Mike Metzinger’s field goal accounted for the points.

By J.J. BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MASSILLON — Most Division V teams that take on a Division I opponent and hang with the competition — despite a loss — would walk off the field with their heads held high.

After losing 14-3 to Massillon Friday in front of nearly 8,000 fans, the Ursuline Irish walked off with their heads held high but far from satisfied.

“We came here to win, not to get a moral victory,” Ursuline coach Dan Reardon said. “We didn’t fear them because they were Div. I.”

The Irish (3-1) gained just 192 yards of total offense and got inside Massillon’s 20-yard line only once.

First-down deficit

Beginning midway through the second quarter, Ursuline went four offensive series without a first down.

But once the Irish got those first downs and moved the ball to Massillon’s 23-yard line, they lost the momentum when they fumbled a quarterback-to-running back exchange

“We had a good drive going in the third quarter and then turned it over, and at that point it was a close game and we had a chance to go up,” Reardon said. “We’ve done a pretty good job protecting the football this year until tonight, and it hurt us.”

The Tigers (2-2) went ahead 7-0 with 8:38 left in the second quarter when Josh Cross caught a 10-yard pass from Chris Willoughby.

Massillon had the ball at the Irish 42, and after Devoe Torrence ran four times for 32 yards Willoughby was able to freeze the defense with a play-action pass.

Production

Willoughby finished 5-of-8 for 72 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Tigers gained 240 total yards in the game.

Torrence, who is verbally committed to Ohio State, added 158 rushing yards on 29 carries.

Massillon coach Tom Stacy was happy to see his Tigers move the ball in the air, but it wasn’t his offense that pleased him most.

“I think it was our defensive execution that won this game,” Stacy said. “We did just enough offensively to win.

“I think it helped us that [Darrell] Mason didn’t play. At this point, we’ll take a win any way we can.”

Mason, Ursuline’s starting running back, was on the sideline with crutches. Reardon wouldn’t elaborate on his status.

Mason’s backup, Allen Jones, ran 11 times for 51 yards.

Quarterback Lamar McQueen had 19 carries for 70 yards and threw for 5-of-17 for 68 yards and an interception.

Ursuline’s points came on Mike Metzinger’s 38-yard field goal with 2:57 left in the half.

Good field position

A punt that went for negative yardage helped Ursuline get good field position near midfield, and a 23-yard run by McQueen moved the ball to the Tigers’ 25.

On fourth-and-two the Irish had plans to go for the first down, but were called for delay of game and settled for the kick.

The Tigers’ Justin Turner intercepted McQueen’s pass on Ursuline’s next possession and nine plays later got the ball to the Irish 15.

The drive stalled, and the Irish’s Dan Baco blocked Steven Schott’s 32-field field goal attempt.

Massillon got its second touchdown on a 47-yard pass from Willoughby to Kevin Massey with 5:37 left in the fourth quarter. Massey finished with five catches for 70 yards.