CANTON Stewart key in Ursuline's win

He scored three times as the Irish rolled past Aquinas.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANTON -- Ursuline's Derrick Stewart doesn't mind all the attention teammate Alex Allen has been getting from opposing defenses this season.
In fact, he wouldn't have it any other way. It makes his job a lot easier.
With the St. Thomas Aquinas defense focused on containing Allen, Stewart ran roughshod over the Knights, scoring three times in as many ways, leading Ursuline to a 35-21 victory over St. Thomas at Lowell Klinefelter Field.
Irish coach Dan Reardon found every way imaginable to get the ball into Stewart's hands and it paid off in a big way.
Played some quarterback
The senior receiver moved to quarterback for two offensive series late in the second quarter with Ursuline (4-1) already leading 8-0 and he made the best of it.
Stewart had already scored on a 31-yard pass from Scooter Hargate on Ursuline's second possession. Under center on the Irish's next drive, Stewart wasted no time adding to his personal highlight reel.
On the first play from scrimmage he connected with Bryant Youngblood for a 37-yard gain. The next play was all Stewart as he broke free for a 25-yard scamper.
After a pair of Allen runs, Stewart completed an 8-yarder to Ray Hightower, moving Ursuline to the St. Thomas 3. Stewart barreled into the end zone on the next play, and Allen added the extra point to give Ursuline a 15-0 advantage.
Game-breaking play
But Stewart wasn't finished. On the Knights' next possession, they drove to the Ursuline 29-yard line and attempted a 36-yard field goal to cut into the Irish lead.
Stewart made sure it didn't happen.
He burst through the line untouched, blocked the kick and returned the loose ball 65 yards for a touchdown.
"Derrick is a solid player for us and we were able to get him the ball in a variety of ways tonight," said Reardon. "He's not out there just to catch the ball. He can run and throw it, too. He made some huge plays for us tonight."
Stewart finished with three touchdowns -- one receiving (31 yards), one rushing (3 yards) and one on the return of the blocked kick (65 yards). He was two-of-two passing for 45 yards and caught three balls for 64 more.
After a St. Thomas touchdown cut Ursuline's lead to 21-7 right before halftime, the Irish offense went exclusively to the ground game in the second half.
Allen was the go-to guy as he has been all season. The senior finished the contest with 130 yards on 27 carries and a pair of second-half touchdowns.
"We have tough kids and they don't quit," said St. Thomas coach and Ursuline grad Tim Tyrrell. "We just don't have enough speed or depth to keep up with a team like Ursuline."