tyrell Oliver.

OUTLOOK

Zielinski said the Falcons are hoping to avenge last year’s 17-7 opening loss to Hudson.

“They’re going to be big, but this year our guys are going to [have] more confidence and a lot better team chemistry,” the senior said.

Ferree said he’s ready for his final varsity season.

“This year is our year — we’re going to have a lot of fun,” Ferree said. “I wake up every day glad to be part of the football team. I love it.”