Three on three: Irish veterans make statement

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The Vindicator/Lisa-Ann Ishihara--- Irish's Allen Jones (28) with Central Catholic's defensive back Zach Ungashick (34) grasping his leg during the first quarter at Stambaugh Stadium Friday October 9, 2009

State Championship Preview

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The Vindicator Sports Writer Joe Scalzo talks to Mark Porter of ScoutingOhio.com about Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline playing in the OHSAA State Championships.

'09 Ursuline Highlights

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By Tom Williams

DeAndre Harris, Allen Jones and David Rossi are three-year starters for Ursuline.

YOUNGSTOWN — Ursuline High seniors Allen Jones, David Rossi and DeAndre Harris are about to join elite company in Ohio football history.

Friday at 3 p.m., the Irish trio will start in their third consecutive state final when Ursuline (10-3) takes on Coldwater (13-1) for the Division V state crown at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.

Jones (running back), Rossi (linebacker) and Harris (cornerback) were starters two years ago when Ursuline played and lost to Maria Stein Marion Local (20-14) at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Last year, they started again (with Rossi at center) for the unbeaten Irish team that returned to the title game. This time, Ursuline emerged the winner, defeating Findlay Liberty-Benton (21-0).

That was Ursuline’s second state championship. The first came nine years ago at Fawcett Stadium when Ursuline defeated Coldwater (49-37) for the Div. IV crown.

Friday’s task won’t be easy. Coldwater is 2-1 in state title games against Mahoning Valley teams. In 2005 and 2007, Coldwater defeated Mooney by scores of 33-9 and 28-7 in Div. IV title games.

Just as Ursuline was reassigned to Div. V in 2007, Coldwater was reassigned to that bracket last spring.

“This matchup doesn’t surprise me at all,” Rossi said. “We knew it was going to come down to us and Coldwater, despite what everyone else said. We knew we would be there and we knew we’d be playing them.

“It’s huge because this game is a big deal to the Youngstown community.”

Rossi said the Irish, who would become the first Mahoning Valley team to win consecutive championships if they win, won’t be satisfied to just show up on Friday.

“We’re out to prove a statement, that Youngstown football is the toughest football in Ohio,” Rossi said. “It’s just a huge privilege. We never took anything for granted. We’re not going to take this week any differently.”

Harris said he doesn’t mind facing a team with Coldwater’s track record for quality.

“It’s a good feeling because people always doubt us,” Harris said. “They say we shouldn’t be playing in D-5. This year, we’re playing Coldwater and Coldwater is another outstanding team. This year, [naysayers] won’t have any excuses to make.”

The Irish, guided by Dan Reardon since 2004, have come a long way since the trio were freshmen.

Jones said he felt the Irish in 2007 had a chance to “go far. My freshman year, I saw that we had a lot of talent. Once we put it together, we knew what we could do. It’s been amazing what we did over the past three years.”

Jones, who last Friday broke Terrance Graves’ career-rushing mark (4,163), said his ascension to starter came sooner than expected.

“Coming off my freshman year, I really wasn’t expected to contribute much to the team,” said Jones, who now has 4,178 yards.

He was promoted to starter in 2007’s Week 4 against Massillon when Darrell Mason suffered an injury.

“My best memory in 2007 was when I got to start in the state game,” said Jones who said he felt the Irish had a shot that postseason after the edged Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in an overtime game in Week 10.

“That was a tough battle and once we came out on top of that we were destined [to go far],” Jones said.

Rossi said his best memory from the Maria Stein game was a hit linebacker Nick McGahagan put on one of their opponents.

“Big hit,” said Rossi recalling his days as a defender. “Nick McGahagan was a huge role model for me and he really took me under his wing.”

Rossi also took away another memory.

“I learned that I never wanted to lose another state [game], I never wanted to have that feeling — just complete defeat,” Rossi said. “That 20-14 memory still sticks with me. I never want to have that happen again.”

Harris said what sticks with him is something wide receiver Dale Peterman told him before he scored.

“For the first seven points that we scored, Dale Peterman caught that long pass and took it all the way,” Harris said. “He told me on the sideline that he was going to do it and I believed him.”

Harris said there was a big difference in the Irish when they played for the title in 2008.

“Coming into [the 2007 game], we were just satisfied to make it to the state championship game,” Harris said. “After the loss, everybody that was coming back said, “Once we make it back, we’re not going home with the feeling of a loss again.’”

Jones scored a 59-yard touchdown to give the Irish a 7-0 lead over Liberty-Benton. Defensive backs Peterman (44 yards) and LaVance Turnage (40 yards) returned interceptions for the other touchdowns.

“We had a [playoff] scare against Kirtland, but after that, our defense just handled everyone,” Jones said.

Many of last year’s starters graduated last spring, giving opportunities to younger players to step up.

