THERE’S NO PREPPING FOR THE IRISH

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Ursuline Fighting Irish are headed back to the regional championship after delivering one of their most complete performances of the season Friday night, rolling past University School 50-21 in the Division III, Region 9 Semifinals. Behind a three-touchdown connection between quarterback Patrick Reardon and receiver Ray Javey, a powerful rushing attack led by Vinnie Fecko, and a defense that forced five turnovers, Ursuline overcame an early deficit to secure its ninth victory of the season and move one win away from the state semifinals.

University School struck first, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter, but the early deficit only seemed to ignite the Fighting Irish. Ursuline responded with an offensive explosion, pouring on 50 points over the final three quarters to take complete control of the contest. The 50-point outburst marked a season high for the Irish, who continued their impressive postseason run with their third consecutive playoff victory.

Reardon was outstanding directing the Ursuline offense, throwing for 157 yards and three touchdowns, with all three scoring strikes finding Javey. The senior receiver turned in a spectacular performance, hauling in five receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns, providing the explosive plays that helped the Irish pull away from the Preppers. The connection between Reardon and Javey proved to be one of the biggest differences in the contest, as University School struggled to contain Ursuline’s passing attack once it found its rhythm.

While the passing game provided the fireworks, Fecko continued to be a workhorse in the backfield, rushing for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The senior running back gave Ursuline another dangerous offensive weapon, helping the Irish establish balance and keep University School’s defense guessing throughout the night. With Reardon delivering through the air and Fecko finding success on the ground, Ursuline’s offense proved difficult to slow down.

As impressive as the offensive numbers were, Ursuline’s defense delivered an equally dominant performance. The Fighting Irish held University School to just 191 yards of total offense while forcing five turnovers, repeatedly putting their offense in favorable positions. Jax Brace was a force along the defensive front, recording three sacks and helping disrupt the Preppers’ offensive rhythm throughout the contest.

The Ursuline secondary was equally impressive, with Ethan Sandusky leading the charge by intercepting two passes. Zalin Strother and Dale Peterman also came away with interceptions, giving the Fighting Irish four picks on the evening. The combination of relentless pressure up front and opportunistic play in the secondary made life difficult for University School, which struggled to generate consistent offensive production against the Irish defense.

The victory continues an impressive postseason turnaround for Ursuline, which entered the playoffs with a 6-4 record following a challenging regular-season schedule. The Fighting Irish opened the tournament with a 34-20 victory over Lake Catholic before traveling to Willoughby South and earning a 41-26 win in the regional quarterfinals. Friday’s convincing victory over University School marked the third consecutive postseason game in which Ursuline scored at least 34 points, with the Irish totaling 125 points across those three victories.

Ursuline improves to 9-4 overall and advances to the Division III, Region 9 Championship, where the Fighting Irish will face Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (11-1). The Lions earned their spot in the regional final with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Garfield Heights, setting up a showdown between two teams looking to take the next step toward a state championship. The regional championship matchup is scheduled for Friday, November 20, at 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to the Division III State Semifinals.

For University School, the loss brings its season to an end with an 8-5 record, while Ursuline continues to build momentum at the most important time of the year. With an offense capable of producing explosive plays, a physical rushing attack, and a defense that can create turnovers in bunches, the Fighting Irish have put themselves in position to make another deep November run as they prepare to battle for a regional championship.

THERE’S NO PREPPING FOR THE IRISH

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