Support: Senior lineman Dan Baco said last year’s co-captains were watching on the sidelines — Lamar McQueen, Ryan Kelly and Dan McGahagan. He said other members of that team watched from the grandstands. Baco said he hopes last year’s seniors feel a part of winning the title after finishing state runner-up last year. “I still feel bad,” said Baco of the 20-14 defeat to Maria Stein Marion Local in 2007. Baco suggested that Saturday’s 21-0 win over Findlay Liberty-Benton offers “justification” for the seniors who led last season. “They deserve credit for enabling us to do a lot of what we did,” Baco said. “They taught us how to do it.”

Gamblers: Tim Nichols’ gamble late in the first half to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Irish 4 wasn’t the only one. (The Irish stuffed quarterback Aaron Craft for no gain to preserve a scoreless game). In the third quarter with Ursuline leading 7-0, Reardon rolled the dice by having punter/quarterback Paul Kempe pass on fourth-and-1 in Ursuline territory. The pass fell incomplete but Eagles defender Nate Aydt was penalized for pass interference on Dale Peterman, giving the Irish first down at midfield.

Limited yardage: Craft passed for 152 yards by completing 18-of-27 passes. The Eagles converted four of their 14 third-down attempts. Craft also rushed 26 times for 49 yards. Brennan Lieb caught six passes for 51 yards. “Our offense moved the ball at times and had some chances, but it was kind of a game of inches,” Nichols said. Allen Jones, whose 59-yard touchdown was the only offensive score of the game, rushed 17 times for 97 yards. Akise Teague had nine carries for 23 yards.

Champions again: In 2000, the Irish defeated Coldwater in the Division IV title for the school’s other state crown.

Tom Williams