Walsh Jesuit advances to regional championship bouncing Fitch from OHSAA playoffs

(Head Coach Nicholas Alexander post-game talk after victory over Austintown-Fitch in OHSAA playoffs. Photo: Gene Simmons / Ohsfbmedia.com)

RAVENNA, Ohio--Walsh Jesuit stays undefeated (13-0), cruising by Austintown-Fitch 42-28 and advancing to the OHSAA division II region 5 final versus Akron Archbishop Hoban after a 3rd quarter surge that came up short.

Both teams early, opened up the game trading touchdowns, Walsh would score first on a 44 yard run by senior Lucas Weaver, Fitch would answer with sophomore sensation Deon'Dray Richard taking one 33 yards to the 5 yard then punching it in with 7:21 left to tie the score 7-7.

Final from Portage Community Bank Stadium Harry Gilchrist Field a @OHSAASports Div. II Region 5 Regional Semi-Final.@WalshJesuitFB 42
Austintown-Fitch 28@KellerMoten2025 finishes night with 4 TD's behind @KodeyKish2025 and offensive line. pic.twitter.com/yx6Kjhke8S

— Ohio High School Football/Basketball Media (@OHSFBMedia) November 16, 2024

Walsh would answer with a 32 yard TD by junior running back Carlos Smith with 4:41 left to round out the scoring for both teams in the first quarter.

The second quarter would be mostly Walsh controlling the line of scrimmage moving the ball heavily relying on the run game which prove to work as they scored two rushing touchdowns, a 1 yard run by Keller Moten with 7:46 then a 17 yard scamper again by Moten to go up 28-7 after Fitch failed to convert. 

"Our run was just working, we impose our will up front, our line played super well, was great holes to create opportunities for our backs," said Moten. 

Moten would not stop there as he would hit junior Milan Paris for a TD late in the quarter to go up 35-14 but Fitch started to gain momentum late in the quarter that would carry on into the 3rd quarter.

Austintown-Fitch opens up the 3rd with an 80-yard drive eventually scoring on a 22 yard rush by Junie Higgs to close the gap of the game 35-21, the drive took 6:02 off the clock after using a fake punt to keep the drive going.

Fitch makes a stop at 4:21 controlling the ball and line of scrimmage to round out the quarter still with the ball going into the 4th quarter.

But the rally would not be enough as Moten would keep a drive alive on a 4th and 1 run at 6:44 which led to a 25 yard TD by him to seal the win and send Fitch home for the season.

The offensive line was the key to a lot of success due to weather conditions, the run game proved to be the answer, "It's a testament to the O-line, we take pride in being able to get 6 or 7 yards a carry," said left tackle Kodey Kish. 

The regional championship versus Hoban will be at Twinsburg Tiger Stadium in Twinsburg, OH.

*Chuck Cordes was a contributor to the coverage.*