Turnovers are Irish concern

Photo by: Nick Mays

Special to the Vindicator

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Akise Teague flies past Rufus Johnson for yards Saturday night in Ashland.

11.27.2010 Ursuline Football

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Lima Central Vs. Ursuline

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Blitz highlight reel

By John Bassetti

bassetti@vindy.com

ASHLAND

The Ursuline High football team may need a wake-up call for Saturday’s 11 a.m. Division V state championship game against Coldwater in Canton, but the 14-0 Irish already had an awakening here in the first half Saturday night against Lima Central Catholic.

“We didn’t do a great job taking care of the ball and gave them good field position one time,” Coach Dan Reardon said of his team’s third fumble that led to a go-ahead touchdown by the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds eventually fizzled with a 51-36 loss and finished 12-2 after the state semifinal at Ashland Community Stadium.

“When you’re playing a good team like that, they were able to capitalize,” Reardon said of LCC closing to within 22-20 with 15 seconds remaining before halftime. “We were lucky to have a lead at halftime as poorly as we played.”

Senior tailback Akise Teague lost two of his three fumbles and the Irish relinquished possession another time on a snap exchange. Quarterback Paul Kempe also threw an interception before halftime.

“Our defense was a little more inconsistent and, a couple times, our offense put our defense in bad situations [with turnovers],” Reardon said. “We have to clean up things on both sides.”

Although Ursuline piled up the points, it also piled up the penalties.

The Irish had six infractions for 60 yards to bring its total to 92 for 711 yards through 14 games.

On the positive side, Ursuline made gutsy calls to convert fourth-and-1 situations in the last 13 minutes when Tramain Thigpen gained 17 yards and Kempe gained 3 yards to keep drives alive.

Teague also had an interception against Lima Central Catholic to bring his season total to six for 266 yards. His pickoff set up his fifth TD of the game.

LCC coach Jerry Cooper was optimistic at halftime when the Thunderbirds were within 22-20.

“We told our guys to keep playing and, if they [Ursuline] continued to turn the ball over or make the penalties they had, we may have a shot,” Cooper said. “We had to try to score every time, but we also had to get some stops.

“That was really the difference: we didn’t get any defensive stops,” Cooper said,

Ultimately, Teague, who gained 269 yards on 29 carries, was the difference.

“We had no answer for Akise,” Cooper said.

In Ursuline’s post-game huddle, Reardon told his players that they’re not done yet, but there are some issues to be cleared up.

“There’s improvement to be made on both sides of the ball,” Reardon said. “It’s the same MO we’ve had all year long.

“We’re continually trying to put a better product on the field from one week to the next and it won’t change,” Reardon said,

Even if the LCC game was too close for comfort, Reardon liked the outcome.

“When you’re playing this late in the season, I’ll take any win. I don’t care how close it is, I’ll take any win.”

Now the Irish have a chance for a third straight state title against Coldwater, the school the Irish defeated in last year’s title game.

“We’re excited to still be playing and we have a history with them,” Reardon said. “It’ll be a great football game, I’m sure.”