By Jon Moffett

Ursuline’s junior linebacker, Jamel Turner, sensed no team could beat the Irish.

MASSILLON — Jamel Turner made a prediction for the Ursuline Irish in week five.

After a victory over Chardon, the junior linebacker said, “I see us going undefeated. I don’t see anybody stopping us.”

Ten weeks later, Turner and the Irish were in the Division V title game.

Ten wins later, the Irish are undefeated and state champions.

“I feel amazing,” Turner said. “We went 15-0 and I said it earlier in the season. That’s because I have faith in my team and in my seniors; they led the way. I did my part, our juniors and sophomore did their part and now we’re state champs.”

Turner and the Irish defense frustrated Findlay Liberty-Benton Saturday with constant pressure. Turner had 11‚Ñ2 sacks, but said the Eagles’ game plan was to keep him away from the quarterback.

“Once we realized they were rolling away from me, I just told Dom [Cole] to turn them back into me because we’re going to have people coming on the backside,” Turner said. “Whether they were rolling away from me or toward me, we were going to have an answer.”

The pressure from the Irish forced the Eagles into mistakes. Liberty-Benton quarterback Aaron Craft threw four interceptions, and two of them were returned for touchdowns.

Dale Peterman, a senior cornerback for the Irish, picked off two passes and returned one 44 yards for a score. Teammates Justin Austin and LaVance Turnage, also seniors, added an interception each. Turnage returned his 40 yards for a score with 2:57 left to seal the victory for the Irish.

“It feels so good, I’m on cloud nine right now,” Peterman said. “It was our goal this year to come in here and deliver a shutout.”

The Eagles were able to gain 241 yards, but failed to convert in key situations.

In the first quarter, Liberty-Benton attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-5, but failed to gain the first down. In the second quarter, the Eagles had the ball on Ursuline’s 3-yard line. Craft tried to sneak the ball into the end zone on fourth-and-goal, but was stopped short.

Turner said the defense was ready.

“We knew it was going to be a defensive game,” Turner said. “Whoever held out the best was going to be the one who won the game. Over the week, our defense practiced full go because we wanted to prove that our defense was better.”

Peterman said this victory was especially meaningful to the seniors, who had to taste defeat in last year’s title game.

“Last year when we lost the championship game, there was a lot of motivation to come back,” Peterman said. “And we came back and did it.”

The Irish were able to achieve three team goals this season. They had an undefeated season (15-0), won the state championship, and defeated arch-rival Cardinal Mooney earlier this season.

jmoffett@vindy.com