MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon resident Ryan Fitzgerald is getting an opportunity few Knox County students have ever had.
He has a chance to bring home a state football title.
Fitzgerald is one of three Mount Vernon residents currently enrolled at Newark Catholic High School. The Green Wave will take the field at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Friday to take on Maria Stein Marion Local. The winner will be the undisputed Division VI state football champion.
“Our goal from Day 1 in June was to make it to state,” Fitzgerald told the News, “and to bring back the pride that Newark Catholic’s always had of not accepting a loss in the playoffs.”
Fitzgerald, Derek Bielecki and Brett Copeland are all sophomores on the Newark Catholic football team. Fitzgerald, a wide receiver, finished the regular season third on the team with 26 catches. He caught a touchdown pass in the regional semifinal against Glouster Trimble.
All three played football in the Newark Catholic middle school program while attending St. Vincent de Paul in Mount Vernon. All three chose to continue at the high school level.
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