Spreading around praise: Dynamic offense keys Irish

Mooney Vs. Ursuline

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Junior QB Paul Kempe and senior RB Allen Jones lead an Ursuline team averaging 36 points per game.

By JOE SCALZO

Vindicator sports staff

YOUNGSTOWN — Last season, the Ursuline High football team went 15-0 and won a Division V state title with a two-quarterback rotation.

Thanks to Paul Kempe’s development, and Dawalyn Harper’s unselfishness, that hasn’t been necessary this fall.

Kempe, a 6-foot, 175-pound junior, has played well all season for the Irish (8-3), who will meet Cuyahoga Heights in a Division V regional final Friday in Aurora.

Kempe threw for 1,402 yards with 12 TDs in just nine games during the regular season, seizing control of the starting position and leading the most dynamic Ursuline offense in Dan Reardon’s six seasons with the school.

“We changed our offense this year to a spread offense and it’s been very, very good to us,” said Reardon, whose team has averaged 36 points per game and has scored at least 21 in every game. “Paul Kempe has had a tremendous year from a decision-making standpoint and with his playmaking ability.

“He’s done a very good job of taking what the defense gives him.”

Harper, a 6-1, 220-pound senior who has already committed to the University of Toledo as a linebacker, saw more playing time at QB than Kempe last season, particularly in the postseason. Harper was more of a running threat, while Kempe was the passing threat. Kempe has since improved as a runner and gave Mooney fits, particularly in the second half, of their Week 9 game.

Harper still plays occasionally at QB, but has also played tight end, fullback, tailback and receiver. If that’s not enough, Harper also volunteered to move from linebacker to defensive end early in the season, even though it’s not his future college position.

“He’s been an unselfish player for us this year,” Reardon said of Harper. “He’s truly done whatever we’ve asked him to do.”

Ursuline’s offense still revolves around senior RB Allen Jones, who has more than 4,000 yards in his career and needs about 150 to become the school’s all-time rushing leader. Jones is closing in on 2,000 yards already this season and has a rare blend of speed, quickness, power, balance and vision.

Add in receivers such as Akise Teague (the team’s most explosive player), Chris Collins, Jeff Podolsky and Nico Irizarry and it’s easy to see why the Irish have scored more than 40 points in five games this season.

“I think the fact that Paul has spread it around a lot, that’s forced defenses to pay attention to everybody,” said Reardon. “If you concentrate on one kid, you’ve still got a lot of other guys to deal with.”

Ursuline’s defense hasn’t been quite as good as it was last season — no shame there — but it’s gotten much better since Week 4, when the Irish coaches made some personnel changes to get more speed on the field.

Players like Harper and senior David Rossi moved from linebacker to defensive line, while senior DeAndre Harris has flourished since moving from cornerback to outside linebacker.

The result? After giving up 106 points against Columbus St. Charles, Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Mentor Lake Catholic, the Irish have surrendered just 104 since.

That improved defense will come in handy Friday against a Cuyahoga Heights team averaging 40 points per game with a spread-option attack.

In fact, only one team has held the Redskins (12-0) to fewer than 27 points — Kirtland, which lost to Cuyahoga Heights 20-10 in Week 5.

Kirtland, of course, was the team that nearly ended Ursuline’s title hopes in last year’s regional final before the Irish rallied for an 18-17 victory in the final seconds.

“The thing is, when you get down to the final eight teams in the state, everybody’s good,” said Reardon, whose team defeated Cuyahoga Heights 27-7 in last year’s opening playoff game. “You get everybody’s best effort, you get every trick a coach has up his sleeve and you do whatever it takes to win.

“Obviously, everyone is playing for their lives.”

scalzo@vindy.com