“Greg DeMario, Chris Collins, Joe Wess, Aaron Edwards, Zach Conlan, Pete Wearsch — there have been a lot of guys,” Rossi said.

Harris said, “Tony Brown, Trevor Smith, Akise Teague — those young players are playing like they are seniors this year.”

Rossi and Harris cited the leadership of Dawalyn Harper who switched positions that enhance the defense.

“Dawalyn is one of the biggest team players that we have and we really appreciate it,” Rossi said. “He was an all-state linebacker last year.

“For him to make the transition from linebacker to D line and that he is getting recruited for D line says a lot about his character and what guys are willing to do for this team.”

Last year, Harper also shared time at quarterback with Paul Kempe, this year’s primary quarterback.

“Just like last year, Dawalyn Harper stepped up tremendously because he had a position movement and he took it like a leader,” Harris said.

When Mooney lost a nail-biter to Coldwater two years ago, Harris watched the game on TV.

The lesson he took from that game is that “you can’t be satisfied. I saw that Coldwater had a lot of key plays that were trick plays and Mooney kind of fell asleep. This year, we can’t take any plays off.”

williams@vindy.com

SEE ALSO: Ursuline’s Jones nabs D-5 honor.

URSULINE (10-3)

Coach: Dan Reardon, seventh year, 50-23

Assistants: Rollen Smith, Larry Kempe, Brad Turnbull, Michael Frasco, Matthew Guarnieri, Andrew Frasco, Dominic Cutrone, John DeSantis, Kevin Cylar, Steve Rovnak, Frank Rutherford, Mike Constantini, Jimmy Mszanski

Final AP rank: 14th

Playoff history: 28-12 in 15 appearances with two state titles

Regular season scores

46Cols. St. Charles22 22Pittsburgh Central Catholic49 21Mentor Lake Catholic35 42Bedford13 50St. Thomas Aquinas7 47Canton Central Catholic19 35Akron Buchtel0 22Mooney27 38Akron SVSM24

Playoffs

28Garfield Hts. Trinity0 48Columbiana Crestview14 47Cuyahoga Heights28 48West Lafayette Ridgewood6

Scouting report: Offensively, everything starts with senior RB Allen Jones, who has carried 262 times for 2,224 yards and has just under 4,300 yards (a school record) and 63 TDs for his career. “The thing about Allen is, he’s just been a very, very steady football player since his sophomore year,” said Reardon. WR/RB Akise Teague is the team’s most explosive player and could make an impact Friday on kickoff and punt returns. Teague and Chris Collins are the main receiving threats for QB Paul Kempe, although the Irish like to spread the ball around in their spread offense. Kempe rotated with DL Dawalyn Harper last year but has made the position his own this fall. “He does an outstanding job of not forcing plays and taking care of the football,” said Reardon. “He takes what the defense gives him.” Harper and senior DeAndre Harris are three-year starters on a defense that has made huge gains since early in the season. After a 1-2 start, the Irish coaches moved some personnel around to get more speed on the field and it’s paid dividends.

COLDWATER (13-1)

Coach: John Reed, 15th year, 167-30

Assistants: Jason Hemmelgarn, Tim Hoyng, Randy Wright, Chip Otten, Jerry Kanney, Thad Forsthoefel

Final AP rank: 2nd

Playoff history: 37-12 in 15 appearances with two state titles

Regular season scores

29Kenton26 47Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan7 25Versailles14 42Maria Stein Marion Local19 27Anna13 48Rockford Parkway14 17St. Henry0 20Delphos St. John’s27 35Minster0 47New Bremen6

Playoffs

41Hamilton Badin0 28Anna21 47St. Henry41 35Hamler Patrick Henry24

Scouting report: Offensively, everything starts with QB Keith Wenning, a Ball State recruit who has thrown for more than 3,000 yards and rushed for nearly 1,000. “He’s just a complete quarterback,” Reardon said of Wenning. “He’s a big, strong kid who can break tackles and he has a tremendous arm.” Reed isn’t afraid to take chances — two trick plays helped the Cavaliers upset Mooney in the 2007 final — and he’ll dial up a lot of blitzes on defense to try and slow the Irish. Coldwater’s strength on defense is its line, Reardon said. “They’re solid everywhere, but that’s the real strength,” he said. “They get great penetration and they can create a lot of problems in pass protection and in the run game.” Coldwater lost to Ursuline in the 2000 state final before beating Mooney in 2005 and 2007. This team probably isn’t as good as the last two, but the Cavaliers’ schedule and tradition (they are Ohio’s winningest program this decade) means they won’t be intimidated by the Irish. “I know we talked about this in 2007 — it’s probably an advantage for us that we’re clear on the other side of the state,” said Reed. “Our kids don’t know that much about the Ursulines and the Mooneys. They don’t know about the power of the Steel Valley. I’m not saying we’re not aware of other parts of the state, but I don’t think our kids are intimidated because they don’t know that much about them.”

Joe Scalzo