Disappointment in ’07 was motivation for Ursuline’s championship

By Tom Williams | November 30, 2008 at 5:28p.m.

Ursuline Vs. Liberty Benton

MASSILLON — The seed for the Ursuline High football team’s Division V state championship was planted a year ago when the Irish finished runner-up to Marion Local.

“We were at the big stage before,” senior wide receiver L.J. Stevens said. ”There was a lot to motivate us.”

In 2007, Dan Reardon’s Irish waltzed through four playoff games before losing 20-14 to Marion Local.

Following Saturday’s 21-0 victory over Findlay Liberty-Benton at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, several players admitted the ’07 loss left “a bad taste” in their mouths and helped motivate the Irish to an unbeaten season and the school’s second state championship.

Read the story in Monday’s Vindicator.