Fitch vs Ursuline

Gallery

Lamar McQueen’s 43-yard run set up Allen Jones’
game-winning touchdown.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Wearing a bright red Wilson High T-shirt underneath his Ursuline uniform, senior quarterback Lamar McQueen stepped into the huddle to begin the most important possession of his high school career and started clapping his hands.

“After they [Fitch] scored, I saw a couple heads drop down,” said McQueen after a huge 21-14 win over the Falcons on Friday at Stambaugh Stadium. “I wanted to let them know it wasn’t over yet. I was like, ‘It’s cool, I got your back.’

“I was going to take them to the promised land.”

Here’s the scenario. The Irish were trailing the Falcons 14-13, thanks in large part to some spotty special teams play, but got the ball back at their own 32 with just under four minutes remaining.

McQueen, who transferred from Wilson this summer, had helped the Irish to their first two wins by a combined score of 115-0 so far this year, but the big question was: Could he do it with the game on the line against a good team?

He — and everyone else — wanted to find out.

“I was kind of hoping they’d put the ball in my hands,” McQueen said. “I was feeling it.”

Two McQueen carries set up 3-and-1 at the 41. Darrell Mason ran off tackle, fumbled and Dwight Wright came up with a huge recovery for the Irish to give them a first down.

McQueen. Jones deliver

On the next play, McQueen broke through for a 46-yard run down the left sideline to set up a first-and-goal at the 9.

“He made a huge play,” said Ursuline coach Dan Reardon. “I wish he had done it a little sooner so I wouldn’t have been panicking so much.”

With Mason (the team’s best back) hurting, Dan Reardon then turned to sophomore Allen Jones (who had just one carry in the game at that point) to finish the job.

Jones delivered with runs of 5 and 4 yards, plunging into the end zone on the latter carry and adding a two-point conversion run to give the Irish the lead for good, 21-14, with 1:42 left.

Another key player on the drive? Junior lineman Mike Herns, who replaced a banged-up Justin Brown at right tackle and was playing his first quarter of the season since recovering from a stress fracture.

“We had some guys step up tonight,” said Reardon.

Irish defense clinches win

Fitch got the ball back at its own 27 but lost five yards in four plays. Jamel Turner sacked Falcon quarterback Jon Ballard on fourth down to end the suspense.

“We ran out of gas at the end,” said Falcons coach Phil Annarella. “You can always point to one play but the bottom line is we have to play better. Ursuline played well.

“They won the game when they had to.”

Mason finished with 22 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the Irish (3-0). McQueen added 83 yards on 15 carries and Mike Metzinger had field goals of 28 and 33 yards.

Although the Irish outgained Fitch 261-157, they were hurt by two costly special teams plays in the fourth quarter — a muffed punt return (that gave Fitch the ball back) and a blocked punt by Fitch’s Dan Beachler that set up the Falcons’ final score: an 11-yard TD pass from Ballard to Gary Sciortino.

Ballard finished 7 of 12 for 62 yards, while Sylvestry Gibbs added 84 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown for the Falcons (1-2).

“[Ballard] is getting better,” said Annarella. “One of the problems with playing a sophomore is you have to go through some growing pains. Overall, he’s done a good job and Ursuline’s defense is really good.

“They’re big strong and fast. There’s a reason nobody had scored on them until tonight. We’re just not where we want to be yet.”

scalzo@vindy.com