No place like home for Irish; Ursuline wins in a 47-19 rout

Ursuline vs Central Catholic

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Long touchdowns triggered Ursuline’s win at Stambaugh.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — After five road games and an open week, the Ursuline High football team was more than ready to show off their high-powered offense before a home crowd.

The Irish, the defending Division V state champions and the No. 7 team in this week’s computer playoff ratings for Region 17, displayed their many offensive skills Friday in at Stambaugh Stadium.

After scoring five times on their first six possessions, Ursuline pummeled Canton Central Catholic, 47-19.

“It felt good,” said Ursuline coach Dan Reardon about playing at home for the first time. The Irish opened the 2009 season with games played in Columbus (stretched to two days by a storm); Wheeling, W.Va.; Mentor; Bedford; and Louisville.

“We’re going to be back at Ursuline before 10 o’clock,” Reardon said after the Irish (4-2) won their third straight contest. “It was definitely nice being at home tonight playing in front of a lot of people from Youngstown.”

Long touchdowns keyed the Irish romp. Tailback Allen Jones broke loose for touchdown runs of 54 and 71 yards in the second quarter as the Irish built up a 33-7 lead over the Crusaders (1-7).

Launching the assault was quarterback Paul Kempe who hit Akise Teague with a 37-yard touchdown pass.

Quarterback Dawalyn Harper ran for a 37-yard score while running back Aaron Edwards scored on runs of 44 and 70 yards.

“I’m real pleased with our O-line — they did a nice job coming off the ball,” Reardon said. The Irish rushed for 384 yards on 35 carries and most were earned before the third quarter has half over.

“We made a point this week to try and involve more kids on offense,” Reardon said. “They took advantage of those plays and did a real nice job.”

The game opened with a little shock. Just 88 seconds into the game, the Crusaders stunned the Irish momentarily when Brock Colaner broke through the middle of the line for a 57-yard touchdown run.

“It was sort of surprising,” Jones said. “We started off kind of slow on defense, but we picked it up with the offense. It feels good to get a big [home] opener win.”

Defensive back Chris Collins said the score got his teammates’ attention.

“We were jacked up,” Collins said. “Everyone was jacked up to make plays. They got a touchdown but we bounced back with one.”

Actually, seven.

Trailing 7-0, the Irish wasted little time seizing control of the game. First, Kempe found Teague who raced down the sideline for the first of Ursuline’s seven touchdowns.

The conversion kick failed (the first of three), keeping the Crusaders ahead by a point.

The lead was wiped out on Ursuline’s next possession that followed Joe Andler’s 24-yard punt. Three plays later, Harper scored and Teague’s conversion run put Ursuline ahead, 14-7.

“We felt disrespected ... so we just wanted to get back at them and shut them up real quick,” Jones said.

Edwards’ first touchdown extended the lead to 13 points.

Then Jones took over.

“Allen Jones did his standard thing,” Reardon said. “He’s been averaging 10 yards per carry this year playing some extremely quality opposition.

“He’s done it week in and week out,” Reardon said of his senior captain. “We’ve become a little bit spoiled I think because we’ve just come to expect it from him.”

Ahead 33-7 at halftime, the Irish scored touchdowns on their first two plays of the third quarter, prompting Reardon to send in his younger players.

“I feel we’re coming together as a team,” said Jones, suggesting the losses to Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Mentor Lake Catholic are in the rearview mirror.

“Those two losses that we have really fired us up,” Jones said. We know we have to win every game to get a secure spot in the playoffs.”

Not to mention respect in the Associated Press’s state poll which has the Irish rated 12th.

“Last year’s seniors told us [repeating] is going to be hard so we’re going to have to come out here and play 100 percent every game,” Collins said. That’s what we’re trying to work on to get to another state championship [game].” Ursuline closes the regular season against Akron Buchtel, Mooney and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

williams@vindy.com