URSULINE IRISH

Ursuline coach Larry Kempe tells a story about a piece of mail he recently received, which was addressed to “The coach with a slightly better than .500 record.”

“What could I do but laugh, it’s the truth,” Kempe said.

The fact is, Kempe owns a 28-22 record as he enters his fifth season with the Irish. However, it is worth noting that Kempe’s winning percentage in the playoffs (7-4, 63.6 percent) is actually better than his winning percentage in the regular season.

Under Kempe, the Irish have made four consecutive playoff appearances. Last year, the Irish were the only area school to win a regional title.

This year, the Irish once again will have to claw their way to Week 11. The schedule includes six schools which have won a total of 27 state titles, not to mention Massillon.

“We don’t make any bold 10-0 predictions or anything like that,” Kempe said. “We’re all about taking one week at a time, and hoping we do enough to get ourselves in the playoffs. We just want to make it, then from there we like our chances.”

OFFENSE

Ursuline returns five starters on offense, including junior quarterback Jared Fabry (6-foot-2, 180).

Fabry is expected to be challenged by sophomore Bobby Cavalier (6-foot-1, 170).

“Jared played in all 14 games last year, and he played in some big moments. That experience is invaluable,” Kempe said. “At the same time, Bobby is holding his own. It’s always healthy to have competition in camp.”

Tre Donlow and Joe Floyd return in the backfield, while the likes of Anise Algahmee, Dakota Hobbs, Dawalyn Washington and Tristan Ballard provide experience and depth at the wideout position.

“Our strength definitely is our skilled players, where we have a number of young men who can all make a difference,” Kempe said. “We’re going to really mix things up this year. We’re going to be a more multidimensional offense than we were in the past.”

Kempe’s biggest concern is the lack of experience on a front line, which will be anchored by senior guard Jeff Marx (6-foot-1, 295). Marx recently committed to the Naval Academy.

“We have a bunch of young kids who have shown a lot of promise, but they haven’t done anything under the lights just yet,” Kempe said.

DEFENSE

While the Irish are busy changing up their offensive schemes and philosophy, not much will change on defense.

“I’ve been very consistent in what I’ve tried to do defensively my entire career, and I don’t want to change much now,” Kempe said. “It’s just a matter of finding the right guys who fit the mold.”

Marx (nose guard) and Spencer Warren (linebacker) will be among five starters who return on defense. The skilled players who make up a a potentially high-powered offense will once again play key roles in the defensive backfield.

“Our biggest issue is building depth on defense,” Kempe said. “We want to head into the season feeling as though we have 16 to 20 players who we can plug in on any given night and feel comfortable having them on the field.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Donlow, Floyd, Algahmee, Hobbs and Washington should provide a strong return game. Senior Ian O’Brien will handle the kicking duties, while Kempe said he was still looking to “sort out the punting game.”

OUTLOOK

“Our senior class [of 14] has played 37 games in three years, and those extra weeks are invaluable,” Kempe said. “We hope those extra weeks of practice will pay off this year.”

The experience will be needed, as Ursuline plays one of the toughest schedules in the state, regardless of division. A four-game stretch includes dates with defending Division III state champion Akron Hoban, Massillon, Warren Harding and Steubenville.

If Kempe can manage another .500 or better regular-season record, the Irish should once again be a force to be reckoned with come November.