Ursuline, Mooney eye Stark County

By Tom Williams

YOUNGSTOWN — The rematch that Mooney High’s football team has been aching for has been confirmed.

Also this Friday, the Ursuline High football team will take its next step toward a third straight state championship appearance against a sixth-seeded surprise.

Friday at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium, Mooney (13-0) will play Steubenville (12-1) in a Division III state semifinal.

Last year in a Div. IV regional semifinal, Big Red ousted the Cardinals, 28-16.

At Canton Central Catholic’s Klinefelter Field, Ursuline (9-3) will play for its third straight title appearance. The opponent will be West Lafayette Ridgewood (13-0), which advanced by defeating top-seeded Fredericktown, 21-14.

Ursuline finished state runner-up in 2007. Ridgewood should have its hands full against the defending state champions, who will be making their fifth state semifinal appearance in 10 years.

Ursuline has reached the state’s final four for the third straight year after Friday’s 47-28 thumping of previously-unbeaten Cuyahoga Heights.

In the Div. V Region 17 championship game at Aurora High School, the Irish defense struggled in the first half. The problem was containing Cuyahoga Heights quarterback Zach D’Orazio who helped engineered a 28-14 lead and 304 yards of offense.

D’Orazio’s skill was particularly evident when Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin constantly rolled the dice on fourth down.

In four fourth-down gambles, the Redskins extended their drives and had the superior Irish on their heels.

But once halftime ended, the Irish regained control. Energized by lines that swarmed D’Orazio and opened huge holes for Allen Jones and Akise Teague, the Irish scored five times.

“Cuyahoga Heights blitzes a lot [but] we never felt like we weren’t able to move the ball,” Ursuline coach Dan Reardon said. “They did a good job of keeping the ball out of our hands in the first half.

“It was just a matter of getting our defense off the field and giving our offense a chance.”

Reardon credited the play of his offensive line — Zach Conlan, Greg Demario, Dave Rossi, Joe Wess and Pete Wearsch — for triggering the reversal.

“They’re not the biggest guys in the world — everyone thinks we have this huge, mammoth line and we don’t,” Reardon said. “We have three guys under 200 pounds starting.

“They are just darn good high school football players and they have a tremendous amount of heart. I’ll go to war with them any day.”

Since Week 3, Ursuline’s only loss was to Mooney (27-22) in Week 9.

“This year has been such a different year,” said Reardon whose Irish went undefeated last year. “We faced a lot of adversity, especially early on when we were 1-2.

“Our kids worked to get better and better, that’s why we’re still alive today.”

The Mooney-Steubenville game should attract a large crowd to the stadium beside the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Steubenville’s loss was to Inkster (Mich.), 36-29, in Week 8.

Both have wins over Poland. In Week 7, Steubenville defeated the Bulldogs, 24-13. Friday, Mooney ended Poland’s season, 24-7.

Mooney is making its fifth state semifinal appearance in six seasons. The Cardinals were Div. IV state champs in 2004 and 2006, and state runners-up in 2005 and 2007.

williams@vindy.com