IRISH BREAK LOOSE TO OUTLAST VIKINGS
By Tim Corso
YOUNGSTOWN OH- Ursuline used a big second half to secure a decisive win over Villa Angela-St. Joseph 38-18 Friday night.
Adversity was a common theme for both squads, as the Irish turned it over twice while the Vikings had three. However, Villa’s miscues cost them more.
Bo Jackson’s touchdown runs of seven and two pushed the Vikings out to a 12-7 lead early.
Shortly after an Ursuline drive stalled out, Viking quarterback Kylan Steuball misfired on a screen pass that went right to Tairan Davis for a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown to put Ursuline back on top 14-12.
However, it wasn’t long before senior tailback Amani Powell scored on a 12-yard run to give Villa the lead back, 18-14.
Back and forth the game went as Christian Lynch, who fumbled earlier in the game, scored his second touchdown of the night to put Ursuline up 21-18 at the half.
The start of the second half was set up to be a decisive defensive drive for Villa when D.C. Ferrell had other ideas.
Ferrell took the opening kickoff of the third quarter 85 yards to the end zone. Just like that a back-and-forth game turned into Ursuline up two scores, with all the momentum.
Even then, Ferrell wasn’t done. Late in the third, with the Vikings driving inside Irish territory, Steuball took a shot for the end zone on a 3rd and 30 play. The underthrown ball was snagged out of mid-air by Ferrell and down at the 2-yard line.
Not much later, Lynch capped off a long Ursuline drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that proved to be the dagger.
The battle between Ursuline and Vill Angela-St. Joseph was a highly anticipated one between two teams vying for the top spot in Division 3, Region 9. With the win, the Irish officially clinched a playoff spot, and likely a top four seed.
Ursuline (8-0) will host Chaney (4-3) in a Steel Valley Conference showdown next Friday, October 13th.
