Above: Highlight reel for senior TE/DE Fre’sko Stevenson, one of Fitch’s many veterans returning up front in 2016.
Vitals
- Coach: MIKE ELLIS JR. (2nd year, 5-5)
- Conference: ECC Large
- Playoff Class: L (578 boys enrollment)
- Home: Dorr Field, Groton
- 2015 Record: 5-5 (4-2 ECC Large)
- 2016 Kickoff: Sept. 9 vs. Westerly (R.I.), 6:30 p.m.
- Team website: MaxPreps
Top players
- AIDEN GREEN, Sr. OT/OLB
- KEVIN BERARDI, Sr. OG/NG
- RYAN KOEHLER, Sr. C/DT
- CHRIS HODGKINSON, Sr. OG/NG (6-2, 280)
- KYLE NIDDRIE, Sr. OT/LB (5-11, 230)
- ISAIAH SEBASTIAN, Sr. RB/DB
- CLEON McLISH, Sr. RB/DB
- RAPHAEL ADAMES, Sr. FB/DE (6-0, 220)
- FRE’SKO STEVENSON, Sr. TE/DE (5-10, 205)
- TYLER NELLI, Soph. QB/DB (5-10, 145)
Key losses
DE/RB Donte Paul; WR/DB Luke Letellier; QB/DB Robert Duncan; DE/SE Trent Evans; OLB/SE Jake Caramante; RB/DB Jonathan Johnston, LB/RB Parker Gibson, DT/OT Brian Robinson, DT Ben Guzman
Outlook
Fitch was one of last season’s most improved teams under veteran coach Mike Ellis. The former Waterford coach took over the foundering program, which had gone 0-11 the year before, and transformed it into a respectable 5-5 in just one season.
But Ellis wasn’t quite celebrating the turnaround. Frankly, he knew the Falcons could have been better. Fitch started the season 4-1, but lost four of five games — often in excruciating fashion, like a 33-32 loss to Bacon or a 15-6 loss to Killingly — to close out Ellis’ first year. “[We] did not finish the season strong,” he concedes. “[We] hope to change that this year.”
While there are some major holes to fill at receiver, quarterback, on the defensive lines and at linebacker, a good foundation of nine starters return to give Ellis and the Falcons a strong starting point.
One strength will be the team’s offensive line, which, in a coach’s dream, returns everybody: Aiden Green, Kevin Berardi, Ryan Koehler, Chris Hodgkinson, Kyle Niddrie, Raphael Adames and tight end Fre’sko Stevenson.
The caveat, of course, is that Fitch graduated just about all of last year’s skill players, including All-State receiver Luke Letellier and quarterback Robert Duncan and back Parker Gibson.
It’s not all gloom and doom, however. The Falcons do return tailbacks Cleon McLish and Isaiah Sebastian, both of whom made significant contributions last year, and fullback Raphael Adames. A sophomore, Tyler Nelli, is expected to take over at QB. So, the ground game could be this team’s bread-and-butter as Nelli and the new receivers develop.
Above: Highlight reel for Fitch senior Raphael Adames, who will be a key player in the offensive backfield and at linebacker.
Fitch also must replace large portions of its defense, which last year was led by a pair of All-ECC Large performers in defensive end Donte Paul and defensive back Jonathon Johnston, and honorable mention defensive linemen Brian Robinson and Trent Evans.
Many of the offensive linemen are listed as options on the defensive side, including Berardi (nose), Koehler (tackle), Hodgkinson (nose), Adames (end) and Stevenson (end). Green and Niddrie should lead the charge at linebacker while Sebastian and McLish bolster the secondary. If Fitch can improve significantly upon its 237 points allowed last year, it should be in decent shape — unless, of course, the new offense sputters.
“This senior crew will need to play well in order to allow the younger players to mature into their positions,” Ellis said.
Realignment kept the Class L Falcons in the ECC Large division with Norwich Free Academy, East Lyme, Ledyard and New London. Fitch actually opens with Westerly (R.I.) and then takes on East Lyme before an anticipated rematch with Norwich Free Academy. Fitch upset NFA, 21-7, last year, albeit without NFA QB Jawaun Johnson at the controls.
Fitch also plays a rebuilding Bacon Academy, New London, Windham, Montville and Killingly before wrapping up its season with Thanksgiving rival Ledyard. If everything comes together for the Falcons, a winning season is not out of the question.
2016 Schedule
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| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9 | vs. Westerly, R.I. | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 16 | vs. East Lyme** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 23 | at Norwich Free Academy** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 30 | vs. Waterford* | 6 p.m. |
| Oct. 7 | BYE | |
| Oct. 15 | at Bacon Academy* | Noon |
| Oct. 21 | at New London** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 28 | vs. Windham* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 4 | at Montville* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 11 | at Killingly* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | BYE | |
| Nov. 24 | vs. Ledyard** | 10 a.m. |
**Division game
*Conference game
