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‘A special group of players’
Gallery
Ursuline Vs. Liberty Benton
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2008 Ursuline Vs. Kirtland
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By Greg Gulas
Ursuline football coach Dan Reardon lauded his Irish at the Curbstoners’ luncheon.
BOARDMAN — In five seasons at the helm of the Ursuline High football program, Dan Reardon has directed his Fighting Irish to the past two state championship games while winning last season’s Division V crown with a perfect 15-0 mark.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Reardon noted that while there is no prescription for his success, the team members deserve all of the credit because they were able to stay focused each week throughout the season.
”This truly was a special group of players. We talked prior to the season and made them realize that there was a target on our backs; that teams would play a touchdown better against us,” he said.
“They remained even keel, however, and were able to stay focused. They never let their guard down once during the regular season or the playoffs.”
With a schedule designed to be a challenge each week, Reardon said two regular season games and the regional final against Kirtland were defining moments en-route to his team’s unblemished title.
“In the third week of the season we went to Mentor Lake Catholic and won our first road game of the year, then the following week after trailing Massillon at the half 13-7, we came back to win, 23-13,” he said. “It wasn’t just the fact that we won, it was how we won for we didn’t allow Massillon a first down the entire second half.
“Against Kirtland in the playoffs we moved the football but they did an excellent job of keeping the ball out of our hands. We were trailing 17-12 with a little over three minutes remaining and were able to put together the game-winning drive for an 18-1w7 win.
“Those were memorable games that pretty much defined the will and determination of this team.”
Reardon wouldn’t single out players, but did laud the play of All-Ohio two-way performers Dale Peterman, Dominque Cole and Matt Krause, and linebacker Alex Menton.
“Dale [Peterman] made plays in every phase of the game, scoring touchdowns for us as a punt returner, wide receiver and defensive back. His interception for a touchdown in the championship game against Liberty Benton late in the game gave us a 14-0 cushion, a cushion we did not have up to that point,” he said.
“Dominique [Cole] is an excellent basketball player who focused on football this year and had a great season, especially when rushing the passer.
“Matt [Krause] plays with an extremely fast motor and it doesn’t matter what side of the football he is on. You need a player like him on your team.
“After a nice sophomore season, Alex [Menton] was lost with a knee injury all of last year so to some back and have the type of season that he had for us, especially after a serious knee injury, is a testament to his hard work and determination,” Reardon added.
Peterman, who hasn’t yet picked his college, said the sting of losing the title to Marion Local the previous year was motivation enough.
“From our first day of practice we wanted to win it all. We were a focused team that remained a cohesive unit all season long. Losing the 2007 title game made us all want to go back and prove that we could do it, but we had to stay focused if expected to achieve that goal,” Peterman said.
Long-time assistant coach Larry Kempe, who like Reardon just completed his fifth season (his third as defensive coordinator) with the Irish, said this team was built four years ago.
“I watched our seniors grow from their freshman season and it was just an amazing progression. We lost just two players from that class during that time so the numbers speak for themselves.
“In the five years since our arrival we’ve gone from 45 team members to 85. That tells me we have plenty who are interested in our program.
“We took the mandatory 30 days off after the season and already have 55 players in the weight room as we now get ready for next season,” Kempe said.
Next week, Bertram de Souza of The Vindicator will be the guest speaker.