After a perfect season, Ursuline prepares for new challenges

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

After posting a 15-0 season and shutting out a dynamic offense in the Division V state championship game, what do you do for an encore?

If you are the Ursuline High football team, you reload then tackle one of the most impressive schedules imaginable.

It should make for one very fascinating season for the defending champs.

“I think Ursuline typically has a big bulls-eye on [its] chest but even more so when you are coming off an undefeated season,” said Dan Reardon, the Irish head coach who begins his sixth season after a 21-0 victory over Liberty-Benton in the state final.

“You know that you are going to get everybody’s best effort every time you take the field,” Reardon said of defending a title. “Just trying to get kids to understand that [is what] we’ve been stressing throughout camp.”

Last December at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, the Irish played in their second straight Division V state title game.

In 2007, the Irish lost to Marion Local Maria Stein, 20-14, in the Div. V championship tilt. Coming so close left a bad taste in the mouths of the 2008 players.

“Losing in the 2007 final served as a motivation for the entire ‘08 season,” Reardon said. “There was an empty feeling that entire offseason. I think just having been through the process and coming up a little short motivated us but it also taught us a lot of things.”

Fourteen wins later and the Irish were back in the title game. This time, their swarming defense befuddled Liberty-Benton’s prolific offense.

Running back Allen Jones’ 59-yard touchdown in the third quarter broke a scoreless tie, then was followed by fourth-quarter interceptions returned for touchdowns by Dale Peterman (44 yards) and LaVance Turnage (40 yards).

When the final whistle blew, the Irish had their second state crown in nine seasons.

A third one won’t come easily. Among the many key players Ursuline lost to graduation are Peterman, Turnage, running back Darrell Mason, wide receiver L.J. Stevens, defensive back Justin Austin, linebacker Alex Menton, guard Matt Krause, linebacker Dominque Cole and defensive lineman Dan Baco.

Also not returning is defensive end Jamel Turner, the Ohio State recruit who has been declared ineligible for his senior season.

The Irish have some holes to fill. Six starters on offense return and three on defensive.

“Offensively, we been in that ballpark before. Defensively, that’s a low number,” said Reardon, who added that the Irish aren’t exactly starting from scratch.

”We do have a lot of kids who have made plays with the ball in their hands,” said Reardon, citing Jones, running back Nico Irizarry, quarterback Dawalyn Harper, defensive back/running back DeAndre Harris, wide receiver/linebacker Jeff Podolsky, quarterback Paul Kempe and wide receiver/defensive back Akise Teague.

“All of those guys have made plays with the ball in their hands offensively,” Reardon said. “We have a couple of offensive linemen back with experience — David Rossi and Zach Conlan.”

Jones said the Irish are making progress.

“The younger guys have already adapted to the hitting,” Jones said. “And some of them were on the scout team last year so going against Darrell Mason and Matt Krause and Dan Baco in practice exposed them [to top-notch players].”

Reardon hinted the Irish are reloading rather than rebuilding.

“We will have a good offensive line,” Reardon said. “We have some new faces in there that we are trying to get some experience. They are getting some on-the-job training because they don’t have a lot of game experience. We will have a good offensive line, it’s just a matter of when.”

The on-the-job training begins with five straight road games, beginning tonight at Div. II Columbus St. Charles.

“Columbus St. Charles is coming off of a good season,” Reardon said. “My understanding is that they have 35 seniors on their team. Whenever you have that many kids who have been in your program, you’re going to have a chance to be successful.

“I know they are very optimistic and that’s going to be a big challenge for us on the road.”

Jones, who is a captain along with Irizarry, Conland and Rossi, said of St. Charles: “They really are coming after us to make a statement, but we want to show that were not just a one-hit wonder.”

Irizarry, the senior who will spend time in the backfield as well as at wide receiver, said, “They run a spread offense and we’ve heard they’ve got a good quarterback and receiver.”

During Labor Day weekend, Ursuline will play Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Wheeling, W. Va., in the Rally in the Valley.

“Pittsburgh Central Catholic is supposed to be one of Pennsylvania’s best teams,” Irizarry said. “They were 16-0 two years ago, it’s Dan Marino’s alma mater and a Catholic school so they will be ready.”

Right now, Ursuline is looking for an opponent for Week 5. Their first home game at Youngstown State University’s Stambaugh Stadium will be on Oct.9 against Canton Central Catholic.

The Irish will play archrival Mooney there on Oct. 23 and close the regular season at home on Oct. 30 against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Reardon and Irizarry agree that their 2008 accomplishment didn’t hit right away.

“When we had our banquet and our kids got their championship rings, I think that’s when it sunk in,” Reardon said. “Just seeing the looks on their faces and to be rewarded by getting those rings and getting recognition, that’s when it hit me.”

Irizarry said, “It really didn’t seem real until we actually got the rings. Then we felt like we had accomplished something. Until then, it was like any other day.

“You really didn’t feel the glory until you got to see what you achieved,” Irizarry said.

Working out in the offseason presented a different challenge, Irizarry said.

“It was harder in a sense because we didn’t want to put ourselves in a situation where everyone was complacent and everybody was satisfied with what we did last year.

The senior said his classmates didn’t want to be “not moving toward the next season and how are we going to accomplish our goals for the next season.”

Jones said the captains have been advising that it’s time to put the past away.

“Going 15-0 was great, but it would be even greater to go 30-0 and get another ring,” Jones said.

It won’t be easy.

“We’ve been to consecutive championship games and won a championship,” Reardon said. “Every time you are successful, the bulls-eye gets bigger.”

williams@vindy.com