Fairless Falcons 2023 high school football preview

Mike Popovich, Canton Repository
·2 min read
Fairless quarterback Carson Colucci takes a snap during last year's game against Sandy Valley.
Fairless quarterback Carson Colucci takes a snap during last year's game against Sandy Valley.

FAIRLESS FALCONS

HEAD COACH: AJ Sarbaugh, sixth year, 32-21

LAST YEAR: 9-3, 5-2

POSTSEASON: Division V, Region 17

Fairless running back Peter Killy runs through a hole during last year's game against Sandy Valley.
Fairless running back Peter Killy runs through a hole during last year's game against Sandy Valley.

RETURNING LETTERMEN (15)

  • Cam Carl, WR-DB, 5-8, 145, Soph.

  • Xavier Collier, OL-DL, 6-2, 280, Sr.

  • Carson Colucci, QB-DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.

  • Maddox Durant, OL-DL, 6-0, 245, Jr.

  • Andy Gill, WR-DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.

  • Allen Harrison, WR-DB, 6-0, 165, Sr.

  • Hunter Henry, WR-DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.

  • Peter Killy, RB-LB, 5-11, 185, Jr.

  • Owen Kornish, C-DL, 6-0, 285, Jr.

  • Hunter Lantzer, TE-LB, 6-3, 195, Sr.

  • Zack Long, WR-DB, 5-11, 170, Jr.

  • Troy McVicker, RB-LB, 5-9, 155, Soph.

  • Gio Moore, TE-DE, 6-3, 195, Sr.

  • Anthony Stutler, WR-DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.

  • Collin Sullivan, OL-DE, 6-1, 215, Jr.

AJ Sarbaugh will become the Fairless football program's all-time winningest coach when he picks up his first victory this season.
AJ Sarbaugh will become the Fairless football program's all-time winningest coach when he picks up his first victory this season.

IMPACT PLAYERS: Carson Colucci enters his third year as Fairless' starting quarterback. Colucci has thrown for more than 4,500 yards and has had a high completion percentage in his first two seasons. He is a talented, experienced quarterback who has had a big role in back-to-back Principals Athletic Conference championship seasons. … Xavier Collier is the Falcons' best lineman and the team's strongest player. The two-time captain and four-year starter will play both ways this season. … Peter Killy rushed for 800 yards as a sophomore in 2022 and is expected to have a bigger role on offense this season. Expect Killy to also play more at linebacker. … Andy Gill and Gio Moore should be Colucci's top targets at receiver. The two seniors have waited their turn behind some very good players and are looking to make their mark this year.

See Fairless' football schedule: Stark County-area team-by-team 2023 high school football schedules

WHAT'S NEW: Head coach AJ Sarbaugh said Anthony Stutler can be a dynamic player at receiver and defensive back. Stutler rushed for over 300 yards in 2022 and will look to grow into his new role. … Collin Sullivan is a physical two-way player at guard and defensive end. He is expected to take on a bigger role this season. … Blake Hukill is a strong, hard-nosed player at linebacker.

OUTLOOK: Sarbaugh will become Fairless' winningest coach when he picks up his first victory this season. Eighteen of his 31 wins have come in the last two years, when the Falcons won back-to-back PAC-7 championships. "We are looking to continue to build on the program's success," Sarbaugh said. " … We are looking to improve each week and play our best at the end of the season while competing for a league title." Fairless hopes to achieve another milestone in 2023. A winning season would give the Falcons four straight winning seasons for the first time in program history.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football: Fairless Falcons 2023 preview

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