RAVENNA, OH- Portage Community Bank Stadium in Ravenna was the host of the Division II Regional semifinal game between the Austintown Fitch Falcons and Walsh Jesuit Warriors. Fitch was coming off of a 42-21 Regional semifinal win over Warren Harding while Walsh knocked off Hudson 35-21. Both teams came in featuring potent running attacks.
It didn't take long for Walsh to get the party started as they scored less than two minutes into the game on a 44 yard touchdown run by senior RB Lucas Weaver. It was a 7 play, 80 yard drive that spanned all of 1:44. The PAT gave the Warriors a quick 7-0 lead.
Fitch would answer right back on the first possession after a 45 yard kick return by Deon'Dray Richard set them up at the Walsh 49 yard line. From there they went 5 plays capped off by a Richard 5 yard touchdown run. He carried the ball 3 times for 37 yards and that touchdown on the drive. The PAT tied this one up at 7-7 with 7:21 to play 1st quarter.
The quick strike offense of Walsh would once again put together and impressive 80 yard scoring drive, this one in two and a half minutes that was aided by a 15 yard pass interference call against the Falcons. Junior RB Carlos Smith would break off a 32 yard touchdown run to cap it off for the Warriors. The PAT put them back up 14-7 with 4:41 to play in the 1st.
The Falcons would move the ball into Walsh territory on their next drive. They faced a 4th and 2 from the Warriors 44 yard line after an incomplete pass on 3rd down began the 2nd quarter. Richard was stuffed up the middle for a 1 yard loss by the Walsh defensive front as they turned the ball over on downs at the Warriors 45 yard line.
Walsh would make them pay on their longest drive of the game to that point going 55 yard on 8 plays spanning just over four minutes. The end result was a 1 yard plunge by QB Keller Moten into the end zone. The PAT put Walsh up 21-7 with 7:46 to play in the half.
After forcing Fitch into the first punt of the game for either side, Lucas Weaver broke free for a 50 yard run down to the Falcons 25 yard line. Two plays later it was Moten again, this time from 21 yards out. The PAT put the Warriors up three scores at 28-7 with 4:12 to play 1st half.
Fitch answered quickly as Richard busted off a 56 yard run down to the Warriors 18 yard line. Two plays later it was Junie Higgs taking it in from 3 yards out for the touchdown. Three plays in less than a minute. The PAT made it 28-14 with 3:21 left in the half.
The quick score by Fitch left more than enough time for Walsh to put more points on the board. After relying on their running game to move the ball to the Falcons 24 yard line, Moten found 6'5 junior Milan Parris for a 24 yard scoring strike. The PAT put Walsh up 3 scores at 35-14 which is where we stood at the half.
Fitch made things interesting in the 3rd quarter. They put together a six minute scoring drive to open the 2nd half that was capped off by a Junie Higgs 23 yard score for his 2nd touchdown of the night. They survived a scare two plays earlier on a Richard fumble that was recovered by tight end DeAndre Reed. The PAT cut the deficit to 35-21.
For the first time on the night, the Falcons defense would come up with a stop holding the Warriors scoreless on a possession forcing a punt. The Warriors D in turn would also come up big after a sack of Fitch QB Colin Kalaher by Walsh LB Declan Norton forced a 4th and long punt for the Falcons shorty after the 4th quarter began.
This time Walsh would get back into scoring mode going 81 yards in 12 plays and eating 6:13 off the clock. Moten ran for 56 yards on the drive including a 25 yard game clinching scoring run for his 4th touchdown of the game. The PAT put Walsh up three scores at 42-21 with only 3:05 to play.
Fitch would get a late touchdown pass from Kalaher to Brady Evans from 8 yards out and a PAT to give us the final score of 42-28.
Moten (135 rush yards, 4 total TD) and Weaver (150 yds, TD) led the rushing attack for the Warriors. Carlos Smith and Marty Tobin also combined for over 100 yards rushing as the Warriors as a team eclipsed over 400 yards on the ground.
Deon'Dray Richard had a nice game (197 yds, TD) in a losing effort.
Walsh Jesuit advances to face Akron Hoban next Friday on the Division II Regional Championship game. The Knights knocked off Nordonia 48-13 at Barberton.
Postgame interviews with Keller Moten, Lucas Weaver and coach Nick Alexander
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