Ursuline Vs. Liberty Union

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Ursuline vs Liberty Union

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Ursuline State semi final Nov 22, 2008

By Joe Scalzo

Liberty-Benton hasn’t faced a team quite like Ursuline

YOUNGSTOWN — Findlay Liberty-Benton played nine Division VI schools during the regular season.

Its other game was against a 2-7 team from Canada.

Although the Eagles’ competition has steadily improved over the last few weeks — they beat Div. V powers Hamler Patrick Henry and Maria Stein Marion Local by a combined 63-0 over the last two weeks — they haven’t played anyone with the power and speed of Ursuline, said Liberty Benton coach Tim Nichols.

“Those two things jump out,” said Nichols, whose team will play the Irish in Saturday’s Div. V state final in Massillon. “Defensively, they run to the ball so well. And up front, their offensive and defensive size, we probably haven’t seen that to this stage.

“It’s a great challenge all across the board.”

At first glance, the top-ranked Irish (14-0) aren’t real complicated. They have an efficient, reliable passing attack with the ability to hit for the big play, but no one will mistake the offense with Liberty-Benton’s wide-open spread attack.

The strength, and the emphasis, is on running. Six Ursuline players have at least 200 yards rushing. Eight players ran the ball in last week’s 35-6 win over Baltimore Liberty Union.

Teams know what to expect. But expecting the run and stopping the run are two different things, as Liberty Union coach Dan Johnson found out as his team surrendered more than 300 yards on the ground.

“They’re so multiple in their offensive formations,” Johnson said of the Irish following Saturday’s game. “They use a lot of motion and shifts.

“They caught us undermanned, basically. We basically reacted to what we thought was one formation when it was another. We weren’t lined up right. They do that to you.”

Junior running back Allen Jones, who passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark last week, is the team’s top running threat, but sophomore Akise Teague has emerged over the past two weeks. Both are quick with good balance and vision.

Senior wideout Dale Peterman adds another dimension to Ursuline’s offense on the outside. Twice in the first half of Saturday’s game he had a few steps on his defender. Twice, the Irish underthrew him.

But on the second play of the third quarter, Peterman again got behind the defense and Irish QB Paul Kempe hit him in stride for a 63-yard score.

“They can hit a home run on you at any time,” Nichols said. “They’ve got the weapons to make big, momentum-changing plays. Hopefully we can eliminate or reduce those.

“Defensively, we’ve got the same goal we’ve always had — if you’re gonna move the football, we’ve got to make sure you earn it.”

The third-ranked Eagles (14-0) have 10 shutouts in 14 games and have yet to give up more than 13 points in a game. Ursuline averages 34 points per game and only one team, Mooney, has held them to fewer than 18.

“I would classify our offense as being diverse,” said Irish coach Dan Reardon, whose team lost to Marion Local in last year’s state final. “I feel we do a real good job with different formations and our ability to be empty [in the backfield], then run two tight ends and three running backs.

“That’s what we’ve been doing throughout the course of the year. We do like to run the football. By formation and scheme, that’s our bread and butter.”

The Irish alternate two quarterbacks. Junior Dawalyn Harper is the team’s second-leading rusher and has thrown just 29 passes this season. Kempe, who threw for 100 yards last week, has passed for more than 800 yards this fall but isn’t as mobile as Harper.

Peterman is the main receiving target with 23 catches for 427 yards and four TDs. No one else has more than six catches. Peterman, who has five Division I college offers, is also the team’s best returner and cover man He had two interceptions last week and is tied with L.J. Stevens for the team lead with five.

“Dale has had a phenomenal season for us in all phases of the game,” Reardon said. “He’s scored a touchdown every way you can score a touchdown.”

Junior defensive end Jamel Turner and senior Dominique Cole lead a talented defensive front, while senior linebacker Alex Menton leads the team in tackles.

Senior safety Justin Austin, who has three interceptions including a game-clincher against Kirtland two weeks ago, is a playmaker in the secondary.

Senior Darrell Mason, who plays linebacker and fullback, has struggled with a high ankle sprain but is as healthy has he’s been in weeks.

The Irish can’t match Liberty-Benton’s eye-popping numbers but they’ve also played a tougher schedule and they have more experience at this level. That doesn’t guarantee a win, but it helps, Reardon said.

“That schedule prepares you for the playoffs,” he said. “One thing it does is the kids know they have to play every week.”

Added Nichols, “Our confidence is high, but you’ve got a respect a team that’s done what they’ve done.”

scalzo@vindy.com