Photo

Photo by: Vindicator file photo

Ursuline quarterback Chris Durkin (13) attempts to run away from Erie Cathedral Prep defensive linemen Devonne Barnes (52) in a game on Sept. 27 at Stambaugh Stadium. He was sacked on the play. The Irish qualified for the state playoff s with a 4-5 record and will play at Akron Manchester (8-2) Saturday.

By Ryan Buck

rbuck@vindy.com

Youngstown

Their 2013 football season has been anything but a fairy tale, but the Ursuline Irish still have a chance at a storybook ending.

Much was expected of the Irish, who fought through one of the state’s toughest schedules all while trying to weather a storm of injuries and inconsistency.

Larry Kempe’s outfit is one of the rare teams who made the OHSAA state playoffs with a losing record (4-5).

“The thing with us, because we’re not in a conference, all we have to play for is to get into the postseason,” Kempe said. “Get to Week 11. Has the season gone the way we wanted it to? Absolutely not in all honesty. But our goal is to play 15 weeks and win a state title and to right our wrong course. To get into the postseason, whatever we do with it is totally up to us.”

Ursuline came from behind to beat Walsh Jesuit in Week 1, then dropped a turnover-filled head-scratcher at Lake Catholic in Week 2. Weeks 4 and 5 saw back-to-back losses to out-of-state opponents.

They routed Steubenville 46-21 in Week 8. Then came a 29-14 loss to arch rival Cardinal Mooney and an emotionally flat performance in a 40-7 loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Ursuline, on the strength of its schedule, snuck into the playoffs as the number eight seed in Division V, Region 15.

Perhaps that is why quarterback and Michigan State recruit Chris Durkin stayed an hour after practice Monday to work on routes and timing with some of his receivers.

“We expected to have a little better record than we do now, put up a lot more points and have a little bit better numbers,” Durkin said. “But we’re going with what we have now and luckily we’re in the playoffs at 4-5. I’m really not complaining. We’re in.”

Durkin missed at least parts of four games with leg injuries. Running back Vito Penza led the team to a road win over Erie Strong Vincent in his absence. Standout linebacker Michael Montalbano and wide receiver and defensive back Tannor Berry were two more key contributors who missed time.

“We have had more injuries this year ... in all my years of coaching, I’ve never seen this many injuries,” Kempe said. “At one time I thought we changed our names from the Irish to the M.R.I.s.

“It’s been interesting. I would like to have everybody healthy, but it’s part of the game.”

Heading into Ursuline’s first-round playoff game at Akron Manchester, the coaching staff finally feel as if they are at nearly full-strength. “We’ve got everybody back but one kid, and that’s the key,” Kempe said. “Now we have to get them game ready again. We’ve got five days to get that accomplished.”

The struggles wore on Durkin, who is called upon to drive both Ursuline’s ground game and passing attack, but he feels it has made the Irish stronger as a team.

“We try and keep a good mindset and try to stay humble throughout the season,” he said. “What happens happens and these playoff games, whoever wants it the most is going to end up getting it. We’re fighting for a state championship.”

Kempe said he thinks the season’s trials have challenged his coaching as well.

“It makes you tougher,” he said. “You have to be a little more creative in what you’re doing with personnel and, as a coach, I’ve got to stay the course because if they see me panic, if they see me upset about something, then they go into a tizzy because the people in charge are in a frenzied state.”

Ursuline will travel to play Manchester (8-2) Saturday. The Irish have taken three of four playoff meetings with the Panthers, the last coming in 2004.