The Irish take on Apple Creek Waynedale Friday in a regional semifinal.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Coach Dan Reardon feels that what makes his Ursuline Irish football team so special this year is that they have no superstars on the roster.

“We don’t have one standout player offensively, we don’t have a 1,000 yard rusher or a 500 yard receiver. We just have a lot of guys contributing each and every week,” Reardon said.

Reardon and the Irish (9-2) are set for Week 12 of the high school football season which just happens to be the semifinal round of the Division V, Region 17 playoffs where they will take on Apple Creek Waynedale (9-2) Friday night in a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Canton Central Catholic’s Klinefelter Stadium.

“Offensively we have 10 guys who are averaging over 5 yards a carry and a lot of that has to be attributed to our offensive line, which has done an outstanding job all season long,” Reardon added.

“Defensively we have a handful of guys who are really having a great season,” he added.

Linebacker Nick McGahagan, who earned All-Steel Valley Conference honors a year ago, leads the team with over 100 tackles on the season, while defensive back Ross Revella has been the leader in the secondary and Reardon says he always “has his nose to the football.

“When you are winning a lot you have a lot of guys playing well and we’ve been fortunate this season,” Reardon added.

Ursuline is the No. 2 seeded team in Region 17, while Waynedale is the No. 3 seed. The Irish opened the playoffs last week with a 43-0 win over Bedford Chanel, while Waynedale toppled West Salem NW 19-7.

“They are a new opponent for us,” Reardon said. “We are very unfamiliar with them and we have never played anyone from their conference.

“After watching films of their last two games we know they are a very good football team, a team that plays with great passion and plays very hard,” he added.

“Offensively that a very good running back who had rushed for over 1,600 yards this season. I think he had almost 250 yard last week and defensively they are very sound,” Reardon added.

Reardon says the keys to winning this week are very simple.

“We definitely need to take care of the football,” he added. “On the other hand we need to create some turnovers and we need to control the line of scrimmage.

“We feel that if we can do those things then we have a good chance at winning the football game,” he said.

Reardon said the Irish appear ready.

“We’ve had a very good week of practice and the kids seem ready to go.”

mollica@vindy.com