AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Two old Steel Valley rivals are set to collide this Friday as Ursuline takes its unblemished record into Austintown to face 4-1 Fitch in what should be another instant classic on WKBN’s High School Football Game of the Week.
High School Football Game of the Week
Sept. 22, 2023, at 7 p.m. (Live on MyYTV and WKBN.com)
Ursuline (5-0) at Fitch (4-1)
You can watch the Game of the Week:
Digital over the air at 33.2
Armstrong Cable Channel 13 and 108
Comcast Cable Channel 3
Direct TV Channel 15
MyYTV – Spectrum Channel 997 or 1008
Last 5 Meetings
Sept. 9, 2022 – Fitch, 42-34
Sept. 10, 2021 – Ursuline, 48-47
Sept. 4, 2020 – Fitch, 56-28
Sept. 6, 2019 – Fitch, 27-7
Sept. 7, 2007 – Ursuline, 21-14
Last Meeting
Despite Ursuline’s fourth-quarter rally, Fitch held on to post an impressive 42-34 victory at Stambaugh Stadium last year. The Falcons’ defense forced 4 turnovers, including a pair of 80-plus yard returns for scores (DJ Williams, 83-yard fumble recovery; Cam Smith, 85-yard interception return).
2023 Team Statistics
Scoring Offense: Ursuline, 45.2; Fitch 35.0
Scoring Defense: Ursuline, 11.0; Fitch, 13.2
Game Notes
-Ursuline has won eight consecutive regular season games.
-The Fighting Irish have not lost a road game since Oct. 1, 2021 (at St. Vincent-St. Mary, 49-14). They’re riding an 8-road game win streak.
-In its last outing, Ursuline’s offense dominated Harding – 56-20 – behind the play of the Irish’s senior quarterback Jack Ericson. No. 4 completed 81% of his tosses for over 200 yards and 3 scores (DC Ferrell 2 TD catches; Devonte Taylor, the other).
-Since 2021, Ursuline has posted an overall record of 26-7 (78.8%).
-Fitch has won its last three games after a 1-point setback to the WPIAL’s Central Valley (36-35) on Aug. 25.
-Last Friday, the Falcons flew to a 41-0 victory against visiting Stow-Munroe Falls. A balanced offensive attack led by DeShawn Vaughn’s 200-yard passing game. DJ Williams scored two rushing touchdowns in the opening quarter and Dan Evans III made his mark twice also in the contest.
-Fitch has strung together 15 straight non-losing seasons; this would be its 16th year in a row. In coach Phil Annarella’s first season at the helm in 2007, the Falcons went 1-9 — that was the last time Fitch suffered through a losing campaign. It’s compiled a 115-49 record since (70.1%).
Upcoming Schedule
Ursuline
Sept. 29 – at St. Vincent-St. Mary (4-1)
Oct. 6 – Villa Angela-St. Joseph (4-1)
Oct. 13 – Chaney (2-2)
Fitch
Oct. 6 – Massillon (5-0)
Oct. 13 – at Boardman (1-4)
Oct. 20 – at Harding (1-4)
Get updated high school football scores throughout the season on the WKBN scores page.
Track the latest conference battles on the WKBN high school football standings page.
You can also watch interviews and get player profiles from some of the best players in the Valley by visiting the WKBN Big 22 page.
