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By Chuck Housteau

Irish only area team left in playoffs

STOW — You definitely need to buy a program if you want to keep track of all the offensive weapons the Ursuline High football team can showcase in a game.

If you’re an opposing defense, it must be a nightmare.

Gilmour Academy found that out Saturday night as the Irish routed the Lancers, 35-7, in a Division V, Region 17 semifinal at Stow High school.

Ursuline (12-0) advanced to the regional finals next Saturday against Kirtland. The Irish are the only Mahoning Valley team still alive in the postseason.

Ten Irish players contributed to an offensive attack that rolled up 330 yards of offense and more than 125 yards on kick returns. Five different players scored or participated in the five Irish touchdowns.

Ursuline displayed the ability to score on the big play, via the run or pass early in the contest, and then the Irish put the game away with a punishing, ball-control attack that featured the running of senior Darrell Mason.

“That’s a very fine football team,” said Gilmour Academy coach Bob Spicer about the Irish. “I don’t know any other way we could have prepared for them other than to schedule [Division I powers] Glenville and St. Ignatius.

“They’re just in another league as far as I’m concerned.”

Spicer said that the versatility of the Ursuline offense isn’t nearly as daunting as the Irish’s talent.

“We’ve faced teams that do what they do offensively,” Spicer said. “But we haven’t faced so many talented running backs and offensive linemen that block the way they do.”

The Irish jumped on the Lancers on the third play from scrimmage when Jones took a handoff and raced around left end for a 61-yard touchdown run. Kevin Patrick’s conversion kick gave Ursuline a 7-0 lead with 10:25 left in the first period.

Ursuline dominated throughout the first half and led 20-0 at the break on a 26-yard touchdown run by Akise Teague, and on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Dawalyn Harper to Jamel Turner.

A Division I recruit, who is one of the top defensive standouts in the state, Turner took the pass from Harper, broke several tackles and outran defensive backs to the end zone for the score.

“We pride ourselves in being versatile,” said Ursuline coach Dan Reardon. “We’re able to throw a variety of offensive sets at defenses and we can throw a variety of personnel sets in our schemes.”

Ursuline featured Jones and sophomore Akise Teague early in the contest along with quarterbacks Harper and Paul Kempe. The Irish also used Nico Irizarry at running back along with Mason in the second half.

Turner and Dominique Cole caught passes of 53 and 34 yards to lead the Irish passing game, and Dale Peterman returned a punt 42 yards.

Reardon however was most impressed that the Irish were able to control the football in the second half with a power running game, after Gilmour Academy pulled to within 20-7 in the third quarter.

Mason led the Irish drive after the Lancers’ Ryan Teknipp scored with 1:55 left in the third quarter on a 3-yard run.

Mason carried the ball 11 straight times in a 56-yard drive before Jones rambled in on play No. 12 for a 2-yard touchdown run.

Mason, who finished with 98 yards on 21 carries, then put the game away with a 3-yard scoring run after Turner recovered a Gilmour fumble and returned it 20 yards to the Lancers’ 21.

“We’re a family,” Turner said. “We have a lot of talent on this team and no one gets jealous about their stats.

“We just want to win games and everyone wants to contribute.”

Gilmour (10-2) was led by tailback Tommy Hallal, who gained 69 yards on 11 carries.