Irish are first area team to win back-to-back titles

By John Bassetti

CANTON — Ask not what your defense can do for you, but what you can do for your defense.

Not only was the Ursuline High football team under pressure to make the most of its offensive possessions against Coldwater, but it was critical that Ursuline’s defense had a big-time role against the high-powered Cavaliers.

“They have amassed so many yards over the course of the season, that we needed to come up with stops,” said Ursuline coach Dan Reardon, who team shellacked the Cavaliers, 55-25, at Fawcett Stadium on Friday.

Those stops started with Trevor Smith, who caused a fumble that Dawalyn Harper picked up that led to a pair of quick touchdowns during a watershed moment early in the second quarter of the Division V state championship game. It was Ursuline’s second straight state title.

“It was a huge stretch to get 14 points that quickly,” said Reardon, whose team snapped a 7-7 tie before tacking on another tally to boost the lead to 21-7.

Chris Collins was a big part of the spurt as the senior receiver caught the go-ahead TD pass, then had an interception return for another score — all within 1 minute, 38 seconds.

“The thing about Coldwater — watching them on film and knowing their history — is that they’ve come from behind so many times,” Reardon said. “Until about 21‚Ñ2 minutes left in the game, we knew we couldn’t let up.”

Reardon was referring to a game such as a few years ago when Coldwater rallied to beat Cardinal Mooney, 28-27.

“We just wanted the opportunity take advantage of it,” Reardon said of not transforming the turnovers into points.

The coached talked of the challenge of facing Coldwater 6-foot-4 quarterback Keith Wenning.

“He’s such a talent and their staff does such a phenomenal job with formations, play selection and he’s the best we faced in a long, long time,” Reardon said. ”We’d blitz and he’d pick us apart.

“When we were playing zone, he’d pick us apart. He has such a strong arm and is able to make every throw and, when you think you have the pass bottled up, they pull a run and he gains 12 yards that way.”

Wenning was 40 of 54 for 414 yards, but the Collins’ interception was devastating. The Ball State-bound senior also had 12 carries for 54 yards on the ground. Aaron Edwards also picked off a pass, a halfback pass from Adam Rammel late in the game.

“He’s outstanding,” Reardon said of Wenning, “but I think our guys did a good job containing him. We knew he was going to get his yards, but we didn’t allow him the huge outburst.”

Wenning also had 17 carries for 44 yards as Coldwater ended 13-2.

Rammel was the Cavaliers’ top receiver with 14 catches for 135 yards while Kurt Schoenherr had 10 receptions for 123 yards.

Akise Teague scored three times for the Irish (11-3) and finished with 112 yards on nine carries. Allen Jones was Ursuline’s top carrier with 155 yards on 15 attempts.

Irish QB Paul Kempe was 9 of 13 for 115 yards. Edwards also had an 85-yard TD run early in the third period.

Coldwater’s 7-0 lead came after Kurt Schoenherr caught a Wenning pass from 6 yards out with 2:29 left in the first quarter. Ursuline tied on the first play of the second quarter when Teague ran 26 yards for a touchdown, followed by Jeff Podolsky’s point-after kick. On the TD play, Kempe was lined up as a wide receiver, while Teague took a direct snap from center David Rossi.

The Irish got the first of two big breaks when Smith whipped Wenning around during a tackle attempt. The ball flew out of the quarterback’s hands and was picked up by Harper. From his own 41-yard line, Kempe threw long to Collins, who waited behind a defender for a 59-yard TD reception with 9:19 remaining in the second quarter.

On Coldwater’s third play following the ensuing kickoff, Collins intercepted and finished a 41-yard return for a touchdown at 7:41. Podolsky’s PAT put the Irish up, 21-7.

However, a 70-yard drive ended with Coldwater pulling within, 21-13, on Wenning’s 4-yard TD pass to Rammel at 5:30. Troy Otten’s point-after was no good.

With the help of Allen Jones’ hard running, Ursuline reached Coldwater’s 22, from where Kempe had a 19-yard scamper to the Cavaliers’ 3. On the next play, Teague ran it over for a 27-13 advantage at 3:15. Podolsky’s kick failed.

Coldwater seemed sure to put another touchdown on the board before halftime as it got a break from an Ursuline pass interference penalty. From its own 48-yard line, Wenning passed to Reese Klenke and Rammel to push Coldwater to Ursuline’s 4.

Despite first-and-goal at from the 4, Wenning couldn’t get his team in the end zone, whether due to incomplete passes for failed runs by himself. Trevor Smith, Tony Brown and Jesse Curry had key stops in the final minute of the half, giving the Irish a huge dose of confidence.

Jones had his helmet knocked off during a tackle by Kurt Westerheide early in the game, but Ursuline’s hard hitting was witnessed in more plays as the game wore on. Hits by Jesse Curry, Edwards and Podolsky were especially wicked.

In addition, Jones broke three would-be tacklers during a TD in the second quarter that impressed the crowd.

bassetti@vindy.com