FIRESTONE FALCONS
- HEAD COACH: Eric Mitchell , 10th season, 26-62
- LAST YEAR: 5-6 overall, 3-2 City Series
- POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5
Firestone football's returning lettermen (16)
- Rachelle Athey, K, 5-6, 130, Sr.
- Blake Harris , OL/DL, 6-3, 250, Sr.
- Amir Johnson, OL/DL, 5-9, 220, Sr.
- Mario Jones , CB/WR, 5-9, 160, Sr.
- Hunter Lawrence, DE/C, 6-0, 190, Sr.
- Nae’Than Milliner, OL/DL, 6-2, 240, So.
- Daniel Peterson , RB/SS, 5-11, 185, Sr.
- Isaiah Ramer , WR/FS/P, 6-1, 170, Sr.
- Gucciano “Gucci” Stephens , WR/CB, 5-8, 150, Jr.
- Musa Swan, WR/FS, 6-2, 180, Sr.
- Daylyn Taylor , QB, 5-10, 160, Sr.
- Brandon Tilley, OL/DL, 6-3, 250, Jr.
- Micah Townsend, LB/RB, 5-10, 200, Sr.
- Alex Tyler, OL, 6-1, 250, Sr.
- Orion Winston, DB/WR, 5-11, 180, Jr.
- Dionte Younger Jr. , LB/RB, 6-0, 210, Sr.
Firestone football’s impact players
Dionte Younger Jr., Daniel Peterson and Daylyn Taylor are three of Firestone's top returning playmakers . The Falcons return 10 starters on offense and eight starters on defense. ... "We have a lot of guys that can make an impact in this special [senior] class," Mitchell said. "Dionte Younger is a returning two-way starter at linebacker and running back. Dionte had over 1,000 all-purpose yards and over 120 tackles at linebacker last season. Daniel Peterson is a three-year starter at running back. He rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. He is also excited to play some defensive snaps for us this season as well. Daylyn Taylor at quarterback has improved every year. He is continuing to show growth and improvement at the position, along with his leadership skill steering the ship with our guys. Blake Harris is leading the way for our guys up front on both the offensive and defensive lines." ... Blake Harris, Brandon Tilley, Alex Tyler and Nae’Than Milliner are returning starters on the offensive line. Isaiah Ramer, Taron Coker-Bowden and Gucci Stephens are returning starters at wide receiver. ... The returning starters on defense are linemen Blake Harris and Hunter Lawrence, linebackers Dionte Younger Jr. and Micah Townsend and DBs Isaiah Ramer, Daniel Peterson, Mario Jones and Gucci Stephens. ... "Mario Jones and Gucci Stephens are amazing athletes and present tremendous talent at wide receiver and cornerback for us along with Isaiah Ramer and Taron Coker-Bowden, who are returning starters who add another level of skill and leadership to our team offensively and defensively," Mitchell said. ... The Falcons also return key special teams starters kicker Rachelle Athey, punter and holder Isaiah Ramer and long snappers Blake Harris and Hunter Lawrence.
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What's new with Firestone football in 2024
Junior wide receiver-defensive back Elijah Harper (5-10, 160) is new to Firestone after transferring from Leavittsburg LaBrae. ... Senior safety Juelz Causby left Firestone and transferred to East. ... Mitchell said "Nae’Than Milliner is looking to have a breakout year playing defensive end and offensive tackle" and "Orion Winston is looking to make a splash for us in our defensive backfield." .. Sophomore Auldyn Lovelace (5-10, 180) and Junior Mekhi Tatum (5-9, 160) are improving at linebacker and senior Dereon Christian (6-3, 180) will be a first-year starter at strong safety. "He will have a big impact with his size and athleticism," Mitchell said of Christian. ... Sophomore Anwar Haslam (5-11, 220) is pushing for playing time on the offensive line. ... Mitchell said four freshmen could make an impact: running back-linebacker-defensive lineman Evan Riley, defensive back-wide receiver Elijah Grice, quarterback-defensive back Donniven Younger and two-way lineman Cory Griffith. ... "Micah Townsend has stepped up a great deal and has become a leader and captain on this team," Mitchell said. "We expect Micah to take the next step and leave a huge mark on this team along with his fellow captains Dionte Younger, Blake Harris, Daylyn Taylor and Mario Jones."
Firestone football’s outlook
Firestone made the playoffs last season and has been in the postseason in three out of the past four seasons. The Falcons opened last season with wins over Cuyahoga Falls and Copley, but then lost to Norton, Lorain and Walsh Jesuit ahead of City Series play. The Falcons topped Garfield, North and Ellet, but lost to East and Buchtel. ... Firestone is pursuing a winning season for the first time since 2010. ... "Our goal is to have a better finish than we did last year," Mitchell said. "Last year we finished at 5-6, losing in Week 11 [to Walsh Jesuit], so what that looks like for us is bringing a City Series championship to Firestone High School and playing in games further down the road than Week 11. We know that this is not going to be an easy task. In the past few years, East and Buchtel have controlled their destiny in the City Series and we have had our battles on the field with Garfield and Ellet, and with North being on the up and up as well the City is full of competition. We know we have a tough nonleague schedule as well. With the experience we have coming back and the hard work our guys have put in, they feel the sky's the limit and they are ready to put their work to the test."
Firestone football schedule for 2024
- Aug. 23 at Cuyahoga Falls
- Aug. 30 at Copley
- Sept. 6 at Norton
- Sept. 13 at Lorain
- Sept. 20 at Walsh Jesuit
- Sept. 27 vs. Buchtel, at Ellet
- Oct. 5 vs. Garfield, at Kenmore Stadium, noon
- Oct. 12 vs. East, at Ellet, noon
- Oct. 17 vs. North, at Ellet
- Oct. 26 at Ellet, noon
All games at 7 p.m., unless noted .
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Firestone Falcons 2024 high school football schedule, preview
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