By Brian Dzenis

bdzenis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

East’s football team put on a performance that could be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

For the Golden Bears, who put together a complete performance in a 34-7 win against Ursuline, there was simply the satisfaction of game well played.

“It’s good, but we just came here to do this,” East quarterback Zane Cylar said. “We did what the coaches told us we needed to do.”

For the adults who made their way onto Jack Antonucci Field at Rayen Stadium to congratulate coach Brian Marrow, the extra years allow them to further appreciate a city school defeating a parochial program. Wins like that are few and far between for the city schools. Golden Bears assistant James Stanford quarterbacked East past Ursuline in 1986 and Marrow played on a South High team that beat the Irish in 1979.

“[Friday’s game] was similar to when I played. I think the score was like 34-6,” Marrow said. “Our kids deserved it.”

The Golden Bears (1-1) scored on offense, defense and special teams. Cylar was the team’s top passer and receiver. He managed the feat in the third quarter when he pitched the ball to DelShawn Petrosky and started running his own route. Petrosky found Cylar wide open and he took off for a 58-yard touchdown. The play was drawn up by Cylar’s father, assistant coach Kevin Cylar.

“We’ve been practicing it all week, so I knew it was going to work,” Cylar said. “It worked just the way we practiced it.”

Those weren’t the only big plays on hand. In the second quarter, DeRon Gilbert tried to corral an Irish punt with one hand, but couldn’t quite keep a hold of it. He caught the ball off the bounce and ran it back 74 yards for the go-ahead TD.

“I saw the defense go one way, so I just ran the opposite way,” Gilbert said.

East intercepted Ursuline quarterback Brady Shannon twice in critical spots. Marshall Herron grabbed a pick near the end of the first half in the endzone on a drive that could have tied the score at 14-14. In another Irish drive that made it to the Bears’ 14, Marcus Finkley ran back the interception 80 yards to complete the pick six. Shannon appeared to be injured on the play and his status is unknown, Irish coach Larry Kempe said.

The first two weeks of the season haven’t been kind to Ursuline (0-2), which has been outscored 69-7 in just two games. Shannon was to be a backup for senior Glenn Griswold, who suffered a season-ending injury in camp. Sophomore Eddie DeFlorio finished the game.

“We have to go to work. That’s what we told the kids ,” Kempe said. “We’ve got a long way to go and we’ve got to get better.”

Davion Jones rushed for 74 yards and had Ursuline’s only touchdown on a 15-yard run in the first quarter.

Eddie Bryant rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown while stepping in for an injured Gei’Vonni Washington. His score was set up when Ursuline fumbled the opening kickoff and was recovered by Xhariyon Williams.

The Golden Bears got three sacks with Youngstown State commit Chris Fitzgerald and Vincent Steele each getting a solo sack and Herron and Frank Harris combined for another.