Submitted photo / Robert Senn Studio The 2024 Austintown Fitch football team.

AUSTINTOWN — Graduating a senior class with a plethora of starters at Austintown Fitch, the time is now for the next crop of Falcons to emerge.

There’s still experience mixed in, but Fitch will have a lot of fresh faces in starting positions coming off an 8-4 campaign, but the dawn of a new day is what coach TJ Parker and company are eager to see on the field this fall.

“I see a team that really wants to be good, they’re figuring out what it takes to be good, but it’s a team that wants to be good and wants to do a good job and be successful and hold up the pride and traditions that we have here,” Parker said. “The groundwork that was laid before them, it’s no secret that we graduated a lot of guys, there’s a lot of shoes to fill, but these guys take pride in following and carrying the torch after these guys left.

“It honestly made (the offseason) exciting, anytime when you’re in limbo and you don’t know, you’re curious about a lot of things, you’re all over the place. There’s a bunch of what-ifs, but that allows a lot of guys to be engaged and fight for positions, and the excitement around a lot of people having opportunities rather than walking into a team where everything is kind of settled and known. The sense of urgency was heightened, so that was exciting.”

touchdowns on 20 catches), but the stable is full of new playmakers to complement Evans.

“It seems like we were always reloading with guys who had a lot of previous experience who were ready to go from a 15-catch season to a 30-, 60-catch season,” Parker said. “Brady is that guy, couldn’t be more proud of the person he is and the leader he’s turning into. He’s one heck of a football player, but he’s starting to step up vocally for this team, and he’s going to do some damage for us on the outside at wide receiver.”

Senior Deonte Stallings will be featured as a two way player for Fitch this season, taking reps as a wideout, alongside sophomore Brayden Bryant who podiumed at states during the 100-meter dash in the spring.

Seniors Tre Davis and Ross Harris, junior Elliott Giles Jr. and sophomores Isiah Porch and Al-Tahire Iluono round out the wide receiver room. Adding into the pass game mix are tight ends such as seniors Cam Natali, Trenton Baylor, Hunter Smart, junior Deandre Reed and sophomore Brady Lind.

“We have guys that have the capabilities to make plays, it’s putting all of those pieces together and capitalizing on those capabilities that matters.” Parker said.

It’s a different story on the offensive line, where most of the varsity experience returns. Parker feels it’s one of the stronger offensive lines he’s had at Fitch.

Senior Trenton Ciccarelli is a three-year starter, moving from guard to center. Junior Booker Newberry started the first five games of 2023 before losing the rest of his campaign due to injury. Juniors Jo Jo Lumsden and Noah Bolen and sophomore Jayden Lumsden are also eyeing a big season.

Austintown will also work senior Lukas Jones and freshman Anthony Blalock Jr. into the line up front.

“We feel good about the capabilities we have up front. It’s about getting it done and really playing nasty.” Parker said.

DEFENSE

Likewise, there’s some continuity on the defense line, featuring junior Demarr Rogers (39 tackles, 2.5 for a loss), Natali (28 tackles, two sacks), Jo Jo Lumsden (10 tackles), sophomore John Vaughn and Jones.

“There’s guys there, but we have to have guys who get the job done, not just guys we’re naming as starters. We need playmakers up front, and guys who are going to be gap sound and want to mix it up in the trenches.” Parker said.

All three linebackers return from last fall, including one of the leaders on defense, senior Rocco DiFlorio. He led the Falcons in total tackles with 109, 14.5 of those for a loss, with 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

“He had a great year last year. Looking for (DiFlorio) to have a really good year this year for us. He’s the leader of the defense, gets everyone lined up.” Parker said.

Juniors Marky Fitzgerald (13 tackles, 1.5 for a loss) and Dylan Krohn (35 tackles, 4 four a loss, with an interception and fumble recovery) provide the anchors at linebacker.

Senior Robert Maderitz and John Marsteller, juniors Deandre Reed and Jayson Quesada and sophomores Brady Stovall, Anthony Boothe-Bailey and Vincenzo DiFlorio add depth as well.

The secondary has been one of the core strengths to Fitch over the past several seasons, producing a slew of Division I commits during Parker’s tenure.

Stallings (32 tackles, two for a loss, four pass breakups) is the lone returner within the secondary. Higgs (22 tackles, two pass breakups), Tate (seven tackles), Mahone, Evans and sophomore Wayne Holloway on the corners.

At safety, Bryant, Davis and Harris are names to keep an eye on.

“Now you have guys that get the opportunity to fill those shoes, carry the torch and they’re going to be guys we’re counting on to make plays now,” Parker said. “I’m proud, they’re young in the backfield, but sometimes, that youngness is a hunger and they’re coachable. It’s exciting. I’m sure we’re going to have our mistakes, but it’s not to say those guys aren’t going to go down swinging.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Senior Anthony Ruggles has been a mainstay in the Falcons special teams unit, possessing a Division I offer from Akron going into the season. He was 30 for 32 on PATs last fall, making 3-of-5 field goals, with a nearly 40-yard average on punting.

Smart is a talented long snapper for the Falcons as well, making for a strong combinated force with Ruggles.

“It’s going to be a weapon. It’s going to be a different look on offense for us and what we’re trying to accomplish every game, and I think three points is going to be huge for us,” Parker said. “Where we can score three points from with (Ruggles) leg is a place where a lot of high schools can’t score three points from.”

“We’re going to use that to our advantage. And tons of guys, the athletes we have, should be able to run, tackle, hit and get the job done.”

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