Jones scores 3 times in Ursuline victory

Allen Jones reached 3,000 career yards in the Irish’s 35-0 win over Buchtel.

By Greg Gulas

YOUNGSTOWN — When your defense holds your opponent to a “three-and-out” the first five times they touch the ball, and seven times overall, it makes for a long night for the opponent.

Add Allen Jones’ 211 yards rushing, three scores and a combined 466 total offensive yards by your team and that makes it a downright lethal combination.

Jones became the fifth Ursuline player all-time to rush for 3,000 yards while his three rushing touchdowns gives him 46 for his career, placing him second all-time, as the Fighting Irish defeated Akron Buchtel, 35-0, Thursday at Stambaugh Stadium.

“To become the fifth player ever to rush for 3,000 yards is special, but it’s not what is uppermost in my mind right now,” said Jones. “Getting back to the state is everyone’s main goal.

“We got a fast start tonight, slowed down a bit after halftime but came on strong in the fourth quarter,” he added.

Ursuline (5-2) coach Dan Reardon was pleased with the effort of his players on both sides of the ball, noting that Jones’ name can now be added to the list of some very select Fighting Irish rushers.

“Allen has just been an outstanding football player for us. He runs hard, with an attitude and always seems to keep his balance.

“We’re sure going to miss him next season,” Reardon said.

While the offense took center stage, the defense quietly went about their business as they held the Griffins to 125 total offensive yards.

“If you had told me prior to the game that we were going to pitch a shutout, I would have been surprised. Pleased, but surprised,” said Reardon.

“Akron Buchtel has so many offensive weapons, they just keep coming at you and are very tough to stop so to shut them out is very special,” he added.

Jones needed just 13 yards going into the game to reach the 3,000-yard plateau, and he didn’t hit the mark until his fifth carry.

His next five carries, however, all resulted in double digit gains totaling 86 yards, including his 14-yard touchdown scamper at the 2:27 mark of the opening quarter for the early seven-point advantage.

After Nico Irizarry blistered the Buchtel defense for a 24-yard score with seven seconds remaining in the opening period, Ursuline was able to build a 14-0 advantage heading to the second period.

Jones’ second score of the night; a 5-yard scamper at 3:10 of the period, allowed Ursuline to forge a 21-0 advantage at halftime.

“You go back to earlier in the year when the pre-season publications said we had to improve on defense, and they were right,” said Reardon. “We knew we had to grow with all that we lost and felt that it might be a slow process.

“We had our growing pains early, but the kids kept working hard and over the past three or four weeks, they’ve just steadily improved.”

After a scoreless third quarter, Irizarry scored his second touchdown of the night off a 63-yard, pass from quarterback Paul Kempe at 10:45 of the fourth quarter and Jones added another 14-yard run for his third tally of the game.

Kempe was 11 of 16 for 159 yards.