PREP FOOTBALL With new coach's team-first concept, Ursuline off to a 5-1 record

Coach Dan Reardon's Fighting Irish play host to Akron Hoban on Friday.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Even though he led the Steel Valley Conference in rushing yardage last year, Ursuline High running back Alex Allen wasn't having a lot of fun.
This year is a different story.
"Oh, heck yeah," he said. "This year is a lot more fun. I even enjoy practice. Last year, it was like, 'Oh no, I have to go to practice today.'
"Now I can't wait to get out here."
The Irish entered this season with a lot of question marks, including a new coach, a new quarterback and one of the area's toughest schedules.
But after a 1-1 start that included a 24-8 loss to Steubenville -- the top-ranked team in Division III -- the Irish have won four straight to match their win total of the past two regular seasons.
Upset Harding
The highlight (so far) came last Friday, when the Irish defeated Warren Harding 37-22 for their first win over the Raiders since 2000.
"It's been a blast," said first-year coach Dan Reardon, an assistant at Harding from 1998-2003, "and it all starts with the kids. We've got a phenomenal group of kids."
Allen and senior wideout Derrick Stewart get most of the attention, but make no mistake: This team is more than just a couple players.
"Our motto the whole week before Harding was, 'One of us is not as strong as all of us,' " said Stewart, who led the SVC in receiving last season. "One person can't make every play."
It's a lesson the whole team has embraced. Sophomore quarterback Scooter Hargate entered the season with the tall task of replacing three-year starter Daryll Clark, a Penn State recruit. But Reardon didn't expect miracles from Hargate -- just efficiency.
"It's like I told him, he doesn't have to win games for us," Reardon said. "He just has to manage the game and make good decisions. He's gotten better every week. He's less of a sophomore now and more of a junior."
Learned from loss
The Irish struggled against Big Red but Reardon wasn't worried about the loss. He just didn't want to see it wasted.
"When I talked to the team after that game, I wanted to make sure that loss was going to make us a better team," he said, "and it has. We've improved significantly since then."
Ursuline's schedule won't get any easier in the weeks ahead. The Irish play host to Akron Hoban on Friday, then travel to play Columbus Watterson before coming home to play Mooney. With a win over the Cardinals, the Irish would clinch their first outright SVC title since 1975.
"The main thing that Coach Reardon stressed to us is that we have to finish everything," Stewart said. "Even if we mess up on a play, we have to keep playing. Last year we didn't finish a lot of our games. I think we're doing that this year."
Weakness is depth
Ursuline's main weakness is depth. Junior Mike Bartos -- arguably the best lineman on the team -- broke his leg early in the season and junior lineman Matt Savon had reconstructive knee surgery.
Junior Joe Underwood shifted from tight end to tackle against Harding and "did a phenomenal job," Reardon said.
"One of the things I'm learning is that when we have an injury, we have to move guys around," he said. "When you're at a bigger Division I or II school, you have backups who can just step right in."
Stewart and Allen both said things have been more loose under Reardon. The Irish are excited about the good start, but they're not satisfied.
"We're just taking things one game at a time," Allen said. "I think this year's senior class is much closer and everyone on the team works well together.
"If we keep it up, we should finish the season strong."
scalzo@vindy.